Thinking about leaving nursing to become a post woman - anyone done this?

[CakesRus3]

Only qualified 18 months ago. Hated my training but i put that down to it being so difficult as a single parent. I work in mental health. Its definitely impacted on my own. Lots of bullying and im exhausted by it.
Postal workers earn the same as me. Lone working. Exercise on the job. Considering it!

Just a general medical ward at the moment. But it’s a really good team. I’m considering my next move at the moment. NHS jobs is my oyster

08Hardbackwriter no I haven't but know tgere are jobs going in a few areas. I don't assume there are lots of jobs available. It's just a question I have put forward for advice.
08CaptainInsensible good luck. I'm due to revalidate in 18 months and have absolutely nothing to show for it. I have not even done my preceptorship.

Thanks, and good luck to you too.
Try and remember that you’ve got more options than stay in that particular area that you’re in at the moment that you hate, and leaving nursing. There are a lot of nursing vacancies. Try and work that to your advantage. And child care problems don’t last forever.

44CaptainInsensible very true, thankyou.

My stepson was a temporary postman for a year.

It was terrible. He was meant to be part time, but had to work full time to keep up. No time to stop or eat dinner. He had to rush all the time. I just remember it as a year of hell for him (and us)

49TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince oh bless him! Sounds like a nurses role too! It's not for everyone I suppose. Hope he has found something that suits!

Hi cakes do I remember you from a previous thread you started? If so it sounds like nothing has improved. It seems such a shame to waste all that training but, of course you could do a return to practice in a few years when child care is easier, that way you could start afresh with no expectations, it is something to consider. Working for the NHS offers lots of possibilities and earning potential plus a good pension, it is not an easy job but then I think we all know this going into it.

It's a shame you were not better supported, if you do leave make sure you complete this on your exit questionnaire. In my role it really is my team that makes the difference throughout covid and all the other issues in the NHS, without that support I could not have done it. Good luck for the future let us know how you get on.

25Rupertpenrysmistress hello, yrs, probably. The support I have here is appreciated more than I can even express. Life feels a little lonely at times so really do appreciate it here. No improvement at all. I have more insight to what support i should have had and no wonder i have struggled. Yes, very difficult. I'm glad you have a supportive team. I think that's why I haven't been able to continue and now unwell. I called the NMC this morning and they asked about my development skills, I assumed where I am with my validation. I have absolutely nothing to show for it. I have not even done an induction for the healthboard. No training. No PADR. I felt so silly on the phone. I have also spoken to a ward this morning and the manager explained she is flexible with hours. It would mean shifts but maybe set days and evenings. My dd's are 12 and 15. Maybe doable. I feel so uncomfortable leaving them. I think if I left the register now, would I ever go back. I also have no clue what to do. Sorry, I sound like a right upside down case don't I?

12 and 15?! I thought you must have had really young kids. I think they would be fine to be left for a few hours wouldn’t they? Obviously it’s up to you but I think you’ve probably got more flexibility than you might think

42CaptainInsensible maybe it's my own anxieties leaving them. I would have to leave at 5.45 am. Evenings would mean coming home from school alone until I'm home about 10pm.

Look at NHS jobs. Look at private nursing.

Speak to your local nurse education team.

There are SOO many roles in nursing, and so many settings.

NHS terms and conditions, pay and pensions are actually (despite what people say) very good. Whilst bullying and a lack of support in your role aren't acceptable, you are paid to have responsibility and to make decisions. Your earning potential is good.

And your DDs will be fine! You wouldn't be working earlies / lates every day.

My message to them would be 'I've worked hard to do this, we need to work together so that I can get my career together now that you're bigger. So some mornings and some evenings you'll have to sort yourselves out."

@CakesRus3

42CaptainInsensible maybe it's my own anxieties leaving them. I would have to leave at 5.45 am. Evenings would mean coming home from school alone until I'm home about 10pm.

How long are your long days? Or do you mean earlier and lates?

06ConcernedAboutWarrington Yes, looking all the time. Hoping not all places are like where I am.
10CaptainInsensible yes, early and lates.

You seem to be throwing the baby out with the bath water here. Apply for another job in nursing first, ideally within the NHS. Lots of mental health jobs are for private companies and I don’t think that’s ideal as they don’t seem to have the same structure and expectations and employee benefits.

There’s training vacancies you can apply for as an RMN once you’ve got experience. You could train to be a CBT therapist, or a Health Visitor or a School Nurse.

The trainee SCPHN (HV or SN) vacancies usually all accepts RMN’s, it’s a years on the job training alongside uni, where you get paid middle of band five to achieve the qualification and you come out of it able to apply for a band 6 job as either a Heath Visitor or a School Nurse.

39QueenOfPain thanks, I have heard of this opportunity. However, thought it was for general nurses only. I know someone who went on to become a health visitor, she was general trained. CBT would be interesting.

Personally I think at those ages you could, with some training leave them to get to school, why would you be home at 10pm though? Is it a long way to travel? I sometimes have to leave my DC to get themselves to school as I have no choice. I have set various reminders on Google that sound an alarm and say brush your teeth, pack your bag, leave the house etc. They are well versed in it and because I do 3 13 hour days a week it is not every day.

The ward manager sounds supportive and with set shift patterns it could work. Are you a single parent?

Oh my goodness, reading through this I was about to ask how you would manage the hours of a postie if you were struggling with childcare now, then I see that your children are 12 and 15! Seriously, what kind of childcare do they need for a few hours either end of the day? Presumably you would either have to leave early or return late, not do both ends on the same day? Unless they have special needs or there are some other extenuating circumstances here, they are completely capable of getting themselves out to school or heating up some dinner in the evening.

I qualified as a MH Nurse 20 years ago but went immediately into a pharma job instead. I was young and the pharma job offered me double the salary of a grade D nurse and I was seduced. I kind of regret it now, nursing is so much more meaningful. Is another nursing job an option? It might just be your current work place that’s bad, not the job per se.

I think most community mental health nursing jobs are band 6 aren’t they? I may be wrong about that though