Career change

[AliBear90]

Wanted advice on a possible career change I currently work 35 hours a week as a nurse and have been a nurse for 8 and a half years now. I’ve lost my passion for it I think partly due to the pandemic and partly just I now have 2 kids and the hours aren’t that good with kids. I’m paid about 28,000 a year and wouldn’t want to take a huge pay cut but wouldn’t mind a bit of a pay cut if there was potential for higher wages in the future. I qualified with a higher education diploma so don’t have a degree. Just wondered what kind of options I have that won’t mean going back to uni as we can’t afford to lose my wage. Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you.

Have you considered doing PIP? Where I live its WFH so would be good if you have school age children.
This is still nursing but a different area, non clinical and less stressful.
Or you could do agency nursing and work less
The wards are brutal. I can understand why nurses want to leave that environment.

Maybe a sideways move rather than a career change when you’ve worked so hard for your PIN?

@Whatapallaver I have looked at the pip jobs but wasn’t really sure if they would be for me as I’ve heard they can be very target based. One is starting reception in September the other is a baby so I know I have to work for my trust for 3 months after mat leave before I can leave anyway so wouldn’t be able to change until sort of September / October time. But just wanted to gather ideas etc. Thank you for the suggestions!

How about side stepping to a different nursing role e.g community teams

Or teaching at colleges? You would need to do additional training for this but your diploma may be suitable for health and social care for example.

You can train as an accountant by studying AAT and then move on to ACCA/CIMA/ACA exams afterwards. Lots of firms will pay for your studies if you're happy to accept a training salary. You just need to send your CV to a few accountancy practices and see if they're looking for a trainee or get a job doing something like purchase or sales ledger and start AAT at Level 2 and then see if you like it

@AliBear90 I know this post is a year old but I was just wondering if you made the move and left nursing? Curious as to how you got on?

im currently in exactly the same boat as you, been nursing since 2010 and I'm on the the end of my second mat leave and thinking about jumping ship. Thanks.

Hi @Bookworm2123 , I did not leave nursing in the end. I did however find a job as a ward sister. So it’s more stressful in some ways but I actually am really enjoying management. So if you haven’t already perhaps that’s a move to consider? I was very lucky to be able to move trusts and go from a B5 to a B7 and have an amazing matron who has been supportive and taught me how to do everything correctly. If you’re certain nursing isn’t for you, I have friends who left to work at Aldi and get paid more at Aldi and are far happier with the work life balance.