Going back to NHS hospital from practice nursing

[YorkshireTea12]

Just after some advice and reassurance from any other nurses….
I’ve been qualified 15+ years as a staff nurse and worked most of that in NHS hospitals in a more specialised area top band 5. I decided to go to practice nursing 3 years ago mainly for family reasons, and as much as I’ve loved the GP practice and had any amount of support, I’ve really struggled with things like isolation, working more days and having much lower pay/less holiday entitlement and have really missed my hospital colleagues.
The area I worked in was busy and could be stressful but as a team we worked well and I found the days went fast because of this.
I still keep in touch with my old colleagues and have been told there are some jobs coming up in this previous job and really can’t stop thinking about all the benefits of going back. I’m fully aware there will be highs and lows as there is anywhere in nursing but I wondered if anyone has gone back to hospital from practice nursing and how they’ve found it. Also can they honour your pay from when you left or do you go back to lower banding? My GP practice doesn’t band staff so I can’t prove my position if I were to negotiate. Thanks

I left the hospital to work in the community. You would need to drag me kicking and screaming back into hospital work. The main reason for that would be the shifts.

Have you considered working on the district? You work some shifts but not like the slog in a hospital. You also have colleagues. After five years I was a band seven.

@Yachtinggwoman I did a bit of community when I first qualified and enjoyed it but still there is a lot of lone working involved.
Personally going back to shifts is appealing for the flexibility and it works out more days at home as I could work 3 long days equivalent to the 5 I do now (plus get paid more too). Lots to think about.

I work in the community and do 3 longs days. Not a District Nurse but UCR. I have worked in the community for 26 years though so very used to lone working. I totally agree with the benefits - sick pay, annual leave, enhancements and pension are the things that have kept me in the NHS all these years.

@Seeyouincourtkeithyoutwat there’s a lot to be said about the benefits of NHS.
Being PN has been great and I’ve learnt/developed loads of skills but I’ve had itchy feet for a while and think about my previous role a lot. I find the days can be lonely and stressful -time keeping and going over allotted time as patients come in with “extra” problems, being alone to make decisions as colleagues are busy with patients themselves, having a constant stream of patients and very little socialising with the rest of the team.
I left the hospital job on good terms just thought PN was better for family life etc but we’re finding we rely on a lot more childcare 4 days after school and up to 5 in the school holidays. Shift work I used to make requests around the holidays and we rarely paid for extra childcare.