Any registered nurses changed careers?

[Zurse]

I've been a nurse for almost 2 years now, even when I was a student I didn't enjoy it. I've experienced crippling anxiety and whilst this has dramatically improved I still waste my days off thinking about going into work, making myself upset and worried about going in again to the point it affects people around me.
I've been in several areas of nursing due to the nature of rotational nursing which will be finished in September! Despite this I just don't enjoy nursing, the pressures, feeling like I can't do the best for my patients due to this.
Nursing isn't the best paid but it isn't the worst either. Everything I've looked into not nursing related would be a huge pay drop and I just can't afford to go backwards.
Anyone successfully changed careers? If so what to?
I would love to open a bar, I've never even worked in one though and I know it would be soo difficult so not really realistic to be honest🤣
I've even thought of maybe doing agency less hours, but my partner is saying I wouldn't be able to get a mortgage?
Any help would be appreciated, thank you ♥️

I have no advice to give you, only solidarity. I have been a qualified nurse for nearly 3 years. Like you I am always anxiously anticipating my next shift. It is so stressful and I hate not being able to provide a good standard of care to patients due to short staffing. I really don't know what else I could though!
I am planning on sticking with it for a couple more years till I can get a mortgage. But if you are really struggling then it sounds like you do need a change. I'll be interested to see what other posters can recommend!

What about something training related? Manual handling, first aid, conflict resolution? All those mandatory training things HCP have to do.

Or a move into nurse education/academia? You’ll need to do an MSc though.

Nurse assessor for DWP?

Pharma sales?

Are there any aspects of nursing that you enjoy?

Look at the private hospitals, outpatients at those might be quite nice. Boring but less stressful.
Also look at cancer charities, they employ qualified nurses in various roles.

Rather than re training as such think about how to nurse in a different way. One of my friends has just taken a job as school nurse in a private school.

Ex nurse here, also found it incredibly stressful. I left when pg, due to the stress levels. I'm retraining as a counsellor but it's a long process (3 years) and it's not economically brilliant obviously as I'm a long time away from earning. Potentially you could think of community or care home nursing (I did my MSC in dementia care) as I found homes less clinical than the wards. Keep talking to other RGNs and maybe go to some recruitment events if they are just starting again? You are at the beginning of your career so keep optimistic and keep looking at your options.

Have you ever thought about going into training?
I work in education delivering health and social care apprenticeships. We are crying out for people who have competencies in a clinical environment.

Have you tried theatres/ recovery. I love it because I can focus on giving my one patient everything. Otherwise a training role might be good?

It's nice to know I'm not the only one feeling like this, so many love their job and seem to not let the pressures get to them like I do, always feeling like I'm not doing anything properly and someone is always judging me 🤦🏼‍♀️

Above message for @Understatedcarriagete

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda thank you! I'll look into these!☺️What's pharma sales?

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda

Are there any aspects of nursing that you enjoy?

I like working with people, to an extent, how nursing is long life learning and being busy but not overwhelmed I think I need a job where I can give my all and able to go home to sleep knowing I didn't miss anything and did the best I could🤦🏼‍♀️

@MissyB1

Look at the private hospitals, outpatients at those might be quite nice. Boring but less stressful. Also look at cancer charities, they employ qualified nurses in various roles.

Rather than re training as such think about how to nurse in a different way. One of my friends has just taken a job as school nurse in a private school.

Thank you! I would love to have a go at some of these but I can never see any jobs advertised!

Are you currently working in a hospital? If so a lot of the pressures even on rotation carry through. Moving to practice nursing was the best thing I've ever done, I love it and wouldn't step foot back on a ward for a million pounds . But of course lots of other options just have to really pull out transferable skills: communication with a range of people, dealing with stressful situations, prioritising, ability to learn, teamwork, maintaining accurate notes and records etc. Some of my cohort have gone into the civil service or insurance companies etc.

@Mid30smidlifecrisis

Ex nurse here, also found it incredibly stressful. I left when pg, due to the stress levels. I'm retraining as a counsellor but it's a long process (3 years) and it's not economically brilliant obviously as I'm a long time away from earning. Potentially you could think of community or care home nursing (I did my MSC in dementia care) as I found homes less clinical than the wards. Keep talking to other RGNs and maybe go to some recruitment events if they are just starting again? You are at the beginning of your career so keep optimistic and keep looking at your options.

Thank you lovely, Im definitely considering community or practice nursing! I'll have to look into recruitment fairs. Thank you!

Pharma sales is pharmaceutical sales. Being a sales rep for the drugs you administer.