How do you know?

Alex_of_Swansea

Hey. I am a nurse of a year's experience. I have never enjoyed nursing but continued as I wanted to finish the course I'd begun, then financial pressures meant I needed a job and nursing was there. Now i'm looking to switch careers, but having worked in nursing since leaving school, my imagination has betrayed and deserted me. Has anyone else been here and how did you get out, please? I really do not enjoy my work, but have no clue what else I am qualified for. Any ideas, however daft yet do-able, would be appreciated.
Thanks! Confused A

Conor_3

Sadly, there's no easy answer. After leaving school I wanted to be in the RAF. Applied but they spent an age messing me about so in the first couple of years I did fish frying, electronics engineering, engineering drawing, welding, joinery, mechanics, butchery, factory work, GRP trimming and finishing - a whole slew of stuff until I finally managed to get in the Army as a mechanic, even though all my school quals were geared towards electronics. Sadly my career in the Forces was cut short. Did an electronics engineering course as a refresher but my heart wasn't in it. Unfortunately, I had a HGV licence from the Army and "fell into" that. A stop gap 6 month job ended up being a 15 year (so far) career. And I hate it. But I also hate IT as well (did it self employed since 1999 alongside the driving) and I'm so out of touch with electronics and with the lack of jobs in it around here, that's out. Sadly the reason why I left the Army means I can't do mechanics either so that's out.

So what I'm doing at the moment is stucking with the driving until I have a lightbulb moment, but on my terms which means 3 days a week which I can do thanks to temp agencies.

currantbun

I also am a nurse and I also kindo of "fell into it". I do enjoy my job but it's not what I really want to be doing, however I have 2 small children and it allows me to workhours convenient to me and the pay is (relatively) good.
Have you thought about moving into another branch of nursing?
Otherwise, think of all the fantastic skills you have got to take to a new career - people skills, time management, supervising other staff, dealing with complaints,...
Apparently Marks and Spencer snap up nurses for their management training programme if you fancy a move into retail.

Fruity1

Are you able to cover maternity leave doing something else to see if you like the actual post, however there is no financial security. Is it worth spreaking to your human resources dept to see if they can assist you. Have you considered air steward/ess, being a travel rep, social work, classroom assistant lab work. All require extreme amounts of patience and use alot of the other skills and knowledge you gained whilst nursing. I'd love to give nursing up but until I have paid the mortgage its a no goer. Good luck.

ohreally

Many of my colleagues are nurses who have moved away from wards/depts into other areas which retain their service conditions but let them pursure other interests such as secondment into full time trade union roles - very busy and lots of work with AFC.Others are working with govt funded agencies helping long term sick to retrain and get back to employment.Many have moved towards areas such as NHS24 (don't know if you have similar in your area)...http://www.nhs24.com/html/content/default.asp
Lot's of oppertunities exist to retain your earnings and t&c's, depends on whether you really wish to leave or would stay with the NHS but with a different remit.

jobbingmusician

How about retraining as a teacher - I think most schools would love someone who could double as the school nurse, if you fancied this?