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Original poster

Has anyone had a career change after nursing and if so what?

80 replies

poptot · 30/10/2006 09:57

I'm stuck in a rut work full time in a senior post not in my area of choice and really want to get out of the NHS full stop. I do have a degree and lots of management and clinical courses but it's all I've ever done and don't know what else to do now. Any ideas?

OP posts:
nailpolish · 30/10/2006 10:02

hi poptot

i was a renal/itu nurse for 13 yrs until about 2 yrs ago

i was starting to dread going to work, crying, miserable, not because of my actual job, but because of what nursing had become

i left and joined Mayfair and did nursing agency almost full time nights, really really enjoyed this, felt i could still do the job i enjoyed without any office politics

then i got fed up of that, and tbh couldnt be bothered with nursing full stop

i then started work as a barmaid, a job that was loads of fun and no pressure!!!!!!!

i am now a weekend phlebotomy supervisor and its great

there are office politics still, as its nhs they ar in the same vein, but its better.

when i go into the wards and see the nurses now, i dont miss it one tiny tiny bit

at all

Original poster
poptot · 30/10/2006 10:11

Thanks for replying, I'm in such a state today about going back to work tomorrow in tears and have not slept I have got to do something otherwise I will loose my marbles. Would like to do something in customer services or management but have no idea how to even go about looking for a job outside of the NHS. I feel so bad I'm seriously thinking about going to the doctors and asking for a sick note, something I have never done. But I know thta is not a long term solution.

OP posts:
nailpolish · 30/10/2006 10:26

poptot one of my friends who i nursed with felt like this too, she went to college and did a Human Resources course (sorry cant remember the actual proper name of the course) and she is now working in Human Resources at the BNA (she is the one who phones every one to see when they are available!)

have you thought about NHS 24? (think its NHS Direct in england) they are always looking for staff, you get a good grade there

would you/could you go back to college? you could do nurse teaching? or how about as a rep? drugs company, etc

i am so sorry you are feeling bad

ive been there too with nursing, its CRAP

MrsDoolittle · 30/10/2006 10:29

God poptot, I really empathise - been there.

I am now a univeristy nurse lecturer. Love it, love it, love it. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but I wouldn't go back to the nhs for any money.

nailpolish · 30/10/2006 10:31

do you have a degree? what about primary school teaching?

my BIL who has a degree is now a teacher after only 1 yr at uni, doing the teaching part

nailpolish · 30/10/2006 10:34

i phoned the RCN the other week to tell them i had stopped nursing and didnt need my membership anymore

i cried doing it felt like THE end

i thought the person on the end of the phone might have taken a slight bit of interest when i told her, she couldnt have cared less!

(sorry, dont want to turn your thread into a moan about nursing!)

Original poster
poptot · 30/10/2006 10:59

Moaning is good, very carthartic (sp). Hadn't thought about teaching but will do TBH I'd do anything at the moment to get out.

OP posts:
lindyg1983 · 21/02/2015 18:34

Hi guys. I really want out of nursing too but at a loss as to where to go! I fancy nurse lecturing but the barriers getting into it are huge. Not sure where to go from here. Any help appreciated xx

Nevercan · 21/02/2015 19:47

My friend works for an insurance company and advises travellers who have been injured what they need in place to get home and she does repatriations and goes and picks them up

Helenagrace · 01/03/2015 21:16

I moved from nursing into general management in the NHS then got burnt out. I now work as a contract and project manager for a charity. Massive pay cut but my sanity is intact. Before that I worked for clinical negligence lawyers interpreting medical notes. In fact hardly any of us are still nurses!

Ex colleagues now work as nurse advisors for insurance companies, aero - medical nurses for repatriation companies, health commissioners, GP practice managers, nurses in prisons, drug and alcohol support workers, NVQ assessors and trainers (mostly doing CPR and lifting training for care workers) and assistants in special schools.

poisonedbypen · 01/03/2015 21:20

How about getting involved in clinical research, either at a Phase 1 unit (lots of them around, always looking for nurses a employees or bank staff) or within pharmaceutical company organising the trials or getting involved from an admin side. I know lots of ex nurses who have done this.

bullseyebraces · 01/03/2015 21:22

I work with lots of ex-nurses doing CPR training.

MrsG1972 · 26/05/2016 02:44

I have just read some posts about what to do after nursing. I've been nursing for 20+ Yeats, But have been having panic attacks related to work, to the point I can't face it tomorrow. I want to work but have no idea on how to apply for jobs, where to look etc. I haven't made a knee jerk reaction but contemplating it for some time. Any advice? Also new to mums net so not too sure how it works.

jclm · 26/05/2016 10:44

I would have thought getting into lecturing at a university would be very difficult, sorry. They may require publications and a PhD for instance. There are hundreds of applicants for each job so highly competitive.

Have you thought about doing a side step eg to health visiting? Or would you consider working abroad as a nurse?

michelmcc · 07/08/2016 10:03

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michelmcc · 07/08/2016 10:04

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Hot2TrotNowFit2Flop · 22/11/2017 11:53

Hi
I'm wondering where everyone from this thread is at now. I'm feeling exactly the same but you guys are all a good few years on from me now. I hope there are some success stories!!??

LostMyBroomstick · 22/11/2017 19:48

I think everyone wants out of the NHS right now so hope we get some replies.

I have a friend (ex A&E nurse) who applied for a nurse lecturing post at her local university and got it. They allowed her to do her PhD with them too. She loves it and has so much autonomy (and more money) she said she would NEVER return to the NHS.

Babyroobs · 05/12/2017 00:01

I am trying to get out of nursing as I find it so stressful. I now do benefit advice work for 3 days a week and then Nursing for 2 days a week. I can't afford to give up the nursing altogether as nothing else pays as well but it's a start to moving towards something different.

L1982 · 07/12/2017 22:59

I am also thinking about leaving nursing after 14 years. I have applied for some positions in nvq assessing but feel I will need to pick up bank shifts as a nurse to make up my money. To teach in a college/uni would require that I do a formal teaching qualification which would cost money that I don’t have. I feel like a fish out of water as all I have known is nursing. It’s so sad that the nhs and the profession is going this way.

Missjones15 · 17/12/2017 23:36

I’m so glad I have come across this discussion as I’m feeling exactly the same about nursing and just want to leave. I have been nursing for 11 years now and am currently on maternity leave and not looking forward to going back. I don’t know how to go about looking for other jobs (apart from NHS Jobs website). I’m happy to retrain/do a conversion course but again not sure how to go about looking for these and find ones that will be fairly easy to convert to. Any advice would be appreciated.

Helink · 01/01/2018 22:20

Hi,
I have a nursing Diploma, Iv been mental health nursing for 9 years. The role has changed so much over this time. I work on a NHS ward, the pressure is becoming unbareable, i see it in my collegues and in others from external services. The role is no longer about caring or empowering patients and i feel im only there to work my backside off just so management can fudge the numbers just like our government.
The job is affecting my personality and im becoming resentful and bitter and have even been rude to people lately which is not me at all. I feel trapped because of the pay, the hours (long shifts, fewer days) and the holidays. It's making me depressed and havin a negative impact on my physical health.
Iv been searching and rackin my brain about what i could do instead. I no longer wish to work or care for people and are looking for a complete change, all i can think of is that i will probably have to half my income and take a menial job somewhere.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
H

caremummy · 05/01/2018 23:55

Don't know how I ended up on this thread and I'm only a 1st year student nurse. But, two of my aunties who were both NHS nurses (one LD, one a&e) topped up to a degree and moved to Australia (3 years a part)They much prefer it. One retrained as a midwife and one is on the way to becoming a NP. Both working less & better hours and telling me I should go when I've qualified.
It seems like anywhere is better than the uk ATM ☹️
They were 34 and 37 when they moved, each with children.

caremummy · 06/01/2018 00:00

And my mum who was RGN then LD had a few years off when me and db were born then became a TA for SEN ks1 pupils. Much less money and autonomy but still rewarding

headsupcoaching · 17/01/2018 19:58

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