Dilemma! Nursing / Health Visitor

[Stressedsuzy]

I just want some advice someone to talk this through with.
I am a top band 6 nurse but working mostly weekends and nights due to childcare and DH also working long hours.
I have the opportunity to train as a health Visitor which would be a more 9-5 job so childcare would be manageable for me.
But I would have to drop to a band 5 to train (return back to band 6 but lower in scale when qualified).

Would you do it? The slight good point regarding pay is that I’m currently part time but could be almost full time in a 9-5 job so the loss would be slightly less.
Long term I know I can’t do what I currently do until I’m 68 ( or whatever retirement age will be) but I could if I was a health Visitor.
I am a highly experienced Paediatric Nurse so would probably still do the odd Saturday night to keep skills and for extra money.

Please somebody come and give me some opinions on this one.
I know I could do the job and have a lot I could bring to the post but it is a big change.

I would 100% go for it with all that information you've given.

I’m in a very similar position. I’m currently mid-band 6 as a midwife. I work part time currently as have a toddler so wouldn’t retrain until he was at school or at least gets some nursery funding but even then, I’m not actually sure I could take the pay cut. But I think I’m going to go for it eventually.

I have no experience of nursing, but I am an AHP. I was in a clinical post and I took a related admin type position which was a band lower, but with nice, normal hours. I love it. And, the Trust kept me on my old banding in the end, though obviously I'm on less as no longer get enhancements. I still do my old clinical job some weekends for extra money/to not de-skill. It sounds like you should go for it from the information you have given, a short time of compromising but you'll gain from it going forwards, and can keep up your old clinical skills just in case you dislike the new job.

Do it! You could always do the odd Saturday night shift on bank to top up your income, you have loads to offer the role, go for it.

Thank you. I’m going to bite the bullet and do it. I hope I enjoy the role the hours will certainly take a lot of pressure off the whole family as currently DH is working all week commute plus intense job the being a sole parent at weekends when I work. Wish me luck x

If I were you, I would definitely do it! It will give you a great quality of life, health visiting is a nice job & you can always do bank shifts to keep your clinical practice up to date so if you wish to returns to hospital nursing you can easily do so.

I tried something similar but for me it didn't work financially.
I worked permanent nights and left for 1 year to work 8-4 in a safeguarding role. I hated working every day, hated being stuck in traffic all the time and the pay drop was shocking, I was still a band 6 but the reality of such a financial hit was horrible.

My old manger offered me a band 7 to go back, now doing 3 nights a week again and I love it.

Just cant imagine doing this till I'm 60 odd, its knackering

Can you negotiate returning to the top of band 6 once you've finished training, on account of your experience?

I moved from Midwifery to Health Visiting. To the person who said it's a nice job, would need clarification what you meant by that! The hours are flexible but it is not the soft option some perceive. We are at breaking point as we are under resourced. I don't regret the move at all; the job is varied and no nights/weekends was a deal breaker. But I worked til 1830 last night and 2130 the night before after a full day of visits catching up with record keeping.

I moved from district nursing when they introduced a shift system to practice nursing with a drop in pay. The best thing I ever did. No amount of extra money (and it wasn't that much) compensates for missing out on family time working unsocial hours. But agree, primary care isn't a soft option.
Good luck.

Do it

Oh I’m not expecting a soft option, I have worked in some of the toughest specialties within Paediatrics. But the hours are better for me going forward. I really hope I’m not vied as going for an easy option as that is not me at all?