Dont want to go back into nursing...

[mum2sam]

I had just qualified as a nurse when I fell pregnant with ds. I had started a new job as a newly qualified nurse and didnt realise until a few wks later I was pregnant. I was finding the job very stressful and tiring and even more so so because I was pregnant anyway in the end i had to give it up because i developed pre-eclampsia. Now i want to go back to work after a yr and a half as a sahm mum but i rally dont think i can go back into nursing as I dont have the confidence and dont want he stress of the job.

nursing is hard at the best of times but I think probably the first year is hardest - I remember mine being incradibly stressful -, especially as you are suppose to know everything now your uniform colour has changed! Pregnancy doesn't make it any easier either.

You don't have to return to the same ward/practice area particularly if it was very stressful. why not try outpatients or practice nurse. consider completing preceptorship again.

shift work plays havoc with paid childcare, if you need to use it so i would advocate for looking for regular hours.

many new mums have their confidence knocked and adjusting to doing role in part time hrs etc doesn't help either. It does get easier, honestly.

It took me 15 years before I stopped nursing, it took lots of soul searching but in the end it turned out to be the best decision I could have made both for myself and my family.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

i'm also due to return to nursing have been on mat leave for 6 months and before that was in an office based job will be going back to full on acute admissions ward work and it's terrifying me but have told my boss who was v sympathetic and is offering me reasonable supernumeray time but I totally agree with leximum the change from student to fully qualified is a huge jump and v stressful I still remember how I felt, outpatients nursing may have better hours for childcare aswell

Is there anything else I could do with my nursing qualification? I have a diploma. Tbh i had second thoughts about continuing with my nursing during my training but decided to finish the course anyhow. I cant remember any thing ive learnt as a student after a nearly 2yrs out of it.

Here's some ideas but not sure whether you'd have enough experience (may require more than one year) but could give it a go

1. anything clerical (medical secretary) in hospital or GP surgery (no nursing qual required but people skills you;ll have developed will help)
2. Nursing agencies employ nurses to source work etc (a friend of mine works for one in london - got paid fgrade equiv)
3. Path labs etc (no direct qual but as 1 will all help at interview)
4. Pharmaceutical companies advertising new drugs to wards, consultants etc (need nursing qual but think its more than one year postreg plus be able to drive)
5. Childminding
6. Teaching assistant in special needs school etc.

but if you want to maintain your nursing qual then you need to do at least one shift a week plus study for prep - 2 and 4 would work towards this. 5 and 6 would if caring for children with special needs and you are child or LD registered. You don't necessarily have to be employed as a nurse but must be using your qualification - I'm a registered home manager in LD but maintain registration as use my qual.

why not sign on with an agency and work in a nursing home.

hope this gives you something to think about.

I don't think many of us really remember what we've been taught. I learnt much more from my peers and actually practising during the first two years than I did at Uni. I was also taught different practices to those used in the place I worked - studied in Surrey and work in oxfordshire

I used "I'll get back to you on that...." practically every day and went and asked someone with more experience for their opinion.

The day I was in charge all by myself with no other nurses for backup was scary (it was 2mths after reg) but I got through it, dealt with the incidents (I worked in a secure unit) and went home knowing that actually I could do it. It was then I knew I could really be a nurse.