Leave Nursing ?

[ohsotired2022]

I’m 47.
I’ve been a Nurse for over 20 years.
I’ve worked in hospital settings. Community. Health Visiting and School Nursing.

On my Pension Statement it says my Normal Pension Age is 60 as I stated before May 2006.

I’m staying so that I can retire somewhere between 55-60.

I hate it though but worry if I leave I will regret that I walked away from a good pension.

I also don’t know what else I could do.

I have applied for other jobs outwith the NHS and never get an Interview

I even applied for one of the PIP assessor jobs although I hear mixed things but got knocked back.

Would I be Unreasonable to stay for the Pension?

How about moving into the civil service? They also have a great pension. We have lots of ex teachers / nurses join.

Thanks @rainandshine38I do feel torn between walking away and holding onto my Registration
Did you complete a Masters to become a Lecturer?
do you still hold your Nursing Registration?

@ohsotired2022i started teaching in FE. I did bank work at spire on side. Then I moved into an HE job after I started my Masters ( but I hadn’t completed at that point). You need a current NMC registration to teach on nursing programmes. ( unless you are a biologist or some other specialist they have teaching science etc)

Thanks @Zanatdy
Do you search for Civil Service on Local Council Website? What sort of job are ex nurse and teachers doing?

Thanks @sashhwill have a look at the FE colleges websites

Your never too old <3

I’ve only stayed for the pension but am lucky to have SCS and will be gone at 55 by the end of the year. I will be so glad to be out. I work in general practice, lots of PN’s coming up for retirement. It’s hideous at times.

Im only biding my time to retire too. I’m 54 now, started nursing in 1990 & I’m just done with it. Unfortunately I don’t have SCS as I had 8 years out working in private sector. DH & I are definitely hoping to retire in next few years. I was v poorly last year & almost didn’t make it so brings a very different perspective. I’ve also heard awful things about the PIP roles too. I’m currently a practice nurse.

What roles do they do?

Try PIP assessor. My sisters done it for over a decade but the turnover is very high. Most people hate it. But you never know?

We covered this earlier on. And as an ex assessor I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

OP isn't eligible either as is an RSCN. You have to be an adult (RGN) or MH nurse.

@MrsBenevolent

Fair enough then the OP couldn’t apply. My sisters done it for a decade though. It isn’t all that bad for some people clearly.

I was lucky enough to retire with a reduced pension at 57 and then worked part time until 61 . Now fully retired.And loving life There were soo many times I wanted to leave as the job was soo stressful. Just leaving the stressful environment and finding a job in another specialty worked for me . And I ended up with loads of transferable skills . Have you thought about freezing your pension ? Idk if you can leave the NHS pension for up to 2 yrs without adversely affecting your pension.
Best Of luck

@MrsBenevolentI could apply for PIP as I’’m dual trained and also MH, RCN and SCPHN plus 1 year as Family Nurse.
I’ve completely worked my way down 🤦‍♀️
I see people I trained with years ago who have just kept climbing up whereas I’ve side stepped then down due to demands of my family.
I am torn as to whether I would like PIP
or not. Have heard people saying both good and bad but think more bad.

I also checked out one the NHS 24 post advertised earlier and I can’t apply as you need to be Adult trained which I’m not. Sometimes wish I had done Adult instead, as more options. I chose Children’s Nursing as my Goal was to be a Health Visitor so thought this would be a good route to do down.

@Teresa3349Glad you found a role that felt right and now you can enjoy your retirement 😊

@DemonsandMosquitoesdefinitely nearly there ! That must be a nice feeling that all your hard work will be worth it soon. Hope this year goes by calmly for you.

@WinterNightStars ahh that is frustrating that you lost your SCS status.
I’m sure you can still retire between 55-60 but just with penalties for taking early?

I couldnt do nursing anymore it was gruelling. I gave up at 45 and did podiatry. You can do a 2 year msc course now.
I did the 3 year and worked in nursing homes during the holidays to pay my mortgage.
We do 9 to 5 no weekends, no bank holidays, lots of annual leave and very fast career progression. You could be a band 7 after a year. None of this sitting on band 5 for years like nurses.
A lot of us do half ptivate and half NHS.
I once earned 10k in one month doing private work.
I cant undwrstand why anyone sticks nursing especially at 40 plus.

This sounds amazing @Gettingbysomehow
well done getting out and finding a role that works for you.
…..off to Google Podiatry

I can still take it from 55 but with reductions so hopefully won’t affect our plans too much. DH can get his pension at 55 & I have a pension from my short stint in private sector. As a pp said there are lots of practice nurses due to retire & holding out for pension. Unfortunately we get paid significantly less than hospital nurses too so no incentive to stay.

I’m a PN too & agree, if really is awful some days. Coupled with the poor pay & conditions there’s no reason to stay longer than necessary.

Can you live off £241 a week ? Because you don’t have enough years to build up a sizeable pension elsewhere.

are you an adults nurse or children’s nurse? Have you thought of switching? Or going back to school or community nursing or GP surgery’s nurse?

Have you thought of applying to GP practices - the nurses at mine seem happy. Always get Christmas new year etc off. And it’s sociable hours - no nights or weekends- no idea what the salary is like. Or if you’d be fed up doing smear tests, immunisations etc I’m guessing there is less variety

What about moving to the CQC?