Anyone drop bands in nursing?

[fatandhappyxxx]

Hi I'm a band 7 but will be changing jobs soon and my new post is a six. Colleagues have expressed dismay and surprise I'll be down-banding but it does not really worry me. Money will not be an issue though of course it will be less. I'll still have the band 7 experience and can always go back. The reason I'm changing is because we are moving away. Interested in hearing from anyone else who has dropped a band (or more) in their career and how they found it.

Hopeful bump

If there are no b7 jobs available where you are going to then accepting a B6 until one becomes available is the sensible option isn't it?

Sometimes B6 nurses take home more pay than B7 because they do more unsocial hours anyway.

I applied for a B6 training post in a new specialty so you are not alone.

It is your decision not theirs.

Recently I dropped from an 8a back to a 7 as the extra responsibility wasn’t worth the pay (£30 a month more than my current wage) & I didn’t love the job. I’m finding it ok, a bit frustrating as I could easily do the 8a job & would do it differently. But, the person doing it is stressed & shoulders all of the responsibility, while I’m just ‘supporting’ so the buck doesnt stop with me. I go home & don’t think about work.

Yes, went from a 7 to a 6 to move to a less stressful and more interesting area. No regrets.

I went from a 6 back down to a 5. And then up to a 7 as I wanted to work in a different area. Aslong as you enjoy the job and can afford it, all experience is good experience and you will always have your band 7 experience on your cv

I’ve done the same for very similar reasons. Nobody seemed surprised!

Yes I did, it just wasn't worth the stress for the extra money. Life's too short.

Not clinical but NHS admin. I dropped a band as the extra £28 a month was absolutely not worth the stress of the job! Much happier back in my old role and have no plans to go back up the ladder for a long time if ever!

I dropped from a 7 to a 6 to get a job with more flexible working hours when the dc were young. I’ve since swapped jobs again but stayed as a 6. I enjoy the clinical work and not the increasing amount of management responsibilities that 7s have. I’d like the money but the added stress that comes with the responsibilities aren’t worth it for me.

I dropped from a 6 to a 5 when I relocated and changed roles. Very much the right thing for me, I work a lot of unsocial hours so my wages didn’t change and I have a billion times less stress.

Yes I have done it twice, once from a band 6 ( but was originally an F grade role in old money!!) down to a band 5. Then I went from a top band 7 to work bank after 2nd child. After a few years Then moved to a totally different clinical area
to a band 6, they agreed to pay top 6 thank god as could not have afforded it if not. Now about to start another band 7 job.

Lots of people gasp at me when they hear this and think I must be barking! But my career has been so varied and interesting and kept me on my toes and ultimately we were able to afford it. I would not worry a bit what others think. Ride your own wave without a thought. It's fine.