Podiatry Advice HELP!!!

I am currently a Nurse who is incredibly fed up and disillusioned with my career. I've been qualified 5 years, I've seen it all, done it all, worked through COVID. I've had enough. I want out. I recently got accepted to do Podiatry in Cardiff Met Uni. I really want to know if I'm making the right decision before I accept the offer. I'd appreciate more information course difficulty, timetable and about job opportunities, career paths and job availability? Also, do I have to work in the NHS for 2 years or can a go private straight away as a Podiatry?

I'm happy with the routine work of a Podiatrist - after the wards I need it tbh. I'd be a mature student mid twenties and want a good work/life balance.

My biggest concern is employability post graduation. I've seen absolutely no Podiatrist NHS jobs at all, despite the University claiming a 90% employment rate I live locally and don't want to move 50 miles away for a job. don't want to go through Uni again without knowing I'll have a job a the end of it. I have a mortgage and need to be able to pay it and enjoy life. Due to start in 6 weeks, so urgent advice would be appreciated!!

Reply 1

CardiffMetRep

Official Rep

Original post by NursePod98

I am currently a Nurse who is incredibly fed up and disillusioned with my career. I've been qualified 5 years, I've seen it all, done it all, worked through COVID. I've had enough. I want out. I recently got accepted to do Podiatry in Cardiff Met Uni. I really want to know if I'm making the right decision before I accept the offer. I'd appreciate more information course difficulty, timetable and about job opportunities, career paths and job availability? Also, do I have to work in the NHS for 2 years or can a go private straight away as a Podiatry?
I'm happy with the routine work of a Podiatrist - after the wards I need it tbh. I'd be a mature student mid twenties and want a good work/life balance.
My biggest concern is employability post graduation. I've seen absolutely no Podiatrist NHS jobs at all, despite the University claiming a 90% employment rate I live locally and don't want to move 50 miles away for a job. don't want to go through Uni again without knowing I'll have a job a the end of it. I have a mortgage and need to be able to pay it and enjoy life. Due to start in 6 weeks, so urgent advice would be appreciated!!

Hello there,

Congratulations on your offer!

We understand that making decision is always hard! We would suggest you contact the programme director, Sarah Curran via [email protected] and they will be able to answer the questions about timetable and job opportunities you have.

Hopefully we will see you around campus in September!

Cardiff Met Admissions. 😀

Reply 2

justagxrl

Original post by NursePod98

I am currently a Nurse who is incredibly fed up and disillusioned with my career. I've been qualified 5 years, I've seen it all, done it all, worked through COVID. I've had enough. I want out. I recently got accepted to do Podiatry in Cardiff Met Uni. I really want to know if I'm making the right decision before I accept the offer. I'd appreciate more information course difficulty, timetable and about job opportunities, career paths and job availability? Also, do I have to work in the NHS for 2 years or can a go private straight away as a Podiatry?
I'm happy with the routine work of a Podiatrist - after the wards I need it tbh. I'd be a mature student mid twenties and want a good work/life balance.
My biggest concern is employability post graduation. I've seen absolutely no Podiatrist NHS jobs at all, despite the University claiming a 90% employment rate I live locally and don't want to move 50 miles away for a job. don't want to go through Uni again without knowing I'll have a job a the end of it. I have a mortgage and need to be able to pay it and enjoy life. Due to start in 6 weeks, so urgent advice would be appreciated!!

Hi, sorry I’m unable to offer much advice on this but just wanted to know what has made you choose podiatry and what’s the main reasons you’ve decided to leave nursing. I’m currently due to start mental health nursing in September and left my office job to peruse something more rewarding. I’m hopefully wanting to do community nursing eventually as opposed to staying on wards. So basically just wanting to know what has made you want to leave nursing and what advice you would give to people joining the profession?

Reply 3

NursePod98

Original post by justagxrl

Okay so I've been a nurse for 5 years. I did Adult so I can comment on the Mental Health side of things, but I'm doing Podiatry because I am actually really fascinated by feet and I do believe feet are the unsung heroes of the body and we do need more Podiatrists.

Why I am leaving nursing? Because after 5 years there is no light at the end of the tunnel for me. I work long shifts and I come home absolutely ruined, nights too. Sometimes/regularly I don't eat all day because of my caseload demand. I love patients and I actually want to spend time with them. But simply, the system, especially in healthcare is mostly about policy, paperwork and covering your butt. Its less about helping people anymore, its more box ticking before your shift ends so you don't face the wrath of your manager or night staff for the 10 jobs out of 100 you didn't do before shift change never mind the 90 jobs you do. The office politics are a massive issue, my advice would be stay well away from it. I've worked a job once where a manger turned a blind eye to several things that certain people she liked did, her obvious preferences for older nurses influenced who got floated, who had the most difficult caseload and even a 18 month RN breezed her way into a band 6 with zero experience. My life is different than when I was 21. I have things I want to do and people I want to spend time with. I want a job I can come home and not lose wake up in the night wondering if I ticked this box or ticked that box. Nursing isn't the type of job you can switch off when you leave or compartmentalize (unless you are VERY good at detachment or you've been doing it a long time). Becoming too attached to anything in nursing will burn you out. I suppose: accept pretty quickly that you are a number, management don't actually care.

Nursing isn't all terrible though. I has given me an incredible foundation and its extremely flexible. You will learn very quickly and having grateful patients some days makes it all worth it. It depends what you want you could specialize too.
I would say, first starting out, stay away from management and office politics, pick your battles, make sure you keep to your own caseload, help other people where you can if you can, don't try to be super "helpful" to others at the expense of your work. Trust me. People will not thank you for that later on. Good Luck. Happy to answer any questions you have in more detail :smile:

Reply 4

MHN200

Original post by justagxrl

Welcome to mental health nursing ; I have just qualified and everyone in my Yr got a NHS gig in an area of choice . plenty of scope for promotion. Over -time and ageny work .

Nursing is hard work but life ain't ment to be easy , nothing easy is worthwhile . We are the back bone of the NHS , hence why ppl respect Nurses . Suck it up and get on with it and you will have a decent lifestyle .