Stress and how to cope

[Blushingm]

I’m a b7 in district nursing

I am feeling close to burn out. I can’t switch off. Constantly ruminating. Terrified I’m going to do something wrong or my team will and it will be my responsibility.

i feel like I’m failing

Has anyone else been in this position - how did you cope?

I left.

I also left.

Before that though, I did however had to take time off sick due to burnout for the 1st time in decades.

It just overtook, overwhelmed and swallowed me whole.

This is what I’m afraid of

Where did you go and what did you do?

I hold an administrative position at a UN agency focused on global health, logistics, and health administration. Never again NHS.

That sounds incredibly interesting - do you mind me asking how you found that role? What level were you in the nhs?

https://unjobs.org/organizations

Band 8/heads of department.

I’m only a 7

toure brave to make the leap

It doesn't matter.
Start looking for jobs outside NHS.

I know community nursing is tough. Would you consider a lower banding to shake some of the responsibility off. Would that help you feel better.

Is there still job freezes?

There is. No recruitment in my area as the overspend is already enormous

What are your plans OP? Got anything in mind?

I don’t know.

i think i need to get out - but i need to keep the same level of income.

HE appeals to me but there are redundancies here

any ideas?

Get on LinkedIn, industry jobs, they are out there OP.
Get signed up with recruiters on LinkedIn.

Band 8a non-clinical role here - currently off sick with stress for the first time in my 17 year career after trying to do two full time jobs for the past few months. Was promised every week there would be a meeting with all managers involved to review my workload and agree what could be dropped... cancelled and rearranged each time. I'm also autistic and now know what burnout really is. Tempted by a job working for a PCN but worried about losing my terms and conditions.... although DP now earns well enough that if I were to be made redundant without 17 years service etc we would still be ok...

My son works in NHS, much lower band but there’s so much change he’s only just coping with it all (autistic).
has anyone got any experience of the union.

I feel he should join but I’m not sure they have the capacity to help much.

as it is he’s probably going to lose his Access to Work grant as they keep successively increasing barriers to claiming so it’s unlikely to be renewed.

It sounds like you need to jump. I really feel for you as I know how horrific it is for most people working there currently.

All the people bashing the NHS need to take a long hard look at themselves and focus their feelings towards their MP instead.

You need to see you GP and get some time off. As long as it takes. While off you need to speak to your immediate senior and explain that you are at breaking point and have it documented and they will be duty bound to help you in some way. Good luck.

I left Nursing ten years ago. I still ruminate/ have flashbacks over things that happened. I think a lot of nurses have some form of PTSD from things they have witnessed. It has ruined my life.