Have you left nursing...?

[Dizzieblonde]

Have any of you trained and worked as an RGN / RN and then left the profession? What did you do instead? Did you regret leaving, or was it the best thing you ever did?

[crete]

know someone who did after 30 years

[Dizzieblonde]

Do you know why she left? What did she do instead? Did she regret it?

[crete]

she was a r g n and a midwife had a ward sisters post in london teaching hospital at one time all in all she worked for the n h s for over 30 years latterly in neonates. stress a major factor for leaving plus new techno;ogy which was introduced on a daily basis, left to work with homeless young parents at a much reduced salery, what about you ?

[Dizzieblonde]

RGN / Staff Nurse having an early mid-life crisis and considering whether to bail out now before it gets any worse! lol. I was just interested in what ex-nurses did instead, since we're only really trained for one thing, and whether they regretted leaving afterwards.

[CosmoK]

I know of two nurses who got fed up with everything. Things are bit different in Ireland for nurses as they don't seem to be able to do as much as nurses in other courntries. This is changing slowly. Anyway, the two nurses are now training to be social workers. They worked for about 6 years as nurses and are in their late 20s

[alijangra]

Im 27 and going to leave the profession to study pharmacy. (4 weeks time) I doubt I will ever regret leaving but its early days yet!

[Dizzieblonde]

Best of luck with it Ali - Not sure I'd have the patience to re-train again or go back to Uni for a second time though. Did you find it difficult making that jump and knowing you'd probably not nurse again?

[silver-car]

I left nursing after 10 years following being the victim of a particularly nasty bullying case. I regret that my career has been taken away from me, and you're right we really aren't trained for anything else, but personally i couldn't stay. Its taken me 2 years to get over it, and i'm not sure i'm there yet. Do you have an idea of what you want to do after nursing?

[MayaMoo]

With the way things are in nursing who in their right ming wold want to be one! I am presently subject to a nasty allegation that I must fight to try and clear my name, but on the other hand I feel that the odds are stacked against me quite significantly! I have not had support from anyone and feel outcasted at the same time! I have had a clean work record since qualifying and my mental health is suffering greatly! Nurses don't support each other, instead opting for the option of blame and finger pointing! It is true that somehow nursing gets you into the mindset that you can only do one thing, this is not the case, just look at the diversity of the job itself and you can become so much more! I myself am open to suggestions as deciding a career change is certainly required! In some ways it will be sad to leave as I worked hard to achieve what I do and have sometimes enjoyed it, now the stresses are so great it's time to get out! Many girls I trained with have left some qualified but never practiced! What does that tell you? Anyone going into it now is crazy! I look forward to going to a new job witohut having to look over my shoulder all the time and one that will give some level of support!