Wishing I'd done Law instead of trying to help mums via the NHS

[treedelivery]

So this will be the only negativity I ever post, but GRRRRRRRRR

I crossed Law out and put Midwifery on my ucas form 10 years ago.
Now I am in a loving marriage with a wonderful man who was today made redundant after 13 years, who is a blue collar worker and therefore we are fairly knackered financially.

If only I'd gone for the career with prospects and earning potential, instead of thinking I could be nice to people and it would in some way feed my family. I've had 4 hours sleep after a night shift, been treated mainly with sarcasm and rudeness by all I've been in contact with through work [qoute - 'I've been on this phone for 23 rings trying to find out how my granddaughter is doing and it's a disgrace' - never mind that I couldn't answer the phone as was breaking my very pregnant back trying to get said granddaughter's baby to breastfeed - trying to support her in her choices] and if only I'd done law my earnings would mean we aren't trying to work out if we can save the car.

AIBU to think it isn't worth it for little thanks and rubbish working conditions and shouldn't I have chased the money and comfort and respect and lifestyle.

Am feeling like I need to duck - I know there are many worse off, I know many midwives/maternity services have really pissed off a lot of people on mumsnet and rightly so in many cases, but today I think I will allow myself an hour of letting the bile out.

Ha ha Cheshirekity I use that line as well. "If I wasn't spening 45 minutes out of every hour answering the damn phone I might be down the ward with your loved one"

Thanks Snaff.

23 weeks that is! Not sure about going back to 23. Would need to REALLY think about that - not. 2 years qualified and about to piss off to Australia for a year if I remember correctly.

Just to add that I have a degree in history and biology as well as nursing. The NHS sucks to work for but I like a challenge. I try not to do the what it thing even though I just came off a 15 hour shift with no break and nothing but abuse from unrealistic relatives.

How about the guy I spoke to yesterday who wanted to know - at 5.05pm - why his wife hadn't been discharged 'because we were told the baby's last obs were due at 5pm, and they haven't been done yet, and we were expecting to go home by now'...

RAAAAAAARGH! Look around you! The place is heaving with people, and there are TWO
midwives on duty! Give us a chance!

Ooooh. That feels better.

They have no idea do they.

Pramspotter - I like a challenge so I know what you mean. Ahhh the 15 hours, the abuse, the hypo's, the dehydration.

It's OK though - you're an angel.

I'll end up never going back based on today's mood! Was emotional loved up last night. Been reading the gov 'So you've been made redundant' booklet today. Feeling less loved up.

Snaff - had to laugh at the out burst. Bless you. This is like the handover you wish you had the energy to give.

Maybe we should start a hcp's annonomous debriefing thread.
I'd probably be on it - my own midwife debriefing after whatever moan and rant I have to her at my next check up.

Oh no not having a check up - on a fecking long day when it's the antenatal clinic!

Oh, I'd be up for that - except the way I feel some days I'd end up hauled before the NMC for breaching my Code of Conduct, no matter how anonymous I thought I was being

I know 95% of the people I work with/care for are lovely. But god, do those 5% make their presence felt, or what? And the workload - which is the issue that undepins most of my complaints - just makes it all the more exhausting and difficult to deal with. I feel physically drained today - like a hangover without the good bits beforehand!

There we go - should have all trained as plumbers!!

Snaf and Pram - I know lots of people have said the grass isn't greener on the law side. But I'm just not convinced. This working life isn't worth £14.50 an hour and even if it were, it still wouldn't be enough actual £££ to bail my family out of redundancy mire.

Sorry everyone on mumsnet! I'll duck now.

Damn right racmac. Don't think could get huge bump under a sink though!

ROFL something to consider in the future then?

Might be a way of paying our own plumber!! In free working time.

Oh God NEVER wanted to be a maoning 'poor' person who is in reality luckier and better off than so many.

Am actually quite peeved at having to send back some lovely breast feeding tops and baby grows from Blooming MArvellous - arrived today.

How selfish is that. People bloody dying in Zimbabwe and I'm pissed over some vests.

treedelivery You have every right to be . It might not be much confort to you but I have had 4 DCs, and people like YOU made the last 3 birth experience really nice ones ( only had DH with me for DD1, he was looking after the Dcs for te other births). The constant encourraging and well general niceness and attention relly got me through. Not only do you deserve a pay rise but a ginormous one IMO.

To the MWs of everywhere in the world HIP HIP HOOOORRRRAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! and thank you SO MUCH!

TD-can you use you midwifery skills to go into lecturing or research post.would you consider independent practice.what about a management post/policy implementation etc role in nhs

Oh I like the idea of a health care professional debriefing thread.

I'll start: 11 hours into a 15 hour shift with no break as one of only two RN's for 30 patients and my new CCF patient was going bad. I am scrambling to keep her from arresting whilst trying to get doctors etc. I couldn't even get to the crash trolley. I was shouting for it but no one else was around. She arrested.

I am running for the crash trolley shouting "put the call out" and the son of another patient stops me and asks if I can get him a drink. I say I have an emergency right now I'm so sorry and run past him and went for the crash trolley for my now not breathing patient.

He calls me a lazy fucking whore and calls the complaints people to say that the bitch of a nurse cannot even be bothered to get people a drink. They want me to write a letter of apology to him. They say they understand that there was nothing I could do in that situation but they cannot admit this to the public so I need to write him a letter of apology and forget about it (or else). This same hospital is still refusing to hire registered nurses.

Typical huh.

Oh pramspotter. That is diabolical.

Will you write the letter? Surely the matron should be writing the letter on behalf of the service?????? Surely you should be getting a letter for being called a bitch?????

Makes me feel like screaming from the windows.

Start a AIBU thread?

@ pramspotter

Sorry to the OP as I should have started a new thread!! Matron doesn't care.

FFS pram, that is outrageous. But sadly, not a surprise. And no surprise that your managers aren't supporting you, either

Good grief don't apologise!!! It's so amazing to have you all here!!

I just mean lets advertise this fucking bulshit bollocks from every rooftop!!

Excuse me

Perhaps demonstates why higher management etc are not things I'm suitable for! Far too vocal!

If the matron isn't interested then I don't think you should do anything until you are pinned against a wall. Then I'd politely request union and HR input before you compile said letter.

Arseholes.

Am feeling much less soggy cottonwool like and more energised so a bit of shouting has obviously done me good.

No way am I going to apologise. This also happened on the maternity unit. The midwife was overwhelmed and dealing with a shoulder dystocia (spelling?) and another patients relative complained that she didn't answer a call light promptly enough. There was only one other midwife on the ward and she was also stuck in a bad situation. They have also asked them to write a letter of apology to the complainer.

The same people who make the wards dangerous and don't give a shit are the same damn ones who recieve the complaint letters. The amount of bullshitting that NHS managers do is shocking.

As if someone is going to leave an emergency to answer a goddamn call light. Is that what the public wants?