Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Dropping a band in the NHS due to stress

5 replies

Pippipumpkin · 31/10/2026 11:37

I currently work as a band 6 nurse in the NHS. It's quite a niche role and although on paper seems great (no shifts, I can WFH a lot as it is quite paperwork heavy) I am increasingly finding the day to day too much to cope with emotionally. Think along the lines of supporting with trauma/mh.
I have recognised that I am on the verge of burn out and need to get out, but have been in this role a while and before that similar roles, so my skill-set is quite niche I guess.
A band 5 job has come up in a completely different area (think hospital outpatients). I think I would really enjoy the role. There is scope for clinical and managerial progression over time. They would be open to supporting me to achieve competency in the area, rather than expecting me to hit the ground running.
The cons are a 30 min drive each way, and obviously on site so no more WFH. The DC would need to access breakfast club, but the youngest is not far off highschool so it wouldn't be for too long. The pay cut would be ok in the shorter term I think. The shifts would be just about manageable generally if they can accommodate a couple of requests.
Has anyone done a similar shift in role and can share experiences?

OP posts:
Sunshineandrainbow · 31/10/2026 11:46

If this role isn't right there will be other band 5 roles, you would be top of band 5.
I would find WAH too isolating so I would see that as a benefit being around a team.

I would definitely apply and then you can think it through more.

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 31/10/2026 11:54

Lower band jobs aren't necessarily less stressful. I would work on resilience and how you handle stress. If you're sure you will love the role then check pay etc. you won't automatically get paid at the top of the band below.

Pippipumpkin · 31/10/2026 12:11

@Sunshineandgrapefruit I think the stress comes from exposure to distressing things, rather than workload or anything like that. So I am hoping that a change of the type of work may be what I need. It helps that I am interested in the area in question and do have some previous experience.
Good tip about the pay though...I did assume I would automatically be top of band 5.

@Sunshineandrainbow I think WFH is part of the issue as it does feel lonely and I tend to ruminate a lot. It would be helpful in some ways to be around colleagues, but I would struggle to focus when writing reports, so it's a double edged sword in that sense.

OP posts:
Sunshineandrainbow · 31/10/2026 12:55

When I went from band 4 to band 3 I went to the top of band 3 pay scale, I had to provide pay slip to show I was working at the top of band 4 and request it. There was no issue once I showed the payslip.

Mableandable · 31/10/2026 12:57

I would work on resilience and how you handle stress.

Clearly you are not a Nurse.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page