I think this is it, I really really want a change of career!

[peacelily]

Hi everyone, I've posted on another thread about this recently, I've been an RMN for 10 years worked in CAMHS for 10 and while some bits of my job I love I'm afraid the s**t bits have got too much.

Basically I've had enough of carrying so much risk, all the time for such a pittance, I know the psychiatrists get twitshy about it too, but hey they're on 3 times the salary (and re-training as a medic isn't an option, my exam results weren't high enough!).

I love doing the CBT and seeing positive outcomes but the constant stream of emergencies, overdoses and parents with personality disorders, I've had enough.

Other nursing jobs I've had include ward manager, practice/policy development and nurse lecturer. I quite good at immediate crisis type work, moving quickly from one thing to another and getting things sorted. Also quite good with very focussed stuff and tight deadlines.

Rather crap with long term, ongoing stuff and organising my own time,(hence doing research when a lecturer, didn't happen!) I need structure!!

Do any MNetters have any ideas about an alternative career that might suit? Need about 20k salary (or possibility of working up to it). I'll try anything!!

[fedupandisolated]

Health visitng might be an option - your experience would be good for those of us who have suffered the misery of postnatal depression. It's always good as a Mum when you know the HV has her own children too.

[ska]

health visitor or district nurse. what about marie curie?
or if you want to get away from that kind of thing, train as a counsellor, you sound ideal. you can start at relate i think they still pay to train you.

[peacelily]

The one health care job that does still appeal is doing some training in infant mental health and working with health visitors on how to help women with PND and bonding/attachment.

Those sorts of jobs are highly sought after tho and few and far between. I don't know whther I could stand the drudgery of the baby clinic and teaching parents about bfeeding and routines etc TBH! I would enjoy the PND bit though especially as I think I had it for a while too was definitely v v anxious so have quite a lot of empathy.

[Needtoearn]

If you want a complete change have you thought about becoming a Medical Represenative for a pharmaceutical company - they are always on the look out for qualified nurses and I beleive the starting salary is around 26K (more for London) plus car plus prospects.

[PerkinWarbeck]

Maternal mental health specialist? the two trusts I work most closely with have specialist nurses in this role, visiting pregnant women in high risk groups, as welll as supporting women through PND.

Family therapist?
or CBT therapist (with no care co-ordination role)?

BTW, I am an ASW so I do know what you mean about risk and relative salary .

[ska]

i knew someone whose daughter was pharm rep and she was loaded! but lots of travel

[ska]

actually now i think of it - my friend runs a pharm marketing company and tehy use nurses and other med people to train gps etc in how to use new drugs. no idea how that fits in with your ethics tho.
i think working with pnd mums and with mental health kids would be rewarding but hard work. Contact a family might have info

[tiredemma]

Is there a Mother & Baby unit in your trust?
Our Trust has a Unit and CPN's specifically visiting mothers with PND and PPS, they attend antenatal clinics and act as MH liasion nurses.
I have an email address of a woman who occasionaly comes on here, she works in perinatal mental health, she may have more info.

Im 2nd MH nursing student interested in working CAMHS- it would be good to pick your brains at some point!!

[PerkinWarbeck]

come and work in my trust!

[tiredemma]

are you anywhere near this place? its like the one that we have in bham

mother and baby unit/clinic

[peacelily]

Medical rep not really an option, yes ska it's an ethics issue! And TBH the 2 friends I have doing it are stressed to the max!

Maternal mental health specialsit sounds v interesting, I'll have a look into it definitely.

TBH though I'm quite burnt out with NHS work. To work exclusively in CBT might be ok, jobs hard to come by. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about how my skills could be transferred to a completely different role, ie not healthcare!

[peacelily]

yes tiredemma, I actually work about a mile away from it now!

[Reamhar]

No expert here, but could you cross train into something like Occupational Health maybe, or Nurse/Matron for a school.

What about some of the private healthcare providers offer phone support lines, perhaps working with people across the telephone. Stress and stress counselling is I think a growing area, maybe?

[tiredemma]

oops.

School Nurse????

[cmotdibbler]

If you write out exactly what it is you enjoy (seeing results, helping people, getting results) and want (physically safe job, no dragging on and on of things, fairly directed) and don't want from a job it can help.

For instance, would you be interested in a totally non healthcare role that was office based ? Or do you need face to face time ?

A bit of self directed, or just sitting down and getting on with it ?

Dh works in insurance claims, and his new claims handlers get 20k - fast moving, get to help people out, satisfying, but people are stressed on the end of the phone and get shouty. But they stay there !