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Original poster

Career change from nursing to teaching. Is it possible?

65 replies

Ralph871 · 20/08/2021 19:17

I went to uni straight from school to study adult nursing and after 15 years I feel I'm ready for a change. I have wanted to work with kids for a few years now and considered health visiting and adolescent mental health however after a friend suggested primary teaching I can't shake the idea that it could be a good move.

I could be way off base but it appears primary teachers have great hours, great holidays, are well paid and well respected (certainly in Scotland where I am currently). From the POV of a critical nurse turned middle level management that sounds like a dream job and the thought of never having to work nightshift, deal with managers that care more about targets than patient care or stress over childcare ever again sounds incredible.

Goes without saying I am aware it wouldn't be an easy transition and it will of course involve further study, volunteering hours and a pay cut initially.

Keen to hear any advice or thoughts really. I'm very much at the start of looking into this.

OP posts:

Whogotdakeystomabeamer · 20/08/2021 19:19

Have you considered school nursing? I'm being seconded on the SCPHN course (starting in a few weeks)... There is scope to go term time only, and as a specialist practitioner you start on a B6 salary - as opposed to the bottom salary as a new qualified teacher?

NoNameIdeas · 20/08/2021 19:34

I teach in England so can't speak for Scotland but...definitely don't do it if you don't want to work for management with constant targets/data! Typical day in school is 730-430 for me but only because I then have to pick up and sort my children, then once they're in bed it's another couple of hours work or so...more so if it's report writing etc. Holidays, ermmmm! Yes technically you get school holidays, pay here is split over 12 months but there is no flexibility for your own holidays so going away is more expensive. It's also incredibly hard to book any time off for family events, and for most these will be unpaid. I could go on...

BUT teaching is like no other job. It's an absolute privilege to do and I wouldn't ever want to do anything else, just go into with your eyes wide open.

Givemebackmylilo · 20/08/2021 20:38

Typical day in school is 730-430 for me but only because I then have to pick up and sort my children, then once they're in bed it's another couple of hours work or so...more so if it's report writing etc.

I would highly suggest OP if you become a teacher that you find a decent school to avoid the above.

8:30-4 are the typical hours in our household and family. No evening work. Don't even touch schoolwork over the holidays.

Original poster

Ralph871 · 20/08/2021 21:15

@Whogotdakeystomabeamer

I hadn't actually. I'm sure in Scotland school nurses are band 5? But I could be wrong. I'm a band 7 on permanent nightshift at the moment so would be a considerable wage drop but if the hours were right then I could consider it. What kind of tasks does the job entail?

OP posts:

Original poster

Ralph871 · 20/08/2021 21:17

@Givemebackmylilo

I would highly suggest OP if you become a teacher that you find a decent school to avoid the above.

8:30-4 are the typical hours in our household and family. No evening work. Don't even touch schoolwork over the holidays.

I was under the impression hours were much shorter than that. My SIL who is on the autism spectrum is a primary teacher and she works 8-4 I'm sure, albeit she has extra support from a TA and smaller class size.

OP posts:

L1ttleSeahorse · 20/08/2021 21:19

Ive never met a teacher who works 8-4. That's the time in school. What about the planning/prep/marking!!!

Original poster

Ralph871 · 20/08/2021 21:20

@Whogotdakeystomabeamer I beg your pardon, after a quick google search I see that you are referring to Specialist community public health nursing and it is indeed a band 6

OP posts:

L1ttleSeahorse · 20/08/2021 21:20

Givenebackmylilo's experience would be far more typical. Especially in the first few years.

Scarby9 · 20/08/2021 21:23

No work beyond 8.30-4, @Givemebackmylilo ?

How? What do you teach?

L1ttleSeahorse · 20/08/2021 21:25

Sorry meant her experience would NOT be typical. Rather what she was quoting. Oh dear I need sleep!

Primary teaching is so unfamily friendly

Msgiggles30 · 20/08/2021 21:27

Id say on average teaching is a 50 hour week. However you are right in that it would be more flexible than shift work as if you need to you can leave school early some days and do work at home or work late another night you can choose how you work past 3.30 really which is good (apart from nights with set meeting of course and probably an expectation to run a club after school each week). Like a PP has said schools are full of targets both for the children and your own performance management and you often are forced into things that aren't best for the children which is such an internal struggle for myself. There is a lot of top down management in many schools and gov constraints, changing goal posts. I do enjoy my job regardless of all this. It would be hard right now due to covid but maybe you could volunteer for one morning/afternoon a week around your shifts and get a feel/chat to those in the job x

VashtaNerada · 20/08/2021 21:38

Teaching is a tough old job, much harder than any job I did prior to becoming one. However, I’d wager that nursing is harder! Although the hours are long (7:30 - 5:00 is probably typical at my school with some evening and weekend work) they’re predictable, and you get far more annual leave days than you’re used to. If you enjoy working with children, are willing to put the work in to learn something new, and are financially stable enough to cope with a drop in income, then I would say go for it.

Givemebackmylilo · 20/08/2021 22:13

@L1ttleSeahorse

Ive never met a teacher who works 8-4. That's the time in school. What about the planning/prep/marking!!!

Do it all in lunch breaks

Givemebackmylilo · 20/08/2021 22:15

@Scarby9

No work beyond 8.30-4, *@Givemebackmylilo* ?

How? What do you teach?

Between myself, DH and other close family members there is everything ranging from a Year 3 teacher upwards to deputy head in a secondary.

We all agree it's finding the right school and refusing to bend to pressure that to be a good teacher you must work every hour under the sun

Limitedhelp · 20/08/2021 22:29

I've worked in the NHS (not a nurse but an HCP) and I've worked as a primary school teacher.
I have returned to the NHS...

Original poster

Ralph871 · 20/08/2021 22:34

@Limitedhelp

I've worked in the NHS (not a nurse but an HCP) and I've worked as a primary school teacher. I have returned to the NHS...

Do you mind if I ask you to elaborate? Thanks

OP posts:

NoNameIdeas · 21/08/2021 19:44

I'd love to find a school that I can work only 8:30-4...after 16 years I'm still searching! No way would I be prepared for the day ahead if I arrived 10 minutes before the children, nor could I leave half an hour after them with nothing further to do. Average day is 90 books to mark (English, maths, 1 other) and whilst these aren't all 'extended' markings they do need looking at.
Lunch break is 50 minutes, by the time I've taken the class to lunch, packed the morning away, sorted the afternoon resources and anything else that comes up I might just about have enough time to mark a few books whilst I eat lunch.
Add on general classroom tasks such as displays, assessments and planning and I just can't see it being possible!

BUT I'll stick by it being the best job in the world ❤️

Mistressiggi · 21/08/2021 19:49

To be fair, Scottish teachers have a contract specifying a 35 hour week. It may (and I believe it is) very rare to stick to that but it is in contract and what we should all be aiming for. So although my first response to the poster saying she doesn't work beyond 4 is disbelief, my second is to say good on you - I wish more of us did the same as we are sometimes are own worst enemies.

NoNameIdeas · 21/08/2021 19:59

Full time teaching contract in England is 32.5 hours a week 🤣🤣🤣

ChocolateRiver · 21/08/2021 20:07

Not sure what it’s like in Scotland because I’m in England but you seem to have a rose tinted view of the hours and working conditions. I’d strongly recommend spending some time in a school first.

Heyha · 21/08/2021 20:11

@NoNameIdeas

Full time teaching contract in England is 32.5 hours a week 🤣🤣🤣

And only for 39 weeks, too 😂

I think the main benefit of teaching (other than the fact it's a really great job most of the time, you certainly don't get bored) is that although the majority have to work more hours than the contract says there IS some flexibility about when you do it. You can get in early, stay a bit late, do it at home. So although it would be fantastic to see workload be more realistic it just isn't possible to do it all in those few hours in my experience in several different schools. Some are better than others but at the end of the day reports, mock and test marking (as book marking policies can vary greatly) planning, just general 'stuff' doesn't fit into the day never mind all the stuff that goes with pastoral side of things, which is actually one of my favourite parts of the job.

I could never do primary as I know the marking load is still high in many schools. Similarly there are subjects at secondary that I wouldn't go near but doing science I find I spend as much time planning, due to the need to do preps for practicals properly for my lovely tech, as I do marking. I like planning so that makes the work bit less tedious as I hate marking books. I like marking tests and things but books are my weak point!

QuarantineQueen · 21/08/2021 20:15

My friend went from nursing to teaching. She lasted two years and then went back because teaching was so much more stressful! You are never off duty. It's all very well saying find a good school where they don't expect you to answer parent emails within a day in your holidays or work every hour but where I am such schools are few and far between.
School nursing is a good shout. You get the school hours but less - if any - take home work. My average actual working week as a teacher (secondary) is about 55-60 hours. I love it but you need to go into it with your eyes wide open and a much more realistic view of what teaching is.

Chocolatebuttercream · 21/08/2021 20:15

I'm a pri.ary teacher. I'm pretty sure being a nurse is harder for sure BUT the hours in teaching are long. I used to work 7.30- 6 every day in term time and also plan at weekends. Then in the holidays at least half a week in half terms and at least 2 weeks in Summer.

And.what you said about management sounds exactly the same as teaching- kids become just numbers/grades and targets are always completely unrealistic.

What pay are you on right now? I don't believe teachers start on much above 23K.

TheCatsHaveEyes · 21/08/2021 20:19

I would look into. Community nursing/HV more op teachers I know work crazy hours term time - yes the holidays are fab but I'd rather have better work/life balance throughout the year.
I work in public health - it's obviously a busy and growing environment at the moment. Lots of opportunities for progression and great flexi working mainly at home. If you are interested in public health/health improvement side I would recommend.
Same for children's mental health roles lots of room for progression.

firstimemamma · 21/08/2021 20:19

80% of teachers are leaving in the first 5 years of teaching due to stress / workload etc. I used to teach and trust me it's very hard. Do it if you think you'll be great with the children or have a passion for it but don't do it just because you think it's an easy job pay and holidays-wise as you'll be disappointed.

When I was an NQT my salary was about 22k and I had challenging children in my class including one I'm sure should've been in a special school and 2 with social work involvement. The responsibility of ensuring those children and 23 others had work that was differentiated and planned to suit their learning needs, meeting with educational psychologists, planning, marking, data, reports and more was a lot. It was rewarding but incredibly hard and I'm glad I left. Those who stay really do sacrifice so much of their lives to help others. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. It's just not the same job it was when I was a child myself. The level of scrutiny through lesson observations etc is a burden in itself.

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