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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to give up nursing

33 replies

agedknees · 18/02/2010 22:31

My legs ache. My back aches. I have a constant headache due to medication I have to take.

But I really love nursing. Have done it for 30 years and do not know if I could do anything else.

Any suggestions to what I could do if I gave up nursing? What do ex nurses do?

OP posts:
WhereYouLeftIt · 18/02/2010 22:33

Couldn't you move into a different type of nursing, e.g. move from a hospital ward to a GP surgery?

southeastastra · 18/02/2010 22:33

please don't give up!

madamy · 18/02/2010 22:34

DO you really need to give it up completely if you love it? I'm assuming you are ward based (leg and back ache!) but there are lots of other opportunities for non-ward based nursing. I've been doing it for 16 years since qualifying and I can honestly say that I get more job satisfaction now than I ever have. Sometimes it's just about finding the right job at the right time.
What area of nursing are you in?

Original poster
agedknees · 18/02/2010 22:36

Already work in outpatients, but still have to move/help people.

Arthritis in back,knees, shoulders, elbow wrists, neck.

Now finding being on my feet 9 hour shifts hard.

OP posts:
hellymelly · 18/02/2010 22:38

I am so sleep deprived that I thought you meant breasfeeding and only did a double take at the "I've been doing it for 30 years" (possible though,biologically!)

madamy · 18/02/2010 22:40

What about community or practice nursing? Or are there any opportunities to do with staff education - if that interests you, it's not everybody's cup of tea.
If you really want to leave 'hands on'care, then there's always something like NHS direct or alot of ex nurses are going into the insurance work stuff that's advertised in the RCN bulletin regularly. My mum's neighbour works for them and finds it a bit target orientated though.

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 18/02/2010 22:40

Could you teach the student nurses?

Original poster
agedknees · 18/02/2010 22:42

Sorry, helly. Hope I gave you a laugh. Are you sleep deprived because of a baby? If so congratulations. And it does get better, believe me.

OP posts:
brimfull · 18/02/2010 22:46

community entails a lot of doing dressings on your knees so probably not a good idea.

I think the nhs direct route would be good but there are only a few locations that you can do that in, so depends where you live.

I am ward based . I have come across a few nurses who have left the wards to become travelling tutors. One is a pain specialist nurse who gives lectures to staff in the pct.

As you have arthritis could you approach the arthritis society and ask if they could use your insight and experience.Or your trust may have a rheumatology dept that could use your expertise.

Don't give up-you have so much experience the nhs could use.

Original poster
agedknees · 18/02/2010 22:46

Think you have to have a degree to teach student nurses, and I am a dunce with only O levels (thats showing my age).

Still would like to work with people as I love people. Every person I have ever looked after has been so interesting.

I hate getting older!! And I would be crap at insurance as I would be trying to solve everyones problems over the phone and would make the insurance company no money.

OP posts:
serinBrightside · 18/02/2010 22:49

Counselling?

Teaching assistant? (Get to sit down a fair bit).

Ward clerk?

(Whispers).......NHS management?

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 18/02/2010 22:49

ggirl has some really good suggestions.

Original poster
agedknees · 18/02/2010 22:53

ggirl has given me some suggestions to think about.

NHS management serin!!Wash your mouth out with soap and water.

OP posts:
ScreaminEagle · 18/02/2010 23:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Kitkatqueen · 18/02/2010 23:42

screamineagle that was my 1st thought, be a hv, mine was a real one with actual medical and life knowledge. Minimal kneeling duties and possible opportunities to hold gorgeous babies!!!!!!

Kitkatqueen · 18/02/2010 23:43

You could go and see an osteopath you know, you'd be amazed!

crazycat34 · 19/02/2010 09:53

serinBrightside

Teaching assistant? (Get to sit down a fair bit).

This made me laugh! I shall be sure to remind my TA of this the next time she is lugging heaving things around, climbing up and down ladders, stapling things to the ceiling, restraining children...

scratchet · 19/02/2010 10:02

Practice nurse?

Some kind of role in the NMC or RCN? One of my colleagues does 3 days per week union work 2 days per week on the ward.

What about going part time or speaking to occy health and see if they can suggest anything?

InThisSequinBraYesYouOlaJordan · 19/02/2010 10:12

What about working at a GP Co-operative - the Out of Hours services: telephone triage, seated at all times, no lifting/moving etc. Most areas have one, it is different from NHS Direct.

You could pick and choose your days/hours to suit you also, so if you're stiffer in the mornings etc, you could start later.

School nurse?
Occupational Health?

RemyMartin · 19/02/2010 10:15

What about district nursing? You get to spend time with your patients one on one with no distractions, they really appreciate you, they're more relaxed because they're in their own homes, there is some moving and handling, but not much, as ss do most of that.
I work with dns and they're all really happy in their jobs.

thelunar66 · 19/02/2010 10:15

I gave it up. I haven't had back pain since.

Am now a medical secretary, which did require a 2 year full time diploma course, but it was well worth it.

donkeyderby · 19/02/2010 10:21

As someone else suggested, Occy Health could be perfect. Or depot clinic (unless you have to have RMN - not sure). Family planning nurse? You would still be on your feet but less rushing around.

Don't completely rule out getting a higher qualification like a degree - they are not all they are cracked up to be

bellamysbride · 19/02/2010 10:40

I second Practice Nursing. It's still skill based so you don't lose the patient contact, but easier on the joints. A nice range of patients too. If you love nursing don't leave it completely, it is so rare for a person to 'love' their work.

StarExpat · 19/02/2010 10:46

hellymelly - me too!! I was about to come on and tell you it's your choice and do what's best for you...etc. Then I saw you'd been nursing for 30 years! and I read the sentence a few times before moving on thinking of that programme with nursing teens... then I thought maybe you were a wet nurse or something oh that did give me a good

No advice, though. I don't know how you have done it for 30 years. It looks like bloody hard work to me.

2boys2 · 19/02/2010 10:59

school nurse?

cut your hours?

go to occ health and they should do an assessment for you - especially if you find one shift harder than others - they will be able to insist you don't do that shift