Trapped in nursing

[topcat66]

I'm a registered nurse (children's) and have been for 23 years. My heart is so not in it anymore for several reasons; the usual...politics, management, paperwork, in and on but also not feeling appreciated. Really do not want to do it anymore at all. Trouble is I have no idea what I CAN do. Feel very trapped with my nursing qualification & also last 8 years been very specialised. I need to work & can't afford to take time out to retrain as we have mortgage & bills. Currently my wage is 1600 per month (working 30 hours) and I really cannot see how I can get out of nursing but still earn enough money. Please help. Has anyone been in same situation? What did u do?

I'm not a nurse, but I have a good friend back in the states who is a nurse ... she teaches nursing at a University ... could you teach?

What about teaching paediatric life support? Not sure what the Trust you work at is like, but we have a Resus Team that do all the "skills and drills" teaching for all staff. Always thought that looked like a fun job. Also, gives you the option to maybe set up your own business teaching Children's First Aid courses (aimed at parents, though now I am thinking of it, you could probably run one for children too).

I would recommend spending a bit of money on a career coach - they wou,d help you identify what you would like to do for the next phase of your career, how to pick out your transferable skills and how to get yourself on a new path.

Best of luck!

Thanks BewareofDragons & Cashelgirl. Think I would need a teaching qualification to teach nursing courses. The Trust does have a Resus Training Team, no vacancies but they do adult generally with paeds thrown in & generally take on nurses with AE or cadiac background so not me. Thanks though.

Does the open university have any courses that grab your fancy?

Are there any patient organisations like macmillan for whatever your speciality is? So still be a nurse but not nhs. Or could you move into advocacy in one of those organisations?

Could you become a health visitor or school nurse?

Counselling?

There is a shortage of paediatric nurses so there are options to work in different areas. Supporting children who require complex care in the community through Continuing Care packages. There are increasing numbers of children on home ventilation who often have night care. Working as a rep for a nutrition or pharmaceutical company, and you might get a company car. Or Health Visiting if you are prepared to do further training, but probably just as much paperwork as nursing.

I feel your pain. I have been a Nurse for 30 years and have ended up burnt out and disillusioned. I have tried at points in the past to leave Nursing but ended up continuing due to kids , mortgage etc.
At the end of last year I decided I had had enough of being miserable and applied for a job which is quite different and although it is not without it's problems it is better than the Nursing. I still have to do some Nursing but hoping to just go on the bank soon.

I'm the same been a nurse for 10 years and i want out. I earn 1800 a month and really don't think I could match my wage in another career

Clinician for NHS 111, lecturer at university?

nhs 111 isn't a safe bet at the mo. For uni lecturer a teaching qualification is needed. I have considered public health but jobs are few and far between as people never seem to leave them jobs !

I have heard if teaching at college (health & social care) you can do the teaching qualification as u go along. Dont know how true that is. No vacancies in colleges local to me anyway

Hi there
You certainly don't need a teaching qualification to teach nursing at Uni. I've just completed my PGCert qualification to do this having been in post for 2 years, but the NMC have now ruled you don't need it.
I've been a qualified paeds nurse for over 20 years, having specialised for the last 16. I can now safely say I love my job, and it is very flexible working

.... and if you do want to do the qualification, you can do it on the job.

Move into administration? You could take an AGM position (band 7) for a couple of years then move into a general manager post (band 8b). You can move upwards from there. Or project management although generally these are fixed term positions. Or more niche posts such as resus tranining, education, infection control, which don't necessarily sit under nursing. I feel the same, 25 years, can't bear the way nurses are treated like children within the organisation, including by their own seniors. Still doesn't feel like a profession. Very depressing.

A research nurse either at a hospital or working within pharma on drug trials.
The pay is the same or better and you could chose which type of role depending on how much patient contact you want.
Try the NIHR too

I typed up a message but I can't see it so here goes again if I may... Apologies for jumping on the thread but does anyone know how /if you keep your NMC registration once you teach? Many thanks.

I do have depression but haven't been on anti depressants through ttc and pregnancy so it May cloud my judgement but part of the reason I needed ADs was my nurse training

I feel the same and don't know what to do. I know a couple of nurses who have gone into occupational health nursing with private companies and disability assessor jobs. Both of these pay reasonably comparable to band 5/6 and are office hours. I just think that they sound soul destroying!

Arinjo - yes you do

I would not recommend 111 clinical advisor, horrendous job.

I got out after 25 years, now work flexibly for a nursing agency in the community with care packages. Almost double the pay.

I feel the same - only mine is partly because I have never managed to get past band five - did extra qualifications, did extra at work but it never translated to a higher grade. I wonder if I'd be better just trying something else.

Where in the country are you??

Im in North West England

That's a shame - might have had the perfect thing for you if you were South East ;)

I have a friend who's just joined Nutricia as a home enteral feeding specialist. She has lots of flexibility, manages her own diary and is paid a great salary with benefits.

Would you consider teaching first aid/resus? What about moving into the private sector? You'd be snapped up as a school nurse with your experience at an independent school - very different skill set but such a lot of fun and the bonus of long holidays!

What about special needs nannying or case management? Specialist agencies like SNAP are often looking for nurses and special needs nannies. Great pay and heaps of fun!

I have a friend who teaches nursing at a local university. She entered without any teaching qualification or experience of teaching. They paid for her to do a teaching qualification and she has recently completed a PhD with them. Loves it and very flexible (unlike the NHS)!
What about clinical trials?

Thank you Woofsaidtheladybird. I was just wondering how it would work with the revalidation.