To leave nursing at 43 and find a new non people related job?

[Greenbird710]

Hi, I'm 43 and have nursed for 20 years but I'm just so burnt out and beat down by how people treat me. Is it silly to leave nursing and get a job with less responsibility and people contact?

Medical writing or proof-reading nedical textbooks erc.
You can wfh.
On-line proof-reading and writing courses are available, and pay can be v good. You can get work from drug and other medical provision companies

I left after I had my eldest of four DC, years ago. I couldn't go back as my health is utterly f*cked and have accepted that I will need to do a lower paid job like admin work when the time comes for me taking part time work in the future.

You should be proud you stuck it out as long as you have done. It's a lot of hard work.

You could always move sideways into aesthetics. Private Medi Spas blend regular beauty treatments (facials, superficial peels).with those needing medical training to perform such as botox & filler injections, some medium peels, lasers etc etc.
An example:
uk.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=cf2a08760bad1745&from=serp&prevUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.indeed.com%2Fq-medispa-jobs.html&xpse=SoA867I3GkX1d9w8Ch0LbzkdCdPP

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ I did this years ago and it did indeed predict what I am suited to and what I do now.

My sibling works in manufacturing, he goes in does his shift and comes home. No stress.

I went into research which I found much better. Have moved up a couple of bands too and now lead my own team. What type of nursing are you doing now?

Apologies for jumping on the thread but do you have any more details on this?

I am a independent advocate wfh and with visits. Maybe consider this? It's amazing

Where do you find vacancies like this?

I know a few nurses who left at a similar age. One went into being a school nurse in a private school. Loves it. The senior management value her input and the students love her. She even gets to go on some of their school trips (abroad) and her work is term time only. It's an option to look out for. Good luck x

Also there is a good podcast called "adventures after teaching" (bare with me) where burnt out teachers talk about their new careers and how they made the leap. I'd imagine that nursing and teaching have a lot of similar skills so I bet that some parts pf the podcasts would feel relevant to you as well, perhaps.

Will get back to you later @Fridayfeelin !

@bahhumbuggobshite
How did you qualify as an independent advocate please? Do you work on a self-employed basis?

Healthcare assistant here. Did it for 16 years and loved it. Got to 48 and couldn't manage with the long shifts and shift work any longer so moved in a more admin role, still in the nhs. It's a bit boring but I feel so much better now I'm not on my feet all day long. I'm now 53 and I can tell you, physically it only gets tougher as you get older. The thought of having a job where I'm on my feet all day everyday makes me shudder now.

Hi there I am a midwife working on the labour ward. When it gets too much I sometimes think of working on the Spacial Baby Care Unit (present in every hospital). I spent 3 weeks there in my student days. You get 2-3 babies lot look after for the duration of the shift. The babies are mostly well, just need a bit of support with feeding etc. Parents help out a lot. I was surprised to learn one doesn't need to be a paediatric nurse to work in SCBU. It's because babies are considered neonates not children. It's still a Band 5 job with pension and benefits

Some charities employ nurses.

I used to work for a big national health charity that had a helpline staffed by nurses and they also helped write factsheets, leaflets, policy and campaign report/statement and so on. One of the directors there was a former nurse.

I know a helpline still involves some contact with people but it would be a more relaxed environment.

I’m in the same position. I’m 41, done it for 20yrs and am totally burnt out. I have no love or passion for it anymore. But really unsure what else to do as all I know is nursing.

Which area of nursing do you work in OP? I was in ITU for many many years up until recently (all through the pandemic too) and I was broken afterwards, I thought I had had enough. I moved departments and it made all the difference, it felt like coming up for air. Its interesting to see the different careers people are offering, I quite often day dream about becoming a dog walker myself.

@ACJD sorry to hear this! I am a bit like @ForTheLoveOff and changed my area and am much more happy. I went from medical wards to an outpatient assessment area an I must say although the pressure is still high its a totally different pressure and much more manageable. I also find the patients much easier to handle as it 1 to 1. Could you try moving area?

Not sure if it would help as I have lost all love for it. I just feel done with it. But I stay because of the WLB I have at the min. I do 2 set nights for childcare reasons and know I won’t get that in another job. Feeling stuck.

You could nursing in a different environment? A private hospital or a charity hospice can be slower paced. This means both patients and colleagues tend to be nicer to each other as they aren't so stressed.

Glad to hear it @Greenbird710. @ACJD I would try a different department if I were you- even if you think you are finished, a different setting can be a breath of fresh air. I didnt realise it at the time but I was in such a bubble in my department, I forgot the rest of the hospital existed if that makes sense. Also if everyone else around you is feeling similair this will just ramp it up for you. Everyone is very laid back where I work now. My days off used to be wasted due to the dread I would feel about going into work, but not anymore.

Also sorry @Greenbird710 didn't realise this was an old post

Nursing is the hardest job ever. I’ve left the wards and work in an office job where I give advice over the phone. Sometimes I miss the wards because it is rewarding on the ground helping people but I don’t regret leaving for a minute. The stress isn’t worth it. I also worked in a few positions in outpatients that weren’t nearly as stressful (I did mat leave cover in those positions so they weren’t permanent but I wished they were) it’s tough but there are jobs within nursing that are so much easier than others. I’d recommend to keep moving until you find something that suits and not to get stuck in a rut which I did for many years.