Help

RE: Help

Sal the 1st — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 16:25:57 GMT

[quote user="Frances Bell"]

You could try hobbies that don't need a commitment to be somewhere at a certain time.... I like needlework, find it very relaxing.

[/quote]

Definitely I do a lot of arts and crafts myself. There is something very soothing in the repetition of knitting that appeals to me. Self hypnosis is also a great method of winding down - happy to share the 'how to' on this as a PM if anybody will find it useful

RE: Help

Gizmo — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 14:40:14 GMT

You could try hobbies that don't need a commitment to be somewhere at a certain time.... I like needlework, find it very relaxing. The other thing would be to try taking some time off and doing volunteering, maybe overseas. I love my voluntary wildlife work and I find that keeps me sane. There are loads of great programs calling for vet nurses if you have two years experience in a paid position.

RE: Help

vpog — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 19:36:20 GMT

Hi, I'm sorry to hear you're going through a rough time. I have been struggling with the Veterinary industry for quite a long time. I had to take time out when I had a really bad episode of depression (caused by personal problems, not work directly) I went to my GP, got counselling and medication(nothing to be ashamed of) I found a new job as an RVN and was completely honest about the issues I'd had. Unfortunately, I had an accident at work and got a head injury. They sacked me for not being able to do my job and tried to blame my medication. I was off for just over a year with no pay and have just found a new job. I'm really struggling, my confidence is low and I feel like I'm behind on all the medical advances and i don't know what's happening. I've now been told to take H&S less seriously and am considering whether I really want to continue as an RVN. It's such a hard decision to make. I would try the GP route and see if a couple of weeks off helps you see the bigger picture. It may also alert the management to how you're feeling if you're signed off for a short period. Hopefully they'll help you to sort it out. Good luck.

RE: Help

Bouteloua — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 15:46:58 GMT

I feel your pain. I'm in the U.S. We have the same issues over here. Years ago, things got so bad for me that I had to leave the profession for several months. Doing so was tough because I really missed working in practice. When I was able to come back, I was more vibrant and passionate. I was able to find another position because credentialed techs (CVT) with experience are in demand. My current position has a fixed schedule with limited on call and weekends. My recommendation is to consider your options. This type of change can be quite scary but your health and sanity are worth it.

RE: Help

Wildlife Nurse — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 21:29:45 GMT

I am ok thank you :) not something I expected from a very VERY senior member of staff. Have had an emotional week, but I am not harmed in anyway.

RE: Help

PolkaDotty — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:05:45 GMT

I know how you guys feel with the work: life balance. I live on my own and have a mortgage to pay, subsequently this means I work full time in my permanent role and locum on my days off and weekends to boost my finances. It doesn't leave much time for socialising or fun things and as I work mainly as a sole charge nurse I don't even have work colleagues other than the duty vet. I do love my job and locuming but it's easy to feel alone when you work on your own most days and go home to an empty house. Thankfully my little pooch keeps me sane :)

RE: Help

Zoom Zoom — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:24:09 GMT

feel free to drop me a wee pm as I'm happy to chat through my feelings/recent decisions with my career :)

RE: Help

PHA86 — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 07:47:01 GMT

I worked in completely different jobs before nursing, and I found people to much more supportive in all of those places! Perhaps nurses and vets are just a bit more competative, personally by nature?! I had my baby last year, and I'm just feeling brave enough to dabble in a bit of locuming (maybe that's the way to go?), whilst studying in a similar field so I can stay registered and eventually (hopefully!) become self employed.

RE: Help

Sal the 1st — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:39:08 GMT

I took a break between nursing jobs to work in a knicker factory stitching knickers for M+S mind numbingly boring, piece work but once you were up to speed very well paid, hysterically funny at times - but I missed nursing and came back. The National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers would make the BVNA look like Brownie troop if they were still around - not really a fan of unions or closed shop policies but these were a really close bunch and really had each others backs

RE: Help

VetNurse Anon a/c — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:24:48 GMT

Hi everyone, writer of the original post here. Thank you for your replies, it is nice to know I'm not the only one going through this. I already do my hours over long days, and generally find that harder due to the time I'm finishing. The days I have off are often not the same ones as partner or friends so I gain nothing from them when they're in the week and the long hours mean I lose out on evenings. I'm sure there will be some people who are reading this who think surely this is what you signed up for? And actually yes, I expected it to be long and often antisocial hours. What I didn't expect was for that to take so much of a toll on me that I'd lose my love for the job. Has anyone ever taken a career break? Either some time signed off or in a different job? I really feel like I need to do something to take control of this thing but I don't know where to go or what to do. I've always been very passionate about mental health in this industry, although I never expected it to be my own that would need protecting. I will certainly rebook an appointment with my gp, if only to get some advice on the physical manifestations (lack of sleep, stress headaches etc). Isn't sad that we have to think about saying no/working reasonable hours/leaving on time/having a life as selfish? To the person who experienced a "physical altercation" are you ok?

RE: Help

Zoom Zoom — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 17:36:09 GMT

Sorry to be reading these posts guys, I hope you are all ok! I have seen and heard a lot of similar feelings in the nursing world recently. And i can say I have also felt some of the same things with regards to work life balance, low wages and generally feeling unable to excel myself in terms of promotions, incentives etc. It really is a tough career we have chosen and its great we can offer some support to one another. I have made the huge decision to begin locum work and start my own home-based business which offers me a flexible work life balance and has higher earning potential. This for me is important as i have lots of goals and aspirations in life i will find hard staying where i am now!

Please feel free to give me a message to chat further! It would be lovely to see if can help anyone out :)

zoe x

RE: Help

VetNurse Anon a/c — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 09:09:04 GMT

Hi Anon

Apologies for incognito post but sensitive subject. i too found myself in this position about a year ago, although unlike yourself i didnt realise just how bad thing were till my now husband pointed out to me just how little time we spent together (even though we live in the same house) and that things needed to change for the sake of our relationship and my own sanity. 2 weeks of sleepless nights it took before i finally went to management and explained i was leaving. In my mind i would find another job away from vet nursing e.g insurance, nice 9-5 no late nights, no on call, no weekends basically get some sort of life back for myself.

A year later i'm still nursing but in a senior role, work effectively 9 - 5 no weekends, no on call and i have free time to socialise, lie in and generally have a 'work:life'. The reduction in hours has affected my wage but the quality home time far outways the financial loss even if it means we can't go out for fancy meals etc at least we can stay at home and enjoy each others company. I realise i'm lucky my boss saw the value in keeping me and made changes to facilitate that. At the end of the day you should love yr job and not dread it, make time for friends and family laughter is really good medicine, go and talk to yr doctor, i was offered anti depressants but didnt take them as i wasnt sure how i would know if i was truly happy if i was taking them (if that makes sense). Dont exhaust yourself, be selfish, make changes for you regardless of how drastic they seem at the time. we only get one shot at this you worked hard for your qualification someone out there will appreciate the effort you put in it may just take a bit of searching to find them.

Good luck and keep talking

RE: Help

Celine — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 08:28:19 GMT

[quote user="Wildlife Nurse"]I genuinely read this thinking, I don't remember writing this... This is my life. And to today it got worse with a physical altercation. ..[/quote]

Er what?!? I hope you are okay!! That's never going to be acceptable in any way from any person, be it colleague or client. (But probably not wise to share too many details on here in case legal ramifications etc)

I think many of us can relate to feeling like the OP, be it right now or just at some point in your career. I wonder if people in other professions feel this way too, or is it because in addition to working the typically slightly greater number of hours than other professions e put our heart / soul / emotion into this job, which makes it that bit more exhausting? Interesting.

I know you've said you can't afford to drop hours but I think a previous suggestion of seeing if you can cram those hours into 4 days rather than 5 is excellent - I've personally found that didn't feel much different than working an 8 hour day.

RE: Help

Alison Clare Hickman — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 06:54:26 GMT

hugs all round ladies. Biggest ones I can manage. Please PM me if you'd like to chat. I can't promise solutions but I can listen. Xxxxx

RE: Help

Wildlife Nurse — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 22:32:23 GMT

I genuinely read this thinking, I don't remember writing this... This is my life. And to today it got worse with a physical altercation. ..

RE: Help

Sal the 1st — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 21:17:00 GMT

I will hold my hand up to this. We have just moved into a new building(last week) - I should be excited, I should be looking forward to how the place develops and just like you the job for me is no more than 'fine' at the moment. I am tired, I am losing sleep - like yourself I am getting cheesed off with rude clients, I am never sure if colleagues are going to be in a good mood or snap my head off and I have given up trying to work it out (ok I get it that the move was stressful for everybody but that does include me as well). I have stopped trying to buoy others up because its bloody hard work and its making me miserable. I am taking each day as it comes but quite honestly a couple of times recently I have woken up and thought can I really be bothered with this anymore? I am not enjoying life too much at the moment except when I am not at work.

The solution for me has been to put as much effort as I can into a hobby that I really love, it gets me out an about and its time away from work, I have made a conscious effort to become just a little bit more selfish, less available if you like, and put my needs above anybody else for the immediate future, yes people have noticed and I did feel guilty at first but not now - you are no better thought of for putting everybody else first - so for now I won't. I have felt this way a time or two before, I'm sure it won't be the last time it takes a while but I get through it

I don't really have any easy answers I'm afraid, a visit to your GP may be useful? don't ever feel ashamed to accept medication, getting out and about in the fresh air has helped me a lot recently it was a lovely day yesterday once the sun came out.

Have you ever heard the therapists definition of 'fine'

F***ed up

Insecure

Neurotic, and

Emotional

I reckon I must be all of these plus a few more at the minute, but for me I know its just a case 'of this too shall pass' - I just wish it would bleeding well hurry up, perhaps I should dose up on the old katalax and give it a bit of a kick start?

Hang in there and give me a shout on a PM if you think it might be useful - even if its only to compare notes

contacting vetlife may also be helpful

RE: Help

lindsay clapham — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 20:36:41 GMT

I have always found it helpful to write a list of everything that you find frustrating and then write a list of solutions for the problems that could be sorted. (even if it is not you who would decide on a change). If you can change something reasonably easily then great but it is always better to go to management with solutions to problems. Think about things from their point of view as well. Could you come up with a rota that suits your needs as well as theirs? E.g longer shifts over 4 days instead of 5?

Then after a while re write the list (there will always be something frustrating as no job is perfect) Hopefully things have changed enough that you are more positive about your job. If not then it may be time to look into other options.

RE: Help

PHA86 — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 20:15:55 GMT

Sorry, I must've skim read the bit about not being able to speak to management! I do still think it's a good idea though, is there a team leader you trust enough to relay the message? As team leader in my last practice I would do my utmost to make everyone as happy as possible!

RE: Help

PHA86 — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 20:12:11 GMT

I felt quite similar to this before going on maternity leave. My solution would be to speak to management, see if they can make the rota work better for everyone and if they can do anything to get your mojo back. Personally, I haven't returned to the profession after having my baby, but have started studying in a similar area again. Maybe a change would refresh you too?