I'm finding my work hard going at the moment, I hate all the "politics", and the constant changes to the work environment and practices, maybe it's my age, but it's driving me crazy.

I'm a nurse and midwife, and I know lots of people think my job should be wonderful, and I know I'm lucky to be in work, but there's very little job satisfaction these days. It's more about watching your back, and minimizing potential for litigation!

Actually when people say to me, "How wonderful, you must really love your job", if I'm feeling especially obnoxious I'll reel off several reasons why it's an awful job, and take great delight in watching their faces fall while I rant.

I used to love my job, I came home feeling I'd helped people, made a difference, done a good days work- now I worry, did I do X, Y  & Z correctly, is Mrs P going to complain about me not helping her enough with her baby overnight. People are quick to complain now.

The so called profession doesn't really help, it's all about getting a degree now, learning about research instead of rolling up your sleeves and making people comfortable. We have students on the wards now who seem to think they are above making a bed, and when you try to get them to learn by doing something, which is really how you learn, they turn round and say " I'm  only here to observe", or "that's not a nursing/midwifery job" I don't blame them, it's the tutors, or "facilitators" as they like to call themselves, in their Ivory towers.

A friend at work has just arranged to take early retirement this year, she'll be 50, but she does have something else to go to. Maybe this is jealousy on my part :-) I did a complementary therapy course a while ago, and I was going to start practising, but I chickened out in the end. The trouble is I feel trapped by my pension,  and I can't afford to let it go at this stage.

 

OK, I'll stop moaning now.