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

theoss

Cheers fella- that's interesting. I take time off work to do voluntary work to try and fulfil the related experience requirement and that work draws professionals from around the country. What you say explains the slightly conflicting accounts of dress requirements I have heard. The content of the thread dosent put me off, I wanted to be able to form a balanced view. Overall everything you have said ties in nicely with what I have heard from others, just you seem to have had your fill with it. The financial side is something I can likely get through, no mortgage, kids, have savings and can probably boost funds with a bit of electrical work during the course. I would hope to have a reasonable chance of a job at the end though, which it sounds in some parts of the country there should be. I also have a need to expand my social circle and three years at uni should help with that- the people I have met so far involved in these jobs have been friendly and sociable. Which is what I want because, trust me, three years of working entiely alone and living alone has led me to question my own sanity many times.

Croatoan

The only thing I would say is that the most job opportunities are available to Adult General Nurses. There are far fewer mental health nurses, and fewer jobs, so it really is an idea to scout your area and find how many places within a reasonable distance of you actually employ them - and if it's the area of mental health you want to do. It's no use for instance setting your heart on going into forensic nursing if there are no forensic units within commuting distance. If you're willing to relocate then it's not so much a problem, but if there aren't many hospitals or mental health units near you then take that into account.

LVNurse

IMHO become a nurse is a great career choice, even though you can't be rich :A:A:A
You can check Google:
101 Great Reasons to Be a Nurse
20 Reasons Why You Should Be a Nurse

theoss

And for comparison.

Repeat above exercise substituting 'electrician' for 'nurse'. Compare results.

The evidence is clear. The only claim an electrician can make is 'I pay my bills'.

Shoey1610

I am officially no longer a mental health nurse and start my new job in a field I've always wanted to be in next week! :j

I'm so pleased I got out before they downgraded most of the Band 6 posts across the Trust to Band 5 posts - sure, 3 years protected pay, but that doesn't add up to much in the face of working until you are 70 in an increasingly constricted, high risk, underfunded service. What would be the next step - getting a promotion back to the job you had before, except you've still been doing it anyway just for less money.

Croatoan

Shoey1610 wrote: »

I am officially no longer a mental health nurse and start my new job in a field I've always wanted to be in next week! :j

Congrats. I officially wish I was you

Shoey1610

It took a long time and I was lucky in that mental health nursing was my first career, qualified at 22, so now I'm going on to my second career! Still don't know how I managed to run acute wards so young, sheer bloody mindedness I think

theoss

For those who qualified when it was fairly easy to get in, be grateful! What was ten years ago five gcse is now high a levels. The only other way in is (have tried to get alternative quals through college after work) access course which is awkward since it is just one full day a week- hence to do it requires resignation from work.

I don't really think that will lead to a good cross section of people entering nursing since now it is about money which will exclude many mature people.

Really those who got in should be grateful. Its a good job and even if you decide to leave you have far more options that a crappy trade such as mine which can only lead to one job type.

Shoey1610

theoss wrote: »

For those who qualified when it was fairly easy to get in, be grateful! What was ten years ago five gcse is now high a levels. The only other way in is (have tried to get alternative quals through college after work) access course which is awkward since it is just one full day a week- hence to do it requires resignation from work.

I don't really think that will lead to a good cross section of people entering nursing since now it is about money which will exclude many mature people.

Really those who got in should be grateful. Its a good job and even if you decide to leave you have far more options that a crappy trade such as mine which can only lead to one job type.

I get what you are saying, but I decided to train 13 years ago with high A Levels (AAB) because I wanted to train in it then. I then wanted to leave for reasons discussed in this thread, so I've spent the last five years studying a self-funded second degree with the OU part time on top of working in mental health nursing.

Please don't assume that we all just coasted into our current situations. We've all made our choices. Have you tried looking for a support worker role?

janiebquick

15 years ago, I got made redundant from a fairly senior midwifery position. At the time, I'd worked in the NHS for more than 20 years and wasn't sure what on earth I was going to do. Onr thing was certain, though, there was no way I was looking for another midwifery job!

Well, to date, this is what I have done: worked as a medical writer and editor (still do some freelance editing); worked in the medical information department of a pharmaceutical company (not recommended! actually worse than the NHS); did admin work for a GP practice; did classroom support in an FE college and taught Maths in an FE college.

There are all sorts of jobs out there for people with your experience and skill set, but I do agree that finding them needs a bit of lateral thinking, some contacts and a bit of luck.