Wanting to leave nursing

[xllhhx]

Hi,

I am a band 5 staff nurse, have worked as such since 2014.

Went on maternity May 2017, and due to start my next lot of maternity in a couple of months. Will be due back at work March 2019.

Anyway - I want to leave nursing altogether. I don't want a change of role, my job was unbelievably demanding, always short staffed etc etc!

The only thing which makes me want to stay is being able to earn a decent wage on a couple of 12 hours shifts per week - more days off - which to me doesn't compensate for how stressful and draining the job is.

I am wondering if there are any fellow nurses on here who have left the profession, and what you have gone on to do?

Thanks in advance x

I have almost left the profession after 30 years. I had wanted to leave for a long long time but carried on because like you say it was easy to do a couple of nightshifts or weekend shifts to fit around my children when they were small and it was a decent wage. However the toll it has taken on my physical and mental health, I don't think has been worth it. Fifteen months ago I had really had enough and took the plunge to apply for something completely different ( benefit advice work for cancer patients). I self taught myself a lot of the job and really enjoy it, the downside is that it is poorly paid. For the past year or so I combined 3 days in the new role with 15 hours in my nursing job but is wasn't working out so I gave up my Nursing job about eight weeks ago. the plan is to do just a bit o bank nursing work to make a bit of extra money but really my heart isn't in it and I haven't done much !! I honestly can't see myself maintaining my registration at this rate.

Hi, I'm in the exact same situation as you! I am absolutely desperate to get out of nursing and I'm struggling because I can't really see a way out. What kind of alternatives are you thinking? I just want an admin office type job preferably still within the NHS but I don't know how I'll go about it since I have no admin experience?

@jadericho I've changed my username since this post! Yes I was also thinking admin, possibly a GP receptionist, anything really! I've even considered Aldi or anything like that.
I'd love a job where I can leave on time and not hold so much responsibility for one person. I was considering becoming a health care assistant but I would like to not work Xmas with having a young family. It's hard to know what to do though when all you've done is nursing!!

I've considered aldi too, the pay is pretty much on par with what we're paid now but with less stress and responsibility! I'd love to be a health care assistant as I love that side of nursing but like you said I wouldn't want to work Christmas with a young family - plus I really don't like the shift work anymore. I feel so lost! I'm genuinely considering doing work experience in an office a day or so a week while I'm on mat leave just to get some experience since I don't really have any admin experience, all I've ever known is nursing.