Leave Nursing

[ohsotired2022]

Help, stuck and not sure what to do?

I've been a Nurse for 19 years. Various roles at band 5, 6 & 7. Both community and hospital based.

Currently working in Mental Health, Outpatient dept. I hate it!
I received a diagnosis this year as being Autistic and my 3 children are ND.

I think as an ND individual I keep trying to find the right role that works but everywhere I look is designed for NT people.

I'm in my 40's and can retire at 60 so have been clinging onto that somewhat but not sure I cling on anymore.

Just looking for advice as to what other roles there are after nursing or within nursing but I've not found it yet?

I've asked around this before and one option that often comes up is lecturer. Where I live the Uni's look for you to have a Masters which I don't have.

I've previously worked as a Health Visitor and School Nurse.

I'm not sure if I should stay in the NHS for the pension although it is making me miserable or look outwith although would have to take a drop in pay.

Thanks ☺️

It's heading away from direct patient contact though so maybe less rewarding. If you want to keep that, could PALS be something to consider? Or there's risk management/clinicalgovernance, or managing say a nurse bank rather than a ward?

Thanks for the link @Dropdout will keep an eye out.

I would be happy to move away from patient facing roles so will look
Into these suggestions, thanks ☺️

I started a nursing degree last year as a mature student. I have just left the course because the way nurses are treated is beyond shocking. I repeatedly got asked to do things I had not been trained in with is unsafe for patients and when I said I didn’t feel comfortable doing that I was treated really badly by the other nurses. I was assaulted which was just shrugged off my the ward manager as she believed it to be an occupational hazard. There is just zero support.

I agree with this. I left MH nursing as soon as I started to feel burnt out. I'm in a job I hate now, but it pays well and no one is negatively affected by my lack of engagement.

I agree that moving to other public sector jobs is the best way forward.

I keep getting adverts for MI5 who are heavily recruiting vetting officers which when you read the job role involves talking to people and finding out about them. Which as a nurse you'll be used to doing so. Have a look at the advert

www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/opportunities/vetting-officers

@RadicalRaven I'm so sorry that you had such a negative experience.
I think Students have had a tough time.
Think maybe you've had a lucky escape.

@Berga yep, this is definitely a valid point. I often think when I meet people and you know they are so fed up they should move on so yes, I should take my own advice. It's not fair on patients .

Thanks @PieonaBarm this sounds very interesting and yes, definitely skills I am familiar work. Thanks for the link.

I was a nurse for 24 years. I was engineered out due to raising safety concerns internally and externally in the NHS and private sectors across various Trusts. No regrets there.
My probation ended and owing to refusing to act as scrub and first assistant at the same time, a complaint was lodged by the surgeon and anaesthetist. I wasn't backed up and was 'let go'

I let my registration lapse in April this year and have not been happier!
I did a range of fun lower paid jobs delivery driving, school transport taxi and am training to be a driving instructor.
I work about 20 hours per week and earn the same as before as a nurse on 30 hours.
Best part is no managers to deal with, really supportive franchise boss and colleagues, no bitching and toxicity. No asking for leave - just sort your own diary, home at various points in the day. I love teaching so really enjoy it and meeting new people. Finally getting my old confident smiley self back!

See my response. You can earn enough as a driving instructor. Need about £2000 to train but very rewarding and lots of laughs

Are you me? For a hot minute, I thought I had written this!

I hope you find the magic solution. Please pass it on to me, if you do.

I'm thinking about trying to get into Uni lecturing, but i have NO idea how to go about it.

I think about 'areas' or 'departments' i think might interest me - then I search the internet directly. For example; an IVF clinic. So I searched IVF clinics near me, then searched for jobs on their website, or I have even "cold called" or just sent my resume and a letter, just so they are aware of me... Ask around, nursing friends. They might know someone who is looking for someone.... Be open to things you might previously have discounted.

Have your tried CYPS/CAMHS or a specialist child or adult autism service. The latter will be a different style of work and pace and also more autism informed. I have rotated through our local tertiary child autism service and everyone loves working there including autistic colleagues.

@Norzilla
Please can you tell us how much you earn as a driving instructor??
I'm a burnt out nurse too, who also loves teaching (have taught hundreds of students and nursing assistants), and am SICK of applying for annual leave dates that get refused because someone else got their dates in before me!
I'd love to be a driving instructor!

I am general and mental health nurse who qualified 20 years. I have worked in mental hospitals, prison, occ health and as an offshore medic.
I decided I didn't want to do anymore studying and have my own dog walking/ boarding business.
Best decision as I have a 6 year old so always home for her.
Occasionally do bank shifts to keep up my registration.

@Norzilla this is amazing !
Well done getting out and creating a business that works for you.

I'm not sure Driving Instructor would work for me. I've been driving for 20 years but due to, I think, my Autism I can get quite stressed when driving somewhere unfamiliar and if i have someone else in my car I find it hard to concentrate. Not sure this would work but delighted you have found a way out of a toxic. Unhealthy environment.

@Clueless2024 your username is exactly how I feel!

I hope we both can find the way that works or the way out of the NHS

@Mmmm19 I'm currently in Camhs and have quite a bit of experience across Camhs

@birchtree23 I absolutely love this !

I remember reading an article years ago about a Nurse who left the NHS and set up a Dog Walking Business and was so happy.

This is definitely something I would explore further.

Well done 👏

How about being an assessor for people doing care qualifications?I've been looking at this the money seems ok. Maybe less pressure, you can do a lot of it from home then arrange your own visits to see students.

This sounds great @Wells37
Do you know where you would search for this role please ?

i find asking around locally about where the best places to work with well functioning teams are is the most effective as you can’t beat insider info. Tertiary work may suit you better but I appreciate you may want to leave clinical completely

Thanks @Mmmm19 the team I'm currently in is really great. It's me who I think is the problem here.
Also the pressure of the role just isn't right for me with where I currently am personally with my family. If that makes sense ?

What about safeguarding? Your background sounds suitable for that. I know you found CP in your HV role challenging but if safeguarding / CP is your role, you will be removed from it and have no contact which may be easier for you

@ohsotired2022 I left nursing in 2022 after 24 yrs in the NHS, like you I was a Paediatric nurse, for many years in critical care and found myself getting burnt out. I did the additional qualification as a SCPHN to be a School nurse and found that was interesting, but the lack of mental health support and CAMHS services meant that as School nurses we were trying hold too much with all the safeguarding as well. From 2019, I trained part-time to become a Church Minister whilst working 2 part time jobs. There is light at the end of the tunnel - part of it is finding yourself again.

I love what I do, it's a busy job, I finally have time to sit and chat with people and hear them. There is a real privilege sitting with people and holding their grief, their joys and their hopes. Having been in full time ministry now for 2 years, I still find myself not liking long sleeved tops and still get people's medical history.

@Jubileetime this is worth exploring.
I know when I have completed degrees I have always found the CP element interesting and I have been engaged on the theory side. The reality of being front line can be challenging.
I've often seen Child Protection Advisors Posts come up but then worry that if all I was dealing with is CP it could be quite draining but agree maybe it would feel different being a step removed.