NHS to agency??

[e-liz_RN]

Hey :)

I am contemplating leaving my job to go full time agency for a short period of time while I save to go travelling and also while I decide where I want to go with my nursing and hopefully get some work experience/shadowing in areas that I am interested in.

- How long can you be out of full time NHS employment without it affecting your credentials (pension, annual leave etc)

- When I return to the NHS will there be an issue that Iv been an agency nurse for 6-12 months? Is it a black mark on my CV?

Many thanks for your help and input

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Moved to the UK forum

Check with your manager because you may be able to take a career break and not loose your position. I knew someone that went to Australia doing this and her job was there for when she came back

[e-liz_RN]

Thanks for your advice, but I'm thinking of leaving my job anyways. I'm not enjoying it anymore and it's not where I want to be. Therefore agency would be a "temp" job to keep the pennies coming in and the bills paid. :)

[spacemonkey15]

If you're planning on working in the NHS in the future then it might be more sensible to find an NHS job than going agency for a long period of time. If you have more than a three month break in NHS employment you go back to the bottom of your band, I'm not sure but it's likely this will affect your annual leave as well.

[e-liz_RN]

Thank you spacemonkey15, I wasn't aware of this at all and hadn't even thought of my banding. I'm a senior band 5 and no I don't want to go dropping to the bottom again. Would this happen if i was to have a 2 month break between jobs due to some travel planned? By this I mean have a new job lines up, just have a break Inbetween finish and start dates?

Thanks

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

You may be able to ask for a career break, although not all employers will accommodate it.