Have any nurses made a complete career change?

[VelvetHour]

Hi everyone,

I’m an adult nurse currently working in a hospital, but I’ve been seriously thinking about stepping away from nursing altogether.

A big part of it is childcare and needing something with more flexibility/less stress. Roles in my local area feel quite limited, so I’m also open to remote/work-from-home options.

I’d love to hear from anyone who’s made a career change outside of nursing:

I feel like nursing skills must be transferable, but I’m struggling to see what realistic options are out there.

Would really appreciate any advice or experiences

Any roles you’d recommend looking into (especially remote)?

Would really appreciate any advice or experiences ❤️

I know a few nurses that have left the NHS most have went into aesthetics but one is working for Superdrug doing travel vaccinations and one is working for an insurance company reviewing claims, would you consider something like that?

HI @VelvetHour I left nursing fulltime 4 years ago after 25 years - having trained to be a Church Minister. I love having the time to sit with people and actually listen to them.

There have been a few threads about leaving nursing on MN, below is one of them - hope it can give yous ome ideas.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/work/5448552-alternative-careers-nursing

Medical charity work is often home based.

An ex colleague went into being a nurse assessor for PIP. She didn't like it and went back to clinical nursing in the end, but it's an option and is often remote.

I was a Nurse for 30 years and got burnt out and left to work as a benefits advisor for people with cancer ( macmillan). I then have worked for other charities as an advisor doing benefit casework/ advising a bit on social care funding etc. I have never regretted leaving. My only regret is that I didn't have a career change sooner.

I went into practice nursing and it’s suited me for 15 years. I I wouldn’t say it’s less stress particularly, but the hours are much better and no weekends or bank holidays usually. The downside is often a reduction in pay, and less generous terms and conditions although you keep the pension. PN’s are retiring in droves at the minute, (myself soon!), see what’s out there.

I’ve been looking for a new job for years, I find a lot of jobs in other trusts are internal only or many jobs list essential criteria as having experience in the named speciality which I dont think happened years ago- are areas wanting already skilled nurses, years ago they asked to be willing to go on a course not already having completed it.
I keep considering completely different jobs but they would be a big pay cut due to lack of other qualifications.
practice nursing has not even led to interview due to my lack of practice nursing experience.

Clinical nurse trainer