Survival

[Edictfromno10]

I have worked in the NHS nearly 20 years, I fear I have become totally institutionalised. I still love working with my patients but so sick of all the other BS that comes with the job! What are your best tips for survival? There are times I have thought about leaving, but I'm not convinced the grass is any greener and don't want to lose my benefits!

Eeeek, nothing to add to this but just commenting as someone who has just started their NHS career. What band are you/clinical or non clinical?

I have met some fab people but also some not so fab people, and definitely seeing the ‘who you know’ element of progression

Do you work in a hospital environment?
I retired after more than forty years, and feel fortunate to have worked most of my career able to use my own skills and judgement to make decisions about the care I delivered. I think it helped that my work was community based, and although I worked alone, a close knit supportive team were always available.
Would a change of direction help? I moved between care of the elderly, neurology and ended up as a clinical specialist. That ensured my interest levels were maintained.

Just out of interest what is the BS that comes with the job?

That is the case in every organisation unfortunately, although a professsionally run company or org will have guards against anything egregious, the fact of life is that managers building teams often bring in people they know can do the job and they feel comfortable working with as well as recruiting externally.

Thank you all the responses. Yes I work in a hospital in a specialist role. I have thought about community, but not sure. I do agree a change of direction may help, I just dont feel able to that right now as I have young kids, but I think once are both at school it may be more of the possibility.
As for the BS someone asked about, it's the culture, the toxic team dynamics, the micromanagement, the excessive scrutiny, the mandatory training, the over medicalisation of psychological issues, lack of resources, disingenuous reporting of performance statistics, lack of psychological saftey in teams, the repetitive nature of problems, incompetent staff in senior roles, bullying, lack of support or flexibility for carers/life events, the list goes on...

All I can say on this is I worked in admin in the NHS for 24 years and took Mutual Agreed Resignation in December. I've just started a job in admin part time for a well established local charity and the working environment is so much better. The lack of micro-management, the absence of Banding hierarchy and the positive team dynamic is so foreign to me - but (and I know it's early days) I'm loving it so far!

I worry I have no idea what a healthy positive team environment is like. It can't be good for my health!

Tips for survival? I just let the BS wash over my head. I have become a total cynic and almost laugh at the sheer stupidity of what we have to do. I am 30 years qualified, top band 7 in a community role with 11 years (and counting) until I can retire. I like my colleagues and patients but the Trust and NHS as a whole is bonkers!

If the benefits are enough to make you stay then I think you just have to make the best of it.

37 years NHS nursing and retiring this December. I cut down to three days when I had DC and have stayed at that ever since. Working part time has absolutely saved me. As has staying at the level that gives me sufficient income for least stress and ignoring the expectation of ‘moving up’. God I’ll be glad to be out.

22 years in hospital NHS and band 7 specialist. Full time. I agree with all your BS list. It’s the weirdest place to work sometime. I absolutely love it and hate it in equal measure!

What I hate the most is the sheer volume of unbelievably crap people who work there and have done for years (and I mean incompetent or severely rude or unsafe or extremely unprofessional or refusing to abide by rules or care or EBP etc) and there is never any consequences that stick. No one ever gets reprimanded in any way that is a deterrent. Its bonkers. Would never happen anywhere else, even in other areas of public service.

Im also struggling with the younger generation of intake who are unbelievably entitled and think we are all there to service their needs at all times. I suspect that’s from changing to having to pay fees.

I also wonder about doing something different but I’m quite niche, I do like it and I’m really good at it! It’s just the general NHS is batshit.