How can I get out of nursing?

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

FINNIGAN — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 16:30:27 GMT

Me too, I’m 60 now and am tired lol only trouble is finding something with same pay grade, I’m on a good wage can’t afford less!!!

[quote userid="35876" url="~/f/nonclinical-discussions/32478/how-can-i-get-out-of-nursing/178401#178401"]Insurance claims assessor, RVN triage out-of-hours, lecturer, veterinary admin assistant/receptionist, pet blood bank, dog walker, radiography, physiotherapist, zoo keeper, dog groomer, practice manager, hydrotherapy, pet sitter, animal trainer/behaviourist are all the ones I can think of right now :) Hope this helps[/quote]

Money's not great in those roles!

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Katherine Spear — Fri, 31 May 2024 20:20:00 GMT

www.vetclick.com/.../rvn-client-care-advisors-flexible-non-clinical-remote-home-working-positions-p423778.php

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Wildlife Nurse — Fri, 31 May 2024 20:13:52 GMT

Ooh! Thank you so much! I haven't seen that one, will check it out :)

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Katherine Spear — Fri, 31 May 2024 20:10:05 GMT

I saw a job advertised for vets 2 your pets the other day and thought of your post! It was for a wfh role as client care advisor and for a vn, that kind of thing might be good for you, to be using your skills but be out of practice itself?

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

alice456 — Thu, 16 May 2024 18:14:47 GMT

As someone who left nursing due to mental health/stress and ended up in the NHS. I would say I have had many opportunities which I would not have had such as progression over time. I started out working as an assistant/receptionist in a dental practice as it was an easy job to get with my skills and I found they really appreciated the skills I had built up as a vet nurse, alongside my medical knowledge and empathy for patients. I would recommend dental practices as a quick way out, the money was reasonable and I was able to progress into an NHS career. Happy to answer any questions you might have.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Wildlife Nurse — Thu, 16 May 2024 15:52:48 GMT

Unfortunately, I want out of nursing full stop now. I moved to referral as found first opinion a bit dull for me. As much as I love the patients, the negatives outweighs the positives for me in nursing now. I just had no idea it would be so difficult to get away from!! After job searching for over a year, my mental health is rapidly going down the toilet. I promised myself I would never let a job get me so low again, but I seem to be spiralling with the thought of being there much longer.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Sasha Irwin — Tue, 14 May 2024 12:32:33 GMT

Sounds like you need out of referral nursing & maybe a 1st opinion practice is would be a better pace of life. At 45yrs old myself, I definitely wouldn't cope in referral now but I currently work in a SA 1st opinion practice (V4P instore practice) that is busy enough to support a team of 2.5 vets & 3RVNs plus 2 SVNs. There are RVN positions in these clinics offering higher then 22-24k

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Nessa Harbottle — Mon, 13 May 2024 08:31:27 GMT

I have to agree that the manners thing is definitely an issue these days. It never ceases to amaze me that in an era where we have so many ways of communicating and a lot of people are stuck to their phones etc, we seem to communicate less.

Maybe, if you have not tried this yet, send your CV and covering letter to all the vets nearby enquiring about positions they may have. Some employers like that as it save them advertising fees

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 13 May 2024 08:10:10 GMT

[quote userid="26707" url="~/f/nonclinical-discussions/32478/how-can-i-get-out-of-nursing/178616#178616"]I'm positively miserable in my current role. It's a truely awful place. I just want out[/quote]

Gosh, you poor thing. Awful position to be in. I think Louise Buckley's wise words were not glib at all and may just help you get through it.

[quote userid="26707" url="~/f/nonclinical-discussions/32478/how-can-i-get-out-of-nursing/178616#178616"]I've applied for several roles, no acknowledgement let alone progress to interview. [/quote]

I was talking about this (not your post specifically, but the relatively new phenomenon whereby companies often just don't bother replying to applications any more), with my wife.

I guess the problem is mostly that companies get so many applications that it can be quite time-consuming (and therefore costly) to acknowledge them.

... except how long does it take to have a standard email which says: "Apologies for the automated response, but we get so many applications. We don't have any positions available at the moment, nor can we keep applications on file. But when we do have a vacancy, we will post it on vetnurse.co.uk."

So I think the problem is also partly due to declining manners in this country (I may be showing my age now!)

Anyway, that's by the by. I remember the days when I was job hunting and had an A4 lever arch file full of rejections. I found the answer was to try and apply in some way that DEMANDED a response. When I was trying to get a job as a pilot, I would turn up at the hanger and just offer to help, and it worked!

Otherwise, perhaps get creative. Send your application recorded delivery to a named individual (the practice manager) and tell them you'll be ringing them in a few days. I think if I got a letter by recorded delivery, it would make the applicant stand out.

Or perhaps send a small gift. An application letter enclosing a KitKat: "for you to enjoy whilst you mull over my CV".

Or a small posy of flowers for the practice.

Again, if I got an application like that, its going to make the sender stand out from the multitude of other applications and at the very least get a reply.

So even if the answer was no, it might be slightly less soul-destroying than no answer at all.

GOOD LUCK. CHIN UP. DON'T LET THE BUGGERS GET YOU DOWN!

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Louise Buckley — Mon, 13 May 2024 06:25:10 GMT

Hi there,

This is going to sound very glib and I don't mean it to me but really it comes down to a change of mindset while you do search for something else.

Maybe make a list of all the things that your job does give you that makes you happy or less unhappy than you might have been. I had to do this not that long ago after changes left me wanting to just walk away and, quite frankly, go and sit in a field and cry for the day. In the end I came up with loads of extrinsic reasons:

1. It pays my mortgage

2. It pays for me to have 4 ponies.

3. I love the smell of my ponies in the morning and I would miss that if I had to sell them

4. It pays for my 17 dogs which aren't cheap

5 - 100+. loads and loads of reasons why my dogs bring me pleasure and why not being able to meet their needs would make me more unhappy

etc.

I also came up with some intrinsic ones which I won't list.

Ultimately, I have everything I have outside of work because of what I do in work and so even if there are days, weeks, months when I might not be as happy as I could be in work what it pays for does bring me a lot of happiness. There is an art to walling off aspects that don't bring you happiness so that it doesn't over spill into other areas.

The other thing that I have had to do on multiple occasions is take a tangential approach to finding other opportunities for fulfillment.

1. If you are part of a wider organisation, are the committees you can join, initiatives you can join, etc.? Anything that gets you out of the rut and humdrum of the current role? At the same time you will develop or demo other skills in other ways that might help you longer term.

2. Volunteer - find a cause you are passionate about and volunteer for this in your spare time. Whether veterinary or non-veterinary, it may give you a different focus and open new doors, let you make new contacts, etc.

Finally,

Scrutinise your applications / ?interviews to make sure that everything you say/do is telling a prospective employer that you are running to them rather than running away from a previous employer. We had nearly 70 applications for a role recently in my team so we have to be picky as we cannot interview everything - all things being equal, I would be more likely to screen out someone who was clearly looking to escape a current work situation as I am not advertising an escape route I am advertising an opportunity for someone who actively wants to work for us.

But ultimately, the job market is such that, at the moment, if you are entry level in any new career (even just a tweak on the old one) you may find it tough as you are doing so the above might help.

Good luck!

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Wildlife Nurse — Mon, 13 May 2024 04:47:32 GMT

I've been looking for over year now. I'm positively miserable in my current role. It's a truely awful place. I just want out. I've applied for several roles, no acknowledgement let alone progress to interview. How on earth are you meant to keep going? I'm extremely experienced with tons of transferrable skills. I'm getting nowhere other than into the depths of depression.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Louise Royle RVN CertCFVHNut — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 16:34:25 GMT

I think it's important to remember just how many skills from veterinary nursing are transferable, you may not be working with animals in your next role but you have no doubt got a lot of experience with customer service, mediation, team leading, blood sampling etc, human nursing may give you the but that's not to say it's not an avenue to look into, phlebotomy, radiography, grief counselling the opportunities are out there it's just deciding where you want to go next? X and good luck, as a older nurse' my joints know how you feel

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Sofia Ceruti — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:03:54 GMT

I’ve just recently semi left the profession. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I still do the occasional weekend shift to keep my foot in the door.

I knew that by leaving the profession, I had to start from scratch. Luckily I was able to land a job in a lab that tests hydraulic fluid, engine oil etc as a Purchasing Coordinator. With not a huge pay cut. There are so many transferable skills that we can apply elsewhere.

If you wanted to reach out to me I’d be happy to help in any way I can.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Rachel Everitt — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 22:23:35 GMT

Have you had a look at VSGD? Loads of useful webinars on there as well.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

emma cooksley — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 20:52:45 GMT

I just looked on the vpis website and it says no current vacancies, but if you go on the vet times site there is a vpis job on there..applications close 15th march!

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Jo Brett — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 20:41:30 GMT

Please do not despair.
I was in your position 2.5 years ago so here are my top tips:

Your next job does not have to be your last job
Some time away doing something different (an interim job) will help you clear you head, give you a different focus and chance to breath
I though about all my friends and families jobs and considered what parts of their jobs I would like/dislike, be good at or less so.
Transferable skills to name a few: project management, organisation, prioritising, multitasking, attention to detail, computer literate, good communicator, ability to follow instructions.
Look for a employer that you align with on your values rather than you skills. Being employed my a wonderful company makes any job great no matter what you are doing.
Take a look at Vets, Stay Go Diversify.
Talk to VetLife

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Wildlife Nurse — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:07:01 GMT

I absolutely DO want to leave the profession. Liking animals isn't enough. This isn't a job you can do until you retire. As I said there are many factors why. I didn't list everything. I've fallen out of love with nursing.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Kerrie Oakley — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:20:34 GMT

It depends on what sort of things drive you.

I went into lecturing for 10 years - this was lecturing at 2x agricultural colleges. My background with livestock allowed me to diversify slightly and I taught elements in Agriculture, Animal management as well as Veterinary Nursing. During this time I was also studying to be a veterinary physio as my long term goal was to retrain and work for myself. It's a bit of a juggle but I did gain a teaching qualification while teaching which adds another string to your bow.

There are obviously roles such as insurance assessors, telephone triage etc. But finding vacancies is tricky - I would suggest looking into all the different companies out there and approach them directly. This has paid off for me quite a few times as the companies were in the process of recruiting, so it meant that I got ahead of the game slightly. It also is a great way to network, which can then help you learn about different areas. Are you on Fb? There is a page - Vets: Sta, go or diversify. This has useful information and sometimes ads.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Olivia Coulton — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 11:59:00 GMT

Would locum nursing not work for you? or are you really at the end where locuming wouldn't work? When locuming there is no practice poltics to be involved in as if you don't like that work place you move on. At the end of the day you can go home without having to think I need to this or that tomorrow at work especially if your working in a couple of different practices a month. You also work as much or as little as you want as your working for yourself! You can also dictate what distance you want to drive too!

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Louise Buckley — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:44:08 GMT

[quote userid="26707" url="~/f/nonclinical-discussions/32478/how-can-i-get-out-of-nursing/178425#178425"]I just can't seem to find many roles advertised. The few i have found have salaries of between 22-24k which I cannot survive on. All this knowledge, all this experience and nowhere to take it. Feel very disheartened and sad.[/quote]

Difficult to comment more here without knowing more about the location that you are based in.

[quote userid="26707" url="~/f/nonclinical-discussions/32478/how-can-i-get-out-of-nursing/178425#178425"]All this knowledge, all this experience and nowhere to take it. [/quote]

Which tells me you don't really want to leave the vet nursing profession (in conjunction with still loving animals) but either need a new practice to do a different version of what you currently do but with new challenges/responsibilities perhaps.

If you want to break into teaching or supporting learning but don't live near an education provider, the College of Animal Welfare sometimes offer remote roles supporting students, and that could lead into other opportunities.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Louise Buckley — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:40:11 GMT

[quote userid="26707" url="~/f/nonclinical-discussions/32478/how-can-i-get-out-of-nursing/178425#178425"]I'm tired of practise politics, I'm tired of zero support from management over serious issues raised, I'm tired of having long commutes. I've been in referral for the last 6.5 years. [/quote]

All of those things are not necessary conditions of veterinary nursing though. These are issues with your workplace in terms of culture, and distance from your home. Not necessarily nursing as you have said yourself that you still love the animals. Maybe it is just another workplace that is needed?

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Wildlife Nurse — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 01:41:53 GMT

After 20+ years, I've fallen out of love with it. While I do love the animals, everything else just seems to be a chore. I'm tired of practise politics, I'm tired of zero support from management over serious issues raised, I'm tired of having long commutes. I've been in referral for the last 6.5 years. I know its the right decision to leave before I start to resent it.

I just can't seem to find many roles advertised. The few i have found have salaries of between 22-24k which I cannot survive on. All this knowledge, all this experience and nowhere to take it. Feel very disheartened and sad.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Louise Buckley — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 23:49:51 GMT

What aspect of nursing are you struggling with, why are struggling, and what areas are you still enjoying? That might give some clues as to the next steps.

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

kazrussell2002 — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 21:57:23 GMT

I went and joined the Army! Great career then when I left that spent time working as a Call Handler in Ambulance Control. Now back at the same practice I left in 2002 (had to do PSP) when I went to enlist, one of the RVN's I worked with way back then is still there! There are options, take them and hopefully one day you will come back to the profession refreshed. Good luck

RE: How can I get out of nursing?

Olivia Coulton — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:27:34 GMT

I know it is hard but things like dog walking, physiotherapy, dog grooming, pet sitting, animal trainer/behaviourist you can do as your own buisness so no need to find vaccanies if you are in the position to be able to do this.