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Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

Retraining as a single parent

1 reply

Pippipumpkin · 17/01/2026 19:46

I hate my job and need to get out before It breaks me. I am a nurse in a safeguarding-type role. It is starting to impact my emotional wellbeing and I can't do it for another 25 years. I am quite pigeon-holed in my role now. I don't want to go back to ward based work. I would consider research or governance maybe.

I have the opportunity to apply for an allied health profession role which interests me, but I would not say I have a huge burning passion for (currently). It's a 9-5 role and would be a whole degree apprenticeship, so 3 years more study then back to roughly what I am earning now. Good NHS and private practice options once qualified.

The finances during the apprenticeship scare me, losing my NHS benefits scares me (the role is not in the NHS).
Technically I think I can afford the pay cut and could supplement from some savings, but it all just scares me! I think this ties in with the huge financial responsibility I hold generally as a single parent household. (I am a parent to 2dc, who are with me 4 nights a week and their dad the rest.)

Has anyone in a similar position done this or something similar? Can you tell me any hidden positives or stressors I might not have considered.

Or should I just hold out for a different role in the NHS (I am looking elsewhere too)? The stress levels are impacting my confidence so I need to move soon before I lose the ability to (if that makes sense!).

Thanks for reading and any wise words!

OP posts:
Pippipumpkin · 18/01/2026 11:29

Hopeful bump...

OP posts:
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