Nurse leaving profession for good

[babyblueblush]

Hi, I'm new here.

Looking for any fellow nurses on here that are at the brink of having yet another mental physical breakdown due to the conditions we are working in at the moment.

I've only been doing this job two years and I feel disheartened I might need to give it up but right now- there's no other option for me. My mental health can't take it.

I'm losing the will and it's eating away at me. I keep reading about how we shouldn't let a job take over your life, but how can this job not?

Any nurses on here who are feeling the same and how do you keep going? What have you done instead?

I'm ready to leave and find a job doing anything else. I need to put myself first before it makes me really ill.

Are all nursing jobs the same? I had to go to
Minor injuries last night and thought it looked like a good deal - a steady stream of non critical patients, cheerfully being patched up, and only open until 10 so no nights!

@Hollyhead

Are all nursing jobs the same? I had to go to Minor injuries last night and thought it looked like a good deal - a steady stream of non critical patients, cheerfully being patched up, and only open until 10 so no nights!

Yeah I think it just depends on where you live and the areas available to you. Sadly I live in a small rural area that doesn't have a great deal of options or opportunity let's say.

I hate the wards, I got a job in outpatients however have been told they don't need me there at present so have been pushed back to wards. I just hate being miserable all the time.

Community jobs also be nice but hard to come by from where I live. Travelling isn't an option for me due to young family. I can't win just now.

I went into lecturing which I really love.

I’ve been nursing for over 20 years
It’s just starting to make me feel burnt out now but that’s partly the type of role and band I am.
My solution is to apply to another local NHS trust and go down a band - due to my location this is worth trying but I see this don’t work for you at present.
Are you financially able to consider (temporarily) a lower band - e.g. go to a 5 if you’re a 6 if the responsibilities are adding to your stress?
Could you consider reduction in hours, flexi working, NHSP only, pick up hours in local nursing home - just to give yourself some breathing space?

@onepieceoflollipop

I’ve been nursing for over 20 years It’s just starting to make me feel burnt out now but that’s partly the type of role and band I am. My solution is to apply to another local NHS trust and go down a band - due to my location this is worth trying but I see this don’t work for you at present. Are you financially able to consider (temporarily) a lower band - e.g. go to a 5 if you’re a 6 if the responsibilities are adding to your stress? Could you consider reduction in hours, flexi working, NHSP only, pick up hours in local nursing home - just to give yourself some breathing space?

At the moment I am signed off to kind of give me some breathing space. I've been off a few weeks, however even being off work makes me feel guilt and stress. The actual job role for me is just not something I enjoy anymore. It's sad because I went into nursing with loads of motivation and compassion for the job. Sadly it's been lost over the last two years, as I've only ever known nursing to be like it has been. I didn't know what it was like 'before.' I'm not sure it's worth waiting for that to come round again.

OP I’ve seen many changes over the years. I’m glad you have some breathing space but ultimately there are unlikely to be many significant forthcoming changes to your working conditions.

What I see now (just imo of course) is the NHS becoming less and less functional and staff on the whole having to pick up more and more.
I feel that in most departments the staff are totally unable to spread themselves anymore thinly it is physically impossible. And of course Covid added a whole new layer of pressure.

These conditions impact on patient care which increases the number of complaints.

I know many band 7s who historically as ward or team sisters/charge nurses would have done quite a bit of clinical work. This would enable us to support staff, check the care is of a good standard (by direct oversight and spending time with the patients).

But now the time is taken (sorry to say this) with dealing with ever increasing patient complaints and things like sickness management or support for staff who unsurprisingly can’t cope with conditions. And for each staff member who is signed off (and I do not judge or criticise them) the harsh reality is that those at work have to try and work even harder to keep the patients safe.

@onepieceoflollipop

OP I’ve seen many changes over the years. I’m glad you have some breathing space but ultimately there are unlikely to be many significant forthcoming changes to your working conditions.

What I see now (just imo of course) is the NHS becoming less and less functional and staff on the whole having to pick up more and more.
I feel that in most departments the staff are totally unable to spread themselves anymore thinly it is physically impossible. And of course Covid added a whole new layer of pressure.

These conditions impact on patient care which increases the number of complaints.

I know many band 7s who historically as ward or team sisters/charge nurses would have done quite a bit of clinical work. This would enable us to support staff, check the care is of a good standard (by direct oversight and spending time with the patients).

But now the time is taken (sorry to say this) with dealing with ever increasing patient complaints and things like sickness management or support for staff who unsurprisingly can’t cope with conditions. And for each staff member who is signed off (and I do not judge or criticise them) the harsh reality is that those at work have to try and work even harder to keep the patients safe.

Yes I do totally agree with you on this. Sadly, I have been that member of staff working harder many a time to cover sickness. Sometimes we just can't do it all and people do reach a breaking point.

I feel you, and many of my colleagues feel the same.

I've been qualified for 15+ years and honestly the last 10 years have steadily gone further and further into what we have now - COVID definitely accelerated things but the 'before' wasn't all that!

Also completely disagree with there are 'easier' jobs in nursing - antiquated view. It's all a hard stressful slog (last 9 years in community/primary/advanced roles).

I LOVED my career, always motivated and inquisitive, forever learning. Now for the first time I'd happily jack it all in - for what though I have no idea!!

So complete solidarity xxx

@SlB09

I feel you, and many of my colleagues feel the same.

I've been qualified for 15+ years and honestly the last 10 years have steadily gone further and further into what we have now - COVID definitely accelerated things but the 'before' wasn't all that!

Also completely disagree with there are 'easier' jobs in nursing - antiquated view. It's all a hard stressful slog (last 9 years in community/primary/advanced roles).

I LOVED my career, always motivated and inquisitive, forever learning. Now for the first time I'd happily jack it all in - for what though I have no idea!!

So complete solidarity xxx

Thank you for this! Makes me feel better knowing I'm not alone. I just assume every nurse is out there enjoying the role apart from me and that I have failed! Xx

I left my medical training in 2016. I am now retraining to be a psychotherapist

I’m in the same boat. I loved my job. I had a really niche caseload and I was really good at my job. Now I’m terrified that I’m going to make a mistake and be hung out to dry. The pandemic has broken my colleagues and I.

We were already 20% understaffed before covid. Our staff is routinely down by another third, and our workload has gone up 20%. Most days I sit in my car before the shift deciding whether or not to go in, and being terrified of what’s waiting. There are 20 of us and ŵe are all looking for other jobs. I’m going to apply to Aldi as a manager.

Two of my colleagues have taken covid home with them. They have now both lost a parent to covid, and blame themselves. The government are sacking another 3 of my colleagues who can’t bring themselves to be vaccinated ( one previously vaccine damaged, one who cannot bring herself to be vaccinated , and one whose brother died from a blood clots attributed to the vaccine post vaccine so staffing is going to get worse

The government has decimated the NHS. Privatisation here we come.

@StrandedStarfish

I’m in the same boat. I loved my job. I had a really niche caseload and I was really good at my job. Now I’m terrified that I’m going to make a mistake and be hung out to dry. The pandemic has broken my colleagues and I.

We were already 20% understaffed before covid. Our staff is routinely down by another third, and our workload has gone up 20%. Most days I sit in my car before the shift deciding whether or not to go in, and being terrified of what’s waiting. There are 20 of us and ŵe are all looking for other jobs. I’m going to apply to Aldi as a manager.

Two of my colleagues have taken covid home with them. They have now both lost a parent to covid, and blame themselves. The government are sacking another 3 of my colleagues who can’t bring themselves to be vaccinated ( one previously vaccine damaged, one who cannot bring herself to be vaccinated , and one whose brother died from a blood clots attributed to the vaccine post vaccine so staffing is going to get worse

The government has decimated the NHS. Privatisation here we come.

The public have to pay more . We are your employers .

That’s what it boils down to plus eradicating overspending and waste .

@StrandedStarfish

I’m in the same boat. I loved my job. I had a really niche caseload and I was really good at my job. Now I’m terrified that I’m going to make a mistake and be hung out to dry. The pandemic has broken my colleagues and I.

We were already 20% understaffed before covid. Our staff is routinely down by another third, and our workload has gone up 20%. Most days I sit in my car before the shift deciding whether or not to go in, and being terrified of what’s waiting. There are 20 of us and ŵe are all looking for other jobs. I’m going to apply to Aldi as a manager.

Two of my colleagues have taken covid home with them. They have now both lost a parent to covid, and blame themselves. The government are sacking another 3 of my colleagues who can’t bring themselves to be vaccinated ( one previously vaccine damaged, one who cannot bring herself to be vaccinated , and one whose brother died from a blood clots attributed to the vaccine post vaccine so staffing is going to get worse

The government has decimated the NHS. Privatisation here we come.

I'm so sorry that you too, also feel this way. I agree with everything you said. Every day before I wake up for work I too contemplate whether I can go in and do it. I worry something wrong will happen due to not having the staff to look after our patients and I'll be put to blame. We are under so much pressure and I just think the job itself isn't worth losing sleep over anymore. Ofcourse, I love my patients and looking after others, that's why we trained. However, it's not even about that anymore, it's politics and skivvying by. I'm not proud of the care that is giving. It's just really sad and I've had my eyes opened.

I just want a job that doesn't scare the life out of me and drains everything I have.