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Original poster

NHS jobs that are not completely stressful

33 replies

whatyousayin · 30/09/2022 16:01

Can anyone suggest health care roles in the NHS (front line eg. hospital or GP surgery) that are enjoyable and you don't feel completely burnt out all the time?

I want to go into healthcare, considering Physician Associate as I already have a degree, but I also have a young family. So I don't want to train and get into a new role to feel completely burnt out and overwhelmed and regret finding the course myself ...

Any suggestions would be welcomed

OP posts:
DoYouRememberLesDennis · 30/09/2022 19:33

Well have to be honest, lots of burn out everywhere at the moment due to backlogs and long standing vacancies, in my trust anyway.

BeachStripes · 30/09/2022 19:35

Cardiac physiologist?
ODP?

mummysquasher · 30/09/2022 19:59

Check out

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/

But as others have said things are tough all over right now.

Are you set on frontline clinical? What about corporate services, admin, HR or about a non clinical profession like accounting or librarianship? If your local trust has a staff bank that is a good way to experience different teams and roles.

Good luck!

ElizabethBest · 30/09/2022 20:02

Everyone in admin, hr and finance are burnt out too at the moment. Anything to that can be done as a weekday day job would be a major plus

AndSoFinally · 30/09/2022 21:33

The fact this thread has only 4 replies in over 5 hours, gives you all the answers you need....

lljkk · 30/09/2022 21:37

I thought physiotherapists had the best job satisfaction since yonks.
Radiographers good, too.
Medication nurses.
Have to be a people person for most of these.
I know a few people who love being HCAs. Yes it's physically demanding & pays peanuts, but it's pure caring. That's what they like, and sometimes it's nice to let others make decisions.

Takingturnstogether · 30/09/2022 21:38

What kinds of things make you feel stressed? Many front line roles would have the stress of having a lot of patients to see and insufficient time, with the added pressure that a mistake could have a serious impact on someone's life.

Possibly a physician's assistant role would not be exempt from those pressures. Have you talked to many people who are doing that job?

Fispi · 30/09/2022 21:52

I don't think there are any. I worked with a student who is using her degree to go work for a large pharmaceutical company and is never going to practice clinically. All the qualified staff think she's made a really good decision and want to follow her. I wouldn't recommend the NHS right now unless you have absolute minimal home pressures/stress, a rock solid support network and an overwhelming passion to do it. It eats us all up eventually.

ploed · 30/09/2022 22:09

Realistically, stress and burnout amongst NHS staff is at an all time high.

There are a multitude of roles and if you can find your niche job satisfaction can go some way towards compensating for the stress.

If you have a science background Have a look at STP Scientist Training programme to get an idea of the broad range of professional roles that exist. But don't underestimate how tough the programme is.

Bioandstepmum · 30/09/2022 22:12

unless your heart is really in it and you sound undecided then avoid! The whole system is a complete mess, stress is the least of your worries, even the annual leave and pension can no longer make it an attractive place to work.

Username917778 · 30/09/2022 22:13

I don't think that exists. I work at home now in IT for NHS and even I was in tears today from the overwhelming workloads.

DismantledKing · 30/09/2022 22:14

I was a nurse for 25 years, ending up as a band 7. Became burnt out, had a breakdown, and was pensioned off in my late 40s.

YorkshireLondonMiss · 30/09/2022 22:15

I work in Clinical Trials in a big London hospital - it’s stressful at times and I second that a lot of staff have burnout at the moment but research is nice in that it’s still pretty much 9-5 Monday - Friday (in the area of research I’m in) - there are some clinical roles in nursing or as a trial practitioner which is a sort of hybrid clinical as in you still see patients in clinic and do vitals/blood taking etc but then do some of the admin aspects too so is a mix of in clinic and office work.

I am always in awe of those people who work on the wards etc though as I think that is especially tough!

Realityloom · 30/09/2022 22:16

Its unclear OP are you wanting to study another degree?

NHS isn't a good start from what you seem to be looking for as others have said already.

You need to consider NHS if you don't work for them already and then have your kids you will likely struggle to negotiate a flexible contract.

Meili04 · 30/09/2022 22:18

Learning disability assessment and treatment unit or pyschatric elderly wards. Much lower ratios , 5 patients to like 3 qualified nurses and 5 HCAs 🤣 feel like I'm stealing a living compared to nursing homes or general wards.

Meili04 · 30/09/2022 22:18

I'd do occupational therapy op seems like a very nice role as a HCP..

huntaway2021 · 30/09/2022 22:20

Dental assistant, community dentist

Ylvamoon · 30/09/2022 22:23

Not a front line or caring role ... but have a look a procurement and supplies.
It's pretty much a 9- 5, Mon- Fri...
BUT you'll have to deal with all the frustration that comes with not getting urgently needed items - thanks Brexit!!!

Poppiesway1 · 30/09/2022 22:24

lljkk · 30/09/2022 21:37

I thought physiotherapists had the best job satisfaction since yonks.
Radiographers good, too.
Medication nurses.
Have to be a people person for most of these.
I know a few people who love being HCAs. Yes it's physically demanding & pays peanuts, but it's pure caring. That's what they like, and sometimes it's nice to let others make decisions.

Definitely don’t recommend radiography.
Mass burnout, 24/7 shifts, terrible pay, obnoxious patients in A&E. PA’s are just dogsbodies,
Avoid the nhs at all costs..
maybe look for something in a GP or dental surgery if you want to be medical..

DoYouRememberLesDennis · 30/09/2022 22:25

All of the listed 'nice' roles - physio, OT, are not nice at the moment; burnout is rife due to chronic understaffing, patients are being failed due to bulging waiting lists. Sorry to be harsh but it's burnout central and as another poster said, admin, clerical, IT, you name it we are all up against it. I could go on but would likely out my niche role.

DoYouRememberLesDennis · 30/09/2022 22:26

And you can't give 'pure caring' when your managers don't give you the resources or ability to work safely.

sicknote26 · 30/09/2022 22:29

I work for the NHS, all of my colleagues from band 2 to band 8 are completely exhausted, I can't imagine any job in the NHS is easy going tbh.

Original poster
whatyousayin · 30/09/2022 23:49

Ekk... all these replies are certainly not filling me with confidence.

Just to clarify I have a biology masters so looking for a 2 yr master program to enter healthcare.

Family wise, I have a 19mo and expecting baby number 2 next month. We don't have any family close by so it's just me and hubby, plus child care.

I'm not shying away from hard work, just burn out as my family will come first.

After reading these comments, it's making me reconsider going into the front line to work. It doesn't particularly help that we now have to fund the courses ourselves, so this makes it financially tight for 2 years, to then what, be completely wiped out with exhaustion when I get into a role... something major is going wrong with the healthcare operation in the UK at the minute 😢

OP posts:
Fispi · 01/10/2022 09:58

@whatyousayin I have a 4 year old and 16 month old and have been patient facing in an acute area for 9 years. Its a different level of stress with a young family and post covid it's the worst I've known it to be for staffing levels, burn out and general morale. I would think very carefully before taking on debt to work in the NHS. Your family life is likely to be compromised sadly as flexible working really isn't that flexible when service provision is 24/7. If I had a way out I would be gone but it will take a few years before I can leave. Its sad because I love my job so much...the pressures are just not sustainable long term. Hopefully it will change but I think we are in for a rough few years.

ChocolateElephant · 01/10/2022 10:02

SALTs and OTs I know are happy and seem to have a really good work life balance. I think it probably depends on department though. I wish I'd trained as an Ed psych.

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