Wanting a career change... but don't know what else to do?!?

[KitKat1985]

Hi all. A very brief career summary - I have a degree in psychology. After graduating wasn't really sure what to do but after about a year of temp working saw an advert for an MSc course in mental health which included professional training as mental health nurse and got in. 3 years of training and nearly 6 years on the wards later I'm fed up. Even though I'm currently on maternity leave I'm not looking forward to going back to work. I work with some lovely colleagues and my manager has always been happy with my work performance but several years in over-stretched wards, constantly trying to 10 things at once, numerous incidents of being injured / seeing colleagues assaulted, relentless paperwork and constant pressure to work overtime and I feel I'm spent. I've had some time to think since I've been on maternity leave (DD now 7 months) and I think I want a career change. Problem is I don't know what else to do! It'll have to be at least equivalent in salary, and be reasonably flexible to accommodate childcare. I did originally want to go back and do a PHD and get into research / teaching, but really don't think I could afford to do it now (I'm the higher earner out of me and DH and we couldn't afford to live on his salary alone). Any suggestions?!?

What did you most love about your job? If you could do one thing all day every day what would it be? Have you talked to other people who have done mental health nursing and moved out? Do you know what they moved to? Could you work in the community instead of on the wards?

What about working for a charity? Or training as a psychotherapist or counselling psychologist?

What about community (cpn) nursing? Or is that what you do?

Do you want something you can go straight into or can you do more training?

You might be able to get bank work at a college doing psychology courses. Or you could become an assessor/verifier for nvqs in health or social care.

What about management in a care home or homeless hostel?

Working in the voluntary sector eg advocacy? Mental health charities?

What about copywriting for health websites/magazines?

What about moving into public health?

Health visiting?

Midwifery?

Become a doula?

Do a social work masters- I think there's a shortage of mental health social workers.

Work in a children's home?

Policy work?

Thank you for all of your suggestions. I think honestly I'd like something with more 'family friendly' hours and to be able to spend the holidays with DH and DD, rather than be on the ward. A chance for a better salary wouldn't be sniffed at either... I'm thinking maybe health visiting? The NHS were offering secondments to train as one a while ago. May have to investigate if they still are....

A lot of what health visitors do now is related to safeguarding. I worked as a member of my local HV team for a while - not as a HV but as a breastfeeding counsellor. They do very valuable work. Definitely worth investigating.

Have you thought about a student support role within a university environment?

Have you considered lecturing students in Mental Health work? You get the holidays and you'll be closer to a research environment. I just don't know how many vacancies are out there.

As a health visitor with mental health training I think you would have a lot to offer. I am not sure if you need general nursing training as well to train as a health visitor.