Training to be a Mental Health Nurse

I have until 20th August to enrol and sign a contract with the University to study to be a Mental Health Nurse for three years.

Here are the issues:

  • If Covid gets worse, what happens after that? (90% of usual taught sessions on campus are online this year)
  • I will be doing placements, effectively working, and taking out thousands of money to pay them for the pleasure.
  • At the end I will be Earning £25k per year, and have £69k additional debt to my name, so I will be forever paying 9% of my earnings above a certain amount.
  • Every time I change role I will need to disclose convictions from when I was a teenager, every time, and someone one day might not like it

Plus sides:

  • I will be doing something that helps other people
  • Job security is the best and high demand
  • I would have my third career change, and a new set of skills.
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i think it depends how passionate you are for the job and if you feel you can cope with the stress (so youre not relapsing).

if you are passionate enough, perhaps you would not care so much for that 9%

good luck whatever decision, you make :slight_smile:

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You only live once.

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I think that it has taken you so long to think about it is a pretty big sign that you are not 100% committed and probably shouldn’t do the course. If you are going to uni, normally you have to be really committed and certain that it is the right course for you.

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The problem is this is adding a 3rd skill set.

I am currently a self-employed landscaper, with some opportunities for additional work coming up. I am already fully equipped to do the job.

Then I could get another IT job in data, but it seems hard to find the right opportunity, and I struggle with interviews etc.

This would be new to me, so I’d be able to work in 3 completely different jobs later on if I choose to.

It’s all just a bit complicated and confusing.

I had a plan when I left my old job due to stress, but Covid ■■■■■■ up my plans.

The options I spend a long time thinking about.

Nursing is definitely a vocation in the UK. I would be committed from that perspective. I don’t care about the money, as I could still afford to live on the salary

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You said you found an office environment stressful too. A mental health nurse job is very socially intensive. It is not just with the clients either, you will be having frequent meetings and things like that on top of being around your coworkers like you were before.

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The social side is a gamble for sure.

I would hope that throughout the course and placements the training would help.

Because of my diagnosis of SZ and ASD, I am getting extra support, so I could use the hours I have with a mentor specialist to overcome these issues professionally

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I think that is one of the things though with sz, you never get over those aspects with it fully.

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Working in health care is extremely stressful. I was a CNA in nursing homes and studied a little nursing. I took care of people who were recovering from surgery in the rehab floor and also elderly long term residents.

Dealing with and taking care of non-mentally ill is stressful. It’s physically demanding, mentally demanding, and emotionally draining.

My sza mainly manifested with delusions of paranoia and bipolar mood swings. I became burned out in less than a year at one facility and within 6 months at another. And my symptoms were not bad to start.

I’d suggest really sitting down and thinking on if you can handle being hit, spit on, cussed out, threatened, and more.

**All of that happened to me with non-mentally ill people

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This has been also a thing that I have struggled to sort out in my head how my own MI plays into this scenario.

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Do you think that my experiences of being the person being ill and causing health care workers problems make me understand why, and I might be able to understand a bit better than someone who has not been ill?

Understanding doesn’t equal coping.

Not long ago you were ready to walk away from a job with a demanding, obnoxious customer. Imagone that almost daily.

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If I were you I would just grow your business at the moment. Maybe make your own website and get on Google maps and things like that. I could have a go at doing some graphic design for you if you want lol.

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Thanks for the offer :slightly_smiling_face:

My cousin did all the artwork and graphics for me in March just before lockdown

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I’m not saying to not try it. I’m just giving examples of how hard it can be. Healthcare is not an easy job.

Even though I got burned out, it’s still a rewarding time in my life and I wish things hadn’t happened to drive me out.

Helping people is rewarding and fulfilling. Easily my favorite job ever. BUT it is HARD.

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Thanks for sharing your experiences @anon4362788

You’re right about what has happened on the job I am working on at the moment. I was ready to walk, but I thought I would try and persevere and keep it professional.

I know the problems in the mental health field in my area based on service user experience. Anything you need help with has massive waiting lists. It would involve a lot of firefighting with issues, and I am actually not that convinced that the constraints on funding and resourcing etc will make it very hard to make a difference.

:pensive:

My case worker who is a Nurse has 60 people to look after

I wish you a lot of luck, just make sure to go into it eyes open and aware of what you can handle.

** It’s part of my job here to worry about the members mental well being. So don’t get upset with me for worrying more about you than any futur patients of yours.

I appreciate it @anon4362788

Truth is that I might be taking my relatively stable last couple of months as a representation of how I will be in 6 months or a year.

In my old job I was off sick maybe 2-3 times a year for a couple of weeks just to get back on my feet, and used my holiday entitlement to prevent losing money being ill at times.

The doctors also prescribe me lots of meds in these periods to stop me getting put in hospital.

Although my confidence is coming back, I am starting to realise now that it can be taken away so quickly, and things turn bad.

I am not sure what to do. I could defer a year and give the Landscaping a chance to be successful.

That sounds like a good plan. You may make more landscaping and enjoy a better lifestyle anyway

I’m shocked that the base pay for nursing is only 25k.

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@anon4362788 I think that is like 50k in US dollars

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