Should I apply for this? (Nurses/medical people click!)

[asblackasyoursoul]

To sum it up, I’m a nurse currently in a fixed contract till the end of March.
I feel fed up of nursing and haven’t seen any jobs I’d like to do. It’s just the state of nursing in the NHS in general.

Ive seen a medical secretary post that looks up my street. The money isn’t far off what I currently get, and far less responsibility.

Should I go for it? This is silly but I feel almost embarrassed about having to tell my manager that I’m applying for a non-nurse role (I am on redeployment register so have to discuss with her). Also reluctant to tell others at work I do t really want to be a nurse anymore as it just feels embarrassing that I’m ‘stepping down’ as such (no disrespect to anyone meant at all!!!)

Juat don’t know what to do. Also, does anyone know if I could even do this job while still being a registered nurse? Not sure quite yet that I’d want to give up my registration.

You don't know until you give it a go.

What appeals to you? Do you think it will be an easy ride? Admin can be pretty stressful with huge workloads especially in the NHS. Assumption is that admin is easy and anyone can do it which is definitely not the case but be prepared that you may be treated like a dimwit and be blamed for stuff that wasn't actually your fault.

I’m a nurse and I don’t blame you. I’ve had enough too. It depends on the Trust contract if they permit you to have a second job - but there’s otherwise no reason I’m aware of that means you can’t still do some nursing.

Current medical secretary here 👋
Cannot speak for all hospitals/departments but from my own experience.

You will end up working outside the role. It’s the classic if someone leaves their work is redistributed rather than the employee being replaced. There are huge inequalities in pay too, you can be responsible for 1 consultant or 5 you still get paid the same. If you’re fed up with the NHS (and I totally sympathise I am too) just get out when you can. Go private, sometimes comes with a nice payrise, you still get to be in nursing if that’s what you want and you’ll find the facilities and staffing are (usually) much better all depends on the hospital. Only reason to hang on would be for pension (not to assume anything!)

I always say, if the NHS was a private company a business consultant would be in there like a flash and eliminate most of the corporate/middle manager positions the admin side is utterly ridiculous.

Is it not quite a different skillset being a medical secretary though? I wouldn't have thought there'd be much crossover with nursing. Do you have admin/secretarial experience?