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Discussion

Getting out of Nursing....?

At the risk of being flamed, is / has anyone on here left nursing, or seriously planning to in the near future...? If so, what did you do instead, did you find the transition easy, and have you regretted your decision? :(

I'm currently working as a Staff Nurse in the NHS, and after my General Med. ward of three years was closed, all staff were redeployed to new areas within the Trust. I ended up on ITU, and after only a month, I am in tears at the prospect of going into work each day. I'm off to my G.P. today as it seems I am developing either IBS or an ulcer, and some days I feel so wound up I can't even keep anything down - Sorry if any of you were eating! lol. It really does feel as though the job is slowly destroying me, and I guess it would be kind of reassuring to know if any of you have felt the same before? :bluecry1:

As anyone in the U.K. will know, nursing posts aren't particularly easy to come by at the moment, with a lot of Trusts freezing vacancies or even making staff redundant, so the option of finding something else within the Trust is pretty slim for the next year or so at least - there is even a block on newly-qualifying students applying for posts, and some staff at risk of demotion, so I know it's bad for everyone at the moment at all grades. I've come to the conclusion that it's time to get out, but finding it hard to find anything else on a similar pay scale where my nursing qualifications and experience are of any value whatsoever, so just wondered if anyone on here had a similar experience, or managed to find a gem of a job and escape?

Thanks for any advice you may have :mad:

Featured Replies

Have you thought of looking at the private sector?? I left the NHS last year to work in a small but very busy private hospital & I've never been happier. The work is very varied, the staff are friendly (& that's across the board, not just the nurses) & the working conditions are pleasant.

It's not boring nor is it a cushy number. we work hard & some days it can be really tough. However, there are some shifts that are quiet to balance it out a bit.

I get to talk to my patients & nurse the way I wish I could have when I was in The NHS.

Please don't give up without trying another route first.

In the mean time have you talked to your mananger about how you feel & how it's affecting your health. Maybe they could re-deploy you??

Please let us know how things go but please don't give up just yet!

  • Author

Thanks RGN1 - I was dreading posting on here to be honest, and thought I'd be sent packing by people who loved every inch of nursing and wouldn't hear a word against it, so thanks for understanding

I was offered a job at a private cosmetic surgeons a while back, but it turned out not to be as good an offer as it seemed; they would only offer a casual worker / agency contract, which didn't really offer any security (and not even an annual wage - just an hourly rate) and someone I spoke to who worked there warned me that staff would frequently be sent home or their shifts cancelled if they were not needed (e.g. cancellations, lack of patients, early discharges etc.) - and not paid for that shift. They didn't offer sick pay either, nor any kind of pension scheme, so I decided to turn it down. I've tried writing a few times to the private general hospitals near to me, but it seems no-one ever leaves! :) Can't blame them though!

As for the health angle, I hope I'll know more once I trot (no pun intended!) down to the G.P. later today, but that in itself makes me feel guilty as I've only been with my new ITU unit for about a month now after being redeployed, so I don't really want to become a sick-note case after such a short time. I've only met my manager once since being there though, and she always seems too busy, so I'm not sure I'd feel happy discussing it with her just yet, and don't expect her to be able to offer much of a solution to be honest.

You're tagline is right though - 'Life's too short to be miserable' - and I can't help wondering if I'd be better off just getting out altogether and taking whatever low paid, menial job I can get :idea:

It would be a shame if you left, the very fact you're reacting the way you have proves you're a good nurse & Lord knows we need those!

Of course some partys of the country are easier to find positions in than others. Have you looked at local GP surgeries?? There are still ads for Practice nurses going round.

Funny enough my hospital has just had a recruitment drive. Also 2 nurses are leaving to go to the USA soon. So it is worth keeping in touch with your local private sector. As things start to deteriorate further in the NHS they will get busier!

I urge you to keep trying elsewhere but equally don't blame you for how you are feeling.

Of course some partys of the country are easier to find positions in than others. Have you looked at local GP surgeries?? There are still ads for Practice nurses going round.

OOPS sorry about the typo - "parts" not partys

  • Experts

I would suggest going to see Occi health asap they have the power to deploy you to another job in the hospital if you involve them. You also need to speak to HR and inform them that you are very stressed and are not happy working in ICU. You need to get the GP to sign off sick with a note that says work related stress. ONce all these things are in place the HR dept has a duty to meet with you and discuss redeployment. Have you spoken with your Union, though from what I am reading about the NHS the unions seem to have no use anymore.

  • Author

Hi Madwife - Tried phoning HR and all they could suggest was another upcoming post which I could try applying for (Outpatients). I've written to them, so I'll see what comes of it. Haven't been to Occy Health yet, although I'll see what happens at my G.P.'s again Friday and might try to refer myself there.

  • Experts

Ok then if you doctor signs you off friday, then phone occi health and ask for an appointment.

  • Author

Hi Madwife & RGN1 - Bit of an update on the medical situation.

Went to my G.P. last Friday as the digestive / bowel problems (which I assumed was IBS) I'd been having lately really became too much to bear. Apparently he suspects it's not IBS (he says it's far too severe for it), nor any kind of bacterial or parasitic infection, and could only say "something seems very wrong", so it looks like a referral to a specialist for me :(

As such, he's signed me off work for a fortnight now, although I don't think I'll bother with the Occupational Health route yet - it looks like it might not be the stress of the job after all (although I'd imagine it has made it worse, whatever it is!). Will keep flicking through the (very thin!) Nursing Times jobs section while I'm sat on the loo for the next two weeks! lol

  • Experts
Hi Madwife & RGN1 - Bit of an update on the medical situation.

Went to my G.P. last Friday as the digestive / bowel problems (which I assumed was IBS) I'd been having lately really became too much to bear. Apparently he suspects it's not IBS (he says it's far too severe for it), nor any kind of bacterial or parasitic infection, and could only say "something seems very wrong", so it looks like a referral to a specialist for me :(

As such, he's signed me off work for a fortnight now, although I don't think I'll bother with the Occupational Health route yet - it looks like it might not be the stress of the job after all (although I'd imagine it has made it worse, whatever it is!). Will keep flicking through the (very thin!) Nursing Times jobs section while I'm sat on the loo for the next two weeks! lol

Oh thta doesnt sound good keep us updated. IBS can be very severe so dont start worrying just yet:wink2:

Wishing you all the best. Keep us posted xxxx

Hi Madwife - Tried phoning HR and all they could suggest was another upcoming post which I could try applying for (Outpatients). I've written to them, so I'll see what comes of it. Haven't been to Occy Health yet, although I'll see what happens at my G.P.'s again Friday and might try to refer myself there.

What about taking correspondence courses in something such as legal nursing or forensic nurisng if there is such a thing while you are working?

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