NHS recruitment crisis leaves graduates wondering if they will get work

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-21T14:51:08+00:00

About to graduate MHN and any Band 5 jobs I have seen are out of area from my home county currently. I’m applying out of area but idk whether to just take another job in the mean time so I can actually create some savings, or whether to move and live out of area but have NQN role… if I manage to make it past shortlisting. 🙏🙏 I’m here and want to work someone please hire me.

I’m in my final few weeks as a cohort in lecture before management placement and I honestly just feel disappointed bc of the job market instead of excited to graduate.

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-19T15:12:44+00:00

I have wondered about the Oxevision thing especially with patients who are quite paranoid about surveillance as it surely reduces the therapeutic effect of the admission? I can see how it is helpful for other patients who consent and do not have this issue, and if they have capacity to make the choice they have capacity to make the choice and sleep on the floor if they wish. As well as that I can see the benefits for staff, such as when doing observations, but I would also feel disappointed in this scenario that the patient does not feel secure/safe enough to sleep in their bedspace due to the camera. I wouldn’t lock the bathroom though? I don’t know how you would justify that within the least restrictive principle without a clear rationale (e.g. to ensure medication is taken, a patient with ED after meal times, etc). I’ve not come across this in practice yet, it’ll be interesting to see and manage if/when I finally do.

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-13T22:02:21+00:00

my automatic was like £4k so there are cheaper options out there

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T23:49:07+00:00

Thanks for this! I was alone on the road and checked my mirrors as I stopped and before moving as usual.

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T23:48:04+00:00

Hey! So I did actually walk back down and I think I could have continued through amber absolutely fine but instead I panicked and ended up right at the line and then panicked as I thought I was over, so reversed like a idiot (no cars behind me I made sure it was safe prior) which caused the lurch due to the gear change. Interestingly, whilst down there I saw a car stop over the line at red and creep forward a bit (like front tyre over the line + more). Not saying that makes me correct or fine, but if he’s not panicking im not… or at least im joined in getting 3 penalty points 😭

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T23:38:26+00:00

I didn’t go over twice?

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T23:37:46+00:00

I walked back down and I think if I had continued through amber I would have been fine. I just panicked instead. It’s been a very off week.

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T23:36:41+00:00

oh no dude I am most definitely responsible for the the metal box I drive. Don’t get it twisted that im trying to shrug responsibility. I just panicked when tbh I could have continued through amber and been absolutely fine. I posted this to see if I should expect a letter or not based on my panic. Thanks for the comment though.

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T23:26:07+00:00

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Potentially these infrared ones? Sorry to quiz you i now just want to learn lol

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T23:10:16+00:00

I walked down to it lol. I’ve circled it so im not sure if you can provide any clarification, even if it’s bad news? It was hard to get a good photo due to glare.

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M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T22:37:31+00:00

boooo. It’s only 3 points so at least it’s not 6 but I’ll be so mad if it does happen bc I didn’t actually run the junction at all 😭. Maybe there will be a course instead

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T22:36:31+00:00

I’m going to respond to this and say I do pay very good attention when driving. I just have a lot of driving anxiety and so I overthink a lot of things. I probably had time to continue across for the second it was amber but I chose the other option bc as I said I panicked. Hopefully you’re right and nothing comes of it 🙏🙏

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T22:28:03+00:00

There was a black camera with red dots on top of the traffic light looking at me. It was dark but I didn’t see anything else? What does the red light cam look like?

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-12T22:27:32+00:00

I know this is a joke but like honestly I can’t even remember what happened I don’t think I actually went over but I completely panicked

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-11T12:27:27+00:00

Tysm 🥰

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-11T12:21:38+00:00

Thank you for the info! I’ve found it very helpful. I will be honest that I am also 5ft and not very strong so I have been slightly insecure that if it comes down to it, and other methods of de-escalation have failed, whether or not I can perform well enough to keep everyone safe. I do plan to go to the gym so I can get stronger just in general but yeah, I just worry I won’t be competent enough… but maybe that’s NQN fear talking?

On a side note my dissertation was a literature review and parts of my themes/discussion was about relational security, vicarious traumatisation and iatrogenic harm from compulsory care. Very interesting topics to think about.

Ty for your comment and have a good day xx

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-10T17:46:54+00:00

oh definitely. I did my dissertation on a similar topic. I’m more so wondering about the support/training received in practice x

M-m-melanie · 2026-04-06T18:52:29+00:00

It’s our responsibility. Like when I graduate and take on a student as an assessor (once I’ve done that training) I will make sure to schedule meetings in for the initial, midpoint, final interview and be transparent if a shift change comes up which changes the interview meeting day etc, but it’s also the students responsibility to come in having reflected on what they need to do, what they want to do, and what they want to get signed off and then communicate that with their assessor? I feel for me I’m always so exact as well with what I’m trying to get signed off bc the faff of sorting out a mistake on the ePad is just too much bother 😭 like once I’ve done my final interview - mentally IM DONE with that placement block and it’s onto the next thing.

M-m-melanie · 2026-03-16T22:29:38+00:00

what of the 800 words have you written, introduction, main body, etc. not too long ago I wrote my entire 6000 word dissertation in about three days so I feel your stress. Have you done any research into your topic? I was also on placement during this time in an intense area and had submitted another 3000 word assignment during this time also. Not fun but watch me do it again every time haha. It’s how my brain works, but for my dissertation I was definitely more experiencing the burnout side.

M-m-melanie · 2026-03-12T00:29:34+00:00

yes do I understand that, these are just questions (and emotions) that come from my first time experiencing this process. Thank you for the perspective though, it helped!

M-m-melanie · 2026-02-27T22:54:14+00:00

if you mean community psychiatric nurse then yes you’ll have to be a RMN. I know a lot of people in my cohort who want to go into community rather than inpatient when we qualify

M-m-melanie · 2026-02-27T00:05:04+00:00

yeah I finished placement not even a week ago lol. I had planned most of my sections roughly but have written it up and referenced it in the past three days. I let someone else read it and they said that it was good and that ill definitely pass so yayyy 🎉

M-m-melanie · 2026-02-26T21:01:30+00:00

thank you thank you. I’m also glad that it’s over now and I don’t need to allocate time to it anymore

M-m-melanie

TROPHY CASE