Leaving an already understaffed ward

[Livedandlearned]

Pretty much every ward is understaffed I know, but I can't take anymore.

We have a new ward sister who doesn't manage anyone or anything. The place is falling apart.

Staff are either quitting or talking about it.

Band 5 nurses are basically treating band 2 and 3 staff like they are little helpers who must do all the dirty work while they swam about.

It has all changed since our excellent manager got a secondment as a matron. She held the ward together beautifully and we all felt safe and had our roles.

I've been approached by another team who work on our ward (therapy team) to apply for a therapy tech position that has become available. The hours, salary and workload are all preferable to what I have now. I've applied and got an interview this week.

It's going to be very awkward to tell my manager about this.

Should I tell him before the interview?

I also have a shift on the interview date that I'd rather swap, but this may not be possible.

Any advice from anyone about how to go about this?

I'm leaving an understaffed ward. Sickness high, morale so low.
And not just that I'm giving in my notice so I'll get Christmas off (I'll do bank).
Honestly do what you need to do.

You'd get no thanks for staying, put yourself first.

When I was on a shift I asked for the time off for interview, in the same hospital, and was given it.

I agree with @haveyouopenedyourbowelstoday (although not convinced by her username )

It's not your job to keep the shitshow on the road. Take whatever job you can get that best suits you. If the government can't staff the wards they will have to change any one of a number of stupid policies. You don't need to make your life worse to accommodate them!

You know, I so often hear now about how ‘desperate’ they are when they want extra work from you.
But not desperate enough to employ more staff.
My job was stressing me out, I was going to sleep/waking in the night/waking up thinking about work, and it’s not fair.
I was lucky that I could go PT, and I now leave work at the door. I don’t check emails on days off. Work is only done/thought of when I’m being paid.

@MurielSpriggs

I agree with *@haveyouopenedyourbowelstoday* (although not convinced by her username )

It's not your job to keep the shitshow on the road. Take whatever job you can get that best suits you. If the government can't staff the wards they will have to change any one of a number of stupid policies. You don't need to make your life worse to accommodate them!

How very rude! I thought it was a good idea. I absolutely hate asking every time we do obs and how do we know if they're telling the truth anyway?? My last name was DeeDimer

Do it.
Honestly just do it.
Less than 12 months into my “perfect job” I can’t do it much longer. I just can’t be a part of it.
I can see no end to it, I can see no relief from it and genuinely marvel at the staff who get up and go in to subject themselves to these horrendous conditions day in day out.

For me, I’m finished. I’ve got applications in galore.
I did not come into nursing for that. No way.

Do it OP, don’t give it another thought. Do it.

I'm going to do it!

I can't dread another day, there really is no point and you've all made such valid points.

I do wonder why they aren't replacing those who have left, it's a vicious circle, we are under more pressure so we leave. Well, most do, some have stuck it out for years!

It's not your responsibility to staff the ward safely, it's managements.
Do not feel guilty.
If you can't swap the shift, some NHS managers will allow you to interview at a more convenient time.

@Livedandlearned, it's either that nobody wants to work there or they aren't recruiting for some reason?
Either way, not your problem!

I would just tell them. They'll find out anyway probably, and in the NHS they have to give you time off for NHS interviews, so you might be able to go for the interview during your shift? Or they might have to swap the shifts for you. Hope you get the job!

no job is worth risking your registration for. shit always rolls downhill to a nurse to sort out

You have to protect yourself. This sounds an awful environment to work in, I hope you manage to get out asap.
All the best to you. Life’s too short to put up with this.