Career change NHS

[Blueberrymarshmallows]

I’m currently on a fixed term band 6 charge nurse role after almost 10 years as a band 5 in a permanent post.
I’m not enjoying it as it’s too far removed from patient contact. It’s paperwork and never away from the computer and constantly dealing with staffing and lack of it. I thought about dropping to band 2/3 a while ago and just do bank and choose my own hours and go back to patient contact with less responsibility but will it look like I can’t cope rather than not enjoying it? Should I give up everything I sacrificed things for? I have a young family and want to be a role model, not a quitter! Any words of wisdom or anyone in a similar position??

Primary care? There is a shortage of PC nurses in most areas. Practices like recruiting from secondary care, as you bring in specialist skills, and they will train you in PC nursing. Or community?

Putting your mental health and prioritising your happiness is not quitting and sets an excellent example to your children! Status isn’t everything, being senior isn’t all it’s cracked up to be as you know! If you prefer the Band 5 role then that’s fine, once the term is up you don’t accept renewal. Dropping down to a HCA type role is a big financial hit but if you can afford it why not? You can keep your registration active by doing bank or agency work.
Also please never give a shit about how things look. You and the people close to you will know the truth and that’s all that matters

Why not band 5?

Are there really no clinical band 6 roles you can move to?

I’m a band 6 RMN and work directly with patients. I do of course have far too much paperwork but also have a lot of patient contact. Band 7 and above, i think is very different, much less clinical practise, hence me still being band 6 after 20 years.

Staffing levels are horrendous but I don’t think that is anything unusual in the current NHS environment.

I have considered giving up nursing many times and have ultimately decided I would rather work part time for the same money as I would earn as a full time band 2. Never an easy decision to make though.

If you keep your pin there are so many grey areas working as an NA, lots of trusts don't even allow it as its such a complex practice.
Can you explore another area of nursing instead?

Thanks for the replies

Ive never fancied community tbh, I did apply for a few roles last year grasping at straws as I just wanted out of my previous place but wasn’t successful in securing an interview.

I just feel with my anxiety and current mood and feelings that a less responsibility role is what’s needed. The drop in money is an issue but my mental health is important to me too but I’m worried I have a knee jerk reaction and make a decision i then regret.

I’ve looked at jobs out with healthcare but never managed to get interview due to being “over qualified”. Grrrrrr.
I want a work life balance where I can switch off and not worry on my days off as well as enjoy the job when I’m there: unfortunately I don’t feel that right now.

I wish I knew the answer. Plus come Jan when I’m approaching the end of the FTC I’ll be stressing out about jobs anyway so just really want to sort something out before it gets to that stage.

I don't know how nurses deal with the paperwork, I was nursing in the 1980's and we just had a handwritten cardex if anyone remembers those.
I skipped off to podiatry as soon as the 12 hour shifts came in because I'm not doing 12 hours for anyone.
Recently one of the Dns showed me their paperwork and I was horrified - how do any of you manage to function having to do all that?
We have a fair bit of paperwork in podiatry but it does not compare AT ALL.

Have you considered health visiting, I was going to do that but decided I'd rather do podiatry.

Although the overall responsibility is less on lower bands, there still aren't really jobs where you can switch off or where whilst on shift its less stressful necessarily; its still ridiculously challenging especially with the staff shortages as you know.

Personally I'd look elsewhere in nursing, we are so short of them there's a good chance of securing something else. Practice nurse? Work in insurance? 111 clinical call taker (think there are wfh positions) or for the ambulance service? School nurse? Band 5 role in a different setting?

@Shehasadiamondinthesky I applied for HV post as a trainee last year but didn’t make the interview cut unfortunately 🥺

@Booknooks I’ve applied for various positions Over the last 18 months, didn’t get an interview for them either. I did briefly leave my current place last year for 6 months to do medical unit but I hated it and got offered this band 6 as a fixed term at my old place so took it and that’s where I am just now.

I even considered the PIP jobs but never heard a good word about them from nurses I know that have done it.

I have considered going back to uni to do teaching but I don’t have a passion for that or else I would have done it before now, I feel I’m badly clutching at straws here. It doesn’t help I have imposter syndrome and convinced I’m not even good enough to be doing the job I’m doing hence I feel sometimes I should leave nursing and do something with less responsibility so I worry less.

Maybe you should look at what posts are going in your trust just now and arrange a few pre-application visits. Going for a look around different areas may spark an interest. Or join the bank and do the same.