Pro's and Con's of working (full time) in the NHS?

LTL

silkyuk9 wrote: »

Ive worked for the NHS for over 20 years.

It once was a job for life not anymore. Stressful yes, job cuts etc etc etc.

pros, good for holidays and sickness pay

cons just about everything else

Cooper18 wrote: »

Silky, do you know anyone who has been in the NHS for more than 10 years who actually still loves their job?! I wonder if its just me and the folks I know who hate it!

Don't get me wrong, I love the job I'm supposed to do, but I'm not allowed to do it anymore. So overall I hate the place!

Maybe you both feel that way in regards to security/morale because it is worse than it was and that's all you've worked in. To a newcomer is still may not be bad, or as bad as the private sector.

I'm not one to comment as I haven't worked in both areas - I guess you can get good and bad experiences in both sectors still.

My view, for what it's worth, is that a public sector package is better than a private one.

Cooper18

LTL wrote: »

Maybe you both feel that way in regards to security/morale because it is worse than it was and that's all you've worked in. To a newcomer is still may not be bad, or as bad as the private sector.

I'm not one to comment as I haven't worked in both areas - I guess you can get good and bad experiences in both sectors still.

My view, for what it's worth, is that a public sector package is better than a private one.

That's why I set the 10 years or more rule! It's deteriorated terribly since I joined, and it wasn't exactly a walk in the park then. But the sad thing is I was once motivated, enthusiastic, eager to learn and to advance, keen to try to make things better for the patients, to implement changes that would make it better for everyone. Fast forward 21 years and I'm demoralised, demotivated, tired fighting the fight every single day. Trying to get the managers to make simple changes that would make a huge difference is like going to war and I can't be bothered any more. I see useless, inefficient staff all around and absolutely nothing is done to improve their performance. We are a breeding ground for the mediocre because the good staff leave, or end up like me.

So, it might be good when you're new in, for a few years. But I wouldn't do it all again because I'm a bit horrified at what it's done to me. I'm not proud of the change in my personality.

Errata

Pros: You can make a difference to the lives of a lot of young people
Cons: You won't want to

Cooper18

Errata wrote: »

Pros: You can make a difference to the lives of a lot of young people
Cons: You won't want to

Sums it up better than I did! :beer::T:T

Person_one

I know a number of nurses who've been in the NHS for more than 10 years and are still passionate about it and love their jobs.

They aren't likely to be hanging around this board though, are they?

bluesnake

It also depends in which speciality you work, and how the department operates and is structured.

Lots of politics and back stabbing, reminds me of the play Macbeth. Often an old world 'officer, or cannon fodder' approach to staff, can be very cliquey

Mental Health tends to be one of the poorest funded, which often means lower moral

WantToBeSE

Thanks everyone for the replies...not as positive as i'd hoped for, but i guess that's to be expected.

Errata-why won't I want to 'make a difference to the lives of a lot of young people'?

emg

I work in the NHS and love my job, I just struggle with the systems. After more than 10 years I am still passionate about helping people make changes and get teary moments when my kids meet their goals. I do however, get stressed about the bureaucracy and the managers who dont know anything about the frontline jobs and it's true that morale is very low. In my trust there have been redundancies and downgrading of jobs. Terms and conditions are good but being eroded all the time and when all the trusts become Foundation Trusts they can set their own T&C anyway.

Comparing with colleagues who work in the private sector I feel lucky. I think my job is better than some, worse than others but probably a bit more secure.

henmuffin

I have worked in the NHS in a CMHT for nearly 30 years.
There are a lot of benefits.
Regular pay with incremental rises. Pay also transparent.
Good holidays.
Good sick pay.
Pension which is a rare thing these days.
Training opportunities are very good.

As with any jobs there are stresses too.
Sometimes things are very busy. However the job is safe compared to a lot in the private sector. I only know a handful of people who have been made redundant in all those years.

Because it is such a massive employer there are lots of opportunities to move around. If you don't like your department you can apply for other jobs. Similarly if you move around the country you will have experience to apply within the NHS there.
I have moved a lot to different areas of the country and have always found employment within the NHS as a nurse.
Hope this helps.

Acc72

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the replies...not as positive as i'd hoped for, but i guess that's to be expected.

Why did you expect negative replies ?

It seems to me that most (almost all ?) people employed as teachers, in the NHS or the public sector in general are very negative about their jobs.

If they are so bad, why don't they leave and get another job elsewhere or in the private sector ?

It raises an interesting question for me : "am I de-motivated because I work in the public sector, or do I work in the public sector because I am de-motivated".

Certain jobs attract certain types or people - then those same people blame their jobs for causing them to be the type of person they are !