Has anyone got a degree in mental health nursing (or any other degree) and not used it?

[Welshcakes0]

Im almost finished studying a mental health nursing degree and I am not wanting to work as a mental health nurse when I finish. For many reasons, shifts (single parent with no childcare), working in mental health impacts on my own mental health, the responsibility, and the need to be in a job that makes me feel happy.
I have absolutely no confidence in myself and I don't think that is good for such a role. I know confidence comes with time and experience but I can assure you it's worse than ever. I thought it would get better but it hasn't. I now suffer with anxiety and I am even struggling to go back next week to finish my management placement of 12 weeks as they're going to expect so much from me. I'm not excited to qualify. I'm not excited about the potential job opportunities (as there are none that I would enjoy). The thought of not going back makes me feel happy but I have nothing else and a mortgage to pay. I wish i had never started this degree as the pressures to finish it is so high and my mental health has never suffered so bad as now. I wish it would all just go away :(

Take your own advice (ie the advice of a mental health nurse) and look after your mental health first.

But also, find out how long your registration is valid for and see what is the minimum number of hours you have to do to maintain it.

IAmRubbishAtDIY thankyou for you message. It's difficult to take your own advice. I know what id say to someone else in this position. However, I feel I have worked so hard and overcome so many awful obstacles. Just to get to the finish line, not to work as a nurse I called the NMC and I have 6 months to provide my qualifications. So I can take 6 months out at the end. I just can't bring myself to finish it (12 week placement).

Have you started your 12 weeks yet? Can you defer it for a bit?

Not yet. I think as long as the hours get done I will be signed off. My bursary stops at the end of March so as of April won't have any income. So technically need to get it done asap.

Hi OP, I think I commented on a similar topic a few months ago? For now, I'd like to say it sounds like you've done really well passing all the modules and placements so far, especially if you've been having doubts about it for a while.

Can you say more about your management placement ? I'm wondering what the shift pattern is like and if it's ward or community based or something else, and is it a setting you've had a placement before?

I'm also wondering what prep you've had at uni ahead of this placement, and whether you've had much chance to chat to your mentor yet?

Sorry for all the questions.

Hi Welshcakes, do you have access to counselling services? Perhaps the last 12 weeks would not seems so daunting if you had more support? As you say, you pretty much just have to turn up to finish it - it doesn't have to be your best work, it just has to be good enough.

Once you have the qualification you can look at bank work, other branches of nursing, nursing related professions, etc and see what you would rather be doing. A lot of nurses think they don't like it, then stumble upon a different discipline or move from hospital to community and find they do like it, they were just in the wrong section.

Also, would moving on to train as an OT or some other healthcare professional interest you or be a possibility?

I would try and take it one week at a time and complete the qualification if you can. I know that's easy for me to say.

Best of luck to you. You are so close to the end, it seems a shame to fall at the last hurdle. A bit of support from you Ward Manager/tutor would go a long way at this stage.

Awakeupnorth thankyou for your message. Don't apologise, I'm so grateful for the questions. I'm always too scared to chat to my mentor about my anxieties as I feel when someone knows I'm nervous (for example in MDT meeting, handovers) it make them worse. I try to act confident as they're going to make me do these things regardless as they're part of my competencies. I can't explain how bad it's all got for me now. I actually left a meeting as they were doing some kind of group work. I panicked. I'm so embarrassed even typing this as i know this is all part of the role. I know anxieties are normal as a student/newly qualified but its to the extreme with me. I always thought once I find a job, I can build on my confidence in my own time. When you are on placement you are giving all these objectives and thrown in. Especially management. I started on a camhs unit. They set all these objectives and threw me into one to one assessments with young people. I knew nothing about camhs. I was with another student who was confident and been there before. I felt so out of my depth. I couldn't stand listening to the traumas these young people had experienced. I had to take time off due to many personal reasons and I requested to change. They agreed to change my management but now are saying I have to go back. I just can't. I have asked for the uni to find me another due to it being too difficult for me. I'm hoping they can. Not sure where it will be. However, don't want to go anywhere. I just don't feel confident. I feel I have to finish it though.

KatyLovesKats thankyou for your message. I have had counselling leading up to Christmas. It was 6 sessions. I'm not sure it helped to be honest. I had to travel to my uni which is an hour away, each week which meant taking time off placement which time owing accumulated. I find it all too much to cope with as a single parent with no support. I know I should finish it, I'm just really struggling.

Hi Welshcakes, it sounds like there's a number of different parts all contributing to how you're feeling, with perhaps the CAMHS setting and hearing the traumas experienced by young people being a big concern. Does your tutor/LTF or placement coordinator just how difficult you find the CAMHS setting?
As well as the staff on your course, would someone from the Students' Union or Student Support Services be able to help support you to negotiate a non-CAMHS placement? I realise you've said travelling to uni is an added problem, but I'm wondering if anything could be accessed by phone or email.

Awakeupnorth I have emailed placements my concerns before the Christmas period and thats when I tried to change it myself as they were not getting back to me. My personal tutor is very unsupportive. Another tutor has been great though, however it is up to my personal tutor. My personal tutor advised me to step off the programme for a uear. The placement I arranged was agreed until today when they emailed me saying I have to go back to camhs as there are too many students there. I reminded them of my concerns and have requested a change to anywhere which is flexible so I can get it done with the childcare I have.
I may be able to call the counsellor, not sure, I will enquire.

It sounds like you've actively been trying to get things changed, but the update today doesn't seem to recognise your concerns with the setting.

I can hear how frustrating it is to have a personal tutor who you feel is unsupportive. I don't know about the dynamics between different members of staff but would it be worth talking it through with the tutor you have found supportive?

I will speak to my tutor next week as he is on annual leave at the moment. Some things are out of his hands though. I'm planning on speaking to him though. Thankyou Awakeupnorth

I remember feeling just like you when I was in my management placement. Watching qualified nurses and thinking how on Earth will I have the confidence to do that? To speak to other MDT and how on earth could I ever speak to a doctor or consultant?! I pushed myself (I know not everyone can) to put on my confidence cloak and speak to these people in power, not always about our patients but something else of interest, ask for advice on somewhere nice to go for dinner as you haven't been out for ages. Now it's just my personal life that my anxieties affect, my work life is fine as I'm in the role I trained for and have confidence in myself. Keep going, this is what you've dreamed of achieving, the end is in site x

Can you keep your registration but work in a care assistant role to get confidence without the responsibility ? I'm an ex rmn and remember the stresses of early posts , eventually went into addictions field , but actually found psycho geriatric care 'easier' (actually bloody hard work but doable) so there are options to explore .
Even without ward /management experience you will now have transferable skills ..are you any good at counselling / listening skills ..look at charity work too .Good luck .

donnalouise1977 thanks for your message. This is what I try to do but its like I feel the anxiety with everything now.
ginandbearit thanks for your message. Without the management I don't get a degree. I need to be away from mental health as it impacts on my own.

I know some mental health nurses have trained in health visiting post degree.

from casual conversations with friends, about 70% haven't used their degree in their current job and are dreading getting promoted to the point they have to start paying it back.

FUCK YOU THATCHER

Welshcakes it sounds as though you've got everything moving that you can in terms of trying to get the placement changed, and now that's out of your hands.

What else do you think might help?

I finished my post grad studies last year and am in a job you don't really need any qualifications for (don't think you even need GCSEs).

I felt like you in the final year of my undergrad degree. I was suicidal for several months (mixture of stressors).

My advice, from my experience, which isn't the same as yours, is that you don't have to go straight into something. I didn't do nursing, so I am sorry if things are different- but you can give yourself some respite to reevaluate once qualified. Get the degree. Sort out a job which is relatively low stress (ie. 9-5 and nothing to take home or not much) And get back on track. It took me about a year after finishing my stressful job and studying to stop the feeling of constant sickness and panic attacks over tiny things. Now I am much better and am going to try and look for something more in line with my potential in 2019. I think hanging around too long in another job is probably not good long term for your confidence, but enough to feel like you can "breath" may be necessary.

I got through it by remembering that realistically by the time I had found a job to take the place of my degree, I would be X many months from finishing anyway. As it could take a few months. So I may as well just keep going. Day by day. I really really hated it but I would have probably felt worse dropping out and being unemployed and having nothing to show for 2.5years of work.

Keep going!

You are assessing this from the worst point of your career - the shit storm of dissertation & placements & real job fear.

I commented on your last thread too (I’m MH)

I never thought I’d make it at your point (teetering on breakdown) but here I am 20 years later in management.

What I say to all the students is that you won’t be expected to know everything moment you leave Uni.
I’m still learning & winging it.

Also when qualified you might find working part time will suit you better. I only worked full time for 2 years!!!

I actually think I’d get too tired & stressed full time. Add a dissertation to that as well as running a house - well no wonder you’ll be feeling like you do.

When you qualify you’ll be more in control of pacing your life more.

You’ll join a team & get more support. As bad as it is with the numbers of students passing through, staff are not always bothered about making the effort as much as they would with static staff.

Ask for help x

I mean this kindly, do you think if you’re unable to work with the patients at CAMHS and sit with their difficult life experiences you’re suited to working in mental health? There’s no shame in realising it’s not for you.

Hope you have as relaxing day as possible today Welshcakes.

I often wonder if it's those with most empathy who are most affected by the trauma others have been through. If that sounds like you, you'll know whether you want to lose your empathy or not.

It's not unusual to struggle in your last placement and management ones are very hard. I am not a nurse but I work in admin currently in MH, was previously a senior HCA. I have supported student nurses on all levels of placement and you are not alone. Speak to the staff, I worked with an absolutely lovely student nurse who was struggling hugely and was failing his management placement. A senior nurse and a couple of HCA' s stepped in to support him because he was having a breakdown and that was the cause of his issues. We all supported him, listened to him and encouraged him. He passed his placement and qualified. What are the team like, believe it or not but you would do well to befriend the HCA's they know the job inside out and you don't need a degree to work in MH. Some of the best staff on the wards are the HCA's.

Just want to point out that you struggling with CAMHS is fine, I know plenty of MH nurses who cannot work in specific areas of MH. For some it's working age adults because it's too close to home for them, I never wanted to work with children because I would have found it too hard to deal with. Some can't work with the elderly, I loved it but I do understand completely struggling with a certain area of MH. It doesn't mean that you are not cut out for being a MH nurse at all. Having your own personal experience of MH is going to make you a much better nurse. Working with working age adults would probably work very well for you, you understand severe anxiety, depression and how daunting going back to work can be.....this will make you a better nurse!

Please don't give up, MH teams are bursting at the seams with more patients than they can treat, they need you and your skills, you will find your ideal environment. Remember management placements are not meant to be easy, the tougher it is for you the better you will be when you start work. You won't be expected to go straight to work knowing everything, you will have your preceptorship to complete and that's where you gain confidence in your ability.

Highfever - thanks for your message. I think that's general nurses, I am mental health. I couldn't do any more training now.
NotTheFordType - thanks for your message. I will never earn enough to pay too much back.
Awakeupnorth - yes, thats what I was trying to tell myself yesterday. I think the anxiety is not knowing what they're going to say or do or where they're going to put me. Its the pressure of knowing I have to finish this. I suppose there isn't anything else I can do. Its horrible how its taken over my mind so much and I can't seem to be happy. Thankyou for your messages.
Dirtybadger - tgat must have been awful for you. I know exactly how that feels. It's like being trapped in this awful situation. I'm glad you're feeling better. I can't wait to feel that. I would do anything to stop this feeling. I know I have to finish for the same reasons you did. I think thats what is so hard right now. Right now I'm thinking I can not work in mental health, it's all been too much. I do have a job lined up that have offered me part time but they are longer shifts. Not sure how long I can postpone that.
Reflexella - thanks for your message. Reading your message does make me think it's a blip for me. However I have been off for a month. Spent time with my dc's and finished my dissertation. I still feel my head won't calm down and the longer this goes on the more anxious I feel. I just need it to be over. I have had some lovely mentors who have said exactly that. I just feel on my management they're going to expect so much. That's why I question if this is meant for me.
VietnameseCrispyFish - thanks for your message. This is what I have questioned from year 1. However alot of staff explained it gets easier, you learn to shut off. I never have. In fact I feel it has made me worse.
Awakeupnorth - thankyou :) you have been very kind. I really appreciate your advice and time. I appreciate everyone's support here. It's so difficult being alone sometimes. Yes, I think you're right.

*thanks for your message. This is what I have questioned from year 1. However alot of staff explained it gets easier, you learn to shut off. I never have. In fact I feel it has made me worse.‘

Then there’s your answer! There’s no sense in trying to force a square peg into a round hole.

If you want to finish the course so you haven’t wasted all this time and money for nothing, do that. There are jobs out there totally unrelated to MH that require any degree so I would try get the degree if you possibly can.

But really, it’s okay to try something out and find out it’s not right for you. It’s not a failure to decide you want something different. Far worse to keep ploughing on out of stubbornness into a job you hate that’s harming your emotional wellbeing.