I'm a Mental Health nurse who wants to get out of nursing....

coin_operated_girl

Racheldevon wrote: »

Have you considered IAPT - low or high intensity practitioner routes? It wouldn't give you the crisis element you're after, but is a structured way to develop - I believe the posts are band 4 during the year of training, and band 5 upon completion of the training

When I started my psychology degree the aim was to move into IAPT once I had completed it, but through my job I've learnt that I love working with people with personality disorders, schizophrenics etc, so I'm not sure IAPT would hold my interest anymore. I guess I shouldn't rule it out though since I don't really know what it is that I want to do.

skintstudentnurse

Hi, have you thought about Advocacy, drug rep , Support worker for people with MH problems or Learning Disabilities , counsellor , substance misuse worker, life coach?

Garfet

Hi all,
I've been qualified nearly 8 years and, for reasons I'm sure you're all familiar with, I just don't feel it's wise for me to continue.
This thread has been uplifting for me to read as it has shown me I'm not alone, however, I still lack a real idea of where I could take the skills I have developed and continue to bring home a reasonable salary (not so lucky to be on 40k +!). The core of my concern is who would want to employ a man pushing 40 with a good degree but no practical skills/experience in anything but nursing? I know shifting out of nursing will take lateral thinking and a lot of effort but my own personal burnout has come with a whacking dose of self doubt and existential angst. I grieve for my career in caring but cannot see a viable future in continuing.

jackyann

Haven't managed to plough through all the posts, so someone may have come up with these ideas already.

There are a number of interesting jobs that can make use of mental health / nursing experience, but they can be short-term / part-time. This is what I would do:

First step depends on how imperative it is that you leave this post.
Either: ask to go part-time, or leave and sign on with an agency (less immediate stress)
The next step depends on how much money you need in the short-term: either keep some sort of nursing, or take a part-time job to cover the basics (courier / delivery work, shelf-stacker, events agency etc.)
With a bit of extra time, start applying for short-term jobs. Many local authorities have projects around promoting mental health. A number of charities offering mental health / family support have those kind of jobs as well. There is also freelance training work, especially dealing with people who have mental health problems.
Make the most of your other experience on your cv, and if you can afford the time, do some voluntary work that will boost experience in certain fields.

Can I also suggest that you keep up your registration? You don't have to do a great deal to keep it up, and should you need to nurse in the future, it can be a lot of effort to get it back.

True_self

Do you have any advice for me?

I'm just about to qualify. I understand all the concerns in your thread and am thinking it's just not worth it.

I have a teaching qualification in FE. I struggled to get work as a teacher but I think working as an RMN is not worth it.

It's risky, but when I think of not being an RMN, I feel better. I'm in my 40's but have no kids or mortgage.


Life is short, and I like teaching.

One of the reasons I went into nursing was to have a job(not the only reason), but is it worth it?

Teaching might be insecure in FE, but nursing risks your own health in the long term.

I'm tough enough to survive anything, but I i'm not sure nursing is worth risking your health

.
Funny really, because we are supposed to look after other people's health.

I suppose you can't put a price on your health.

Any advice?

t0rt0ise

I wouldn't let one thread on the internet determine my future. Why not do it for a while and see if you like it. At least then you'll have some experience to add to your CV. It's not going to look great to have studied for so long for something and then changed direction again. Besides you may love it, some people do.

True_self

Back to teaching it is!

Deep breath, here we go.

I feel better already.

Nursing is good. Working with nurses is a nightmare. 3 years of abuse from mentors and nurses.

There are a few good nurses. Too few.

dawyldthing

Sounds like my teaching placements then - everyone seems to be on a power rush

teamshepherd

I have no helpful answer for you, it was just your username that swayed me into this thread.
I see you survived the 2014 virus outbreak!

P.S. If none of what I said makes any sense then just ignore me, I am not crazy just a big SPN fan