In August, the VN Futures Diversity, Inclusivity and Widening Participation (DIWP) working group delivered a flexible working campaign. In this blog, RVN and BVNA Council Member Kim Rathbone discusses her search for flexible working hours.

I qualified as an RVN in 2012 and in the beginning, was happy to work all hours, be on call and work extra shifts. I just wanted as much as experience as possible, and I thought that meant working all the hours I could.

I started my training in 2010 at a busy referral practice, there was always something to do and it was exciting. I worked days, nights, weekends and bank holidays, whilst volunteering for extra shifts as well. I qualified two years later and the long hours and the extra shifts didn’t stop, and I quickly realised this is not working for me anymore, but I was under the impression it was expected of me. I didn’t think to speak to anyone about it, so I left.

It was not an easy decision to seek employment elsewhere, I had to consider all the pros and cons, seek advice, get references and arrange an interview whilst working full time hours was not easy. Then comes salary, I knew leaving a referral practice meant taking a considerable pay cut, so how do you negotiate a salary with a new employer?

I found a role for a full time consulting nurse working 9.30- 6, Monday to Friday, 1 in 4 weekends, no OOH or bank holidays. It sounded perfect! I started the new job and really enjoyed it, I had found my niche in practice. I set up new nurse clinics, I was working with a great team, and it had lots of promise for progression. But sadly this dream didn’t last long, which was frustrating. Why when I loved the job was it not working? Firstly, it was the long commute, and then the overtime, I soon found I was staying late every day. Overtime just appeared to be the culture. I didn’t feel heard, so I started to look for another job more local to me.

This time whilst searching for my next new career, I was more prepared. I found a local practice looking for an RVN to work full time as a roving nurse covering all of their 7 sites, working a 40 hour week with weekends and/or nights. They did not encourage overtime, but if you did stay, to assist with an emergency or cover extra shifts, it was paid. It seemed perfect at the time. I was really enjoying it; I loved the variety and the team. It was such a shame I had to consider leaving, but again the work life balance was not for me and there was no career progression. I didn’t feel valued and that was important.

Before leaving, I spoke to management and expressed  my concerns, and tried to negotiate my hours, without success. There had to be other options, but I felt like I was not able to negotiate or come to a compromise so I began to question again what I needed, and what flexible working meant to me. What did I really want?

I always felt like reduced hours, part time or no working weekends or nights was only available for parents or carers who needed these hours more than I did. I don’t have children, so therefore I thought I was  not entitled to flexible working hours.

It was important for me to find the right job. I needed more time outside of work. This is when I stumbled upon a job working at a local charity working full time 9- 5 Monday to Friday, no weekends, bank holidays or OOH,  good pay benefits and pension. This was just what I needed! A change in a career, a different pace of work and a better work life balance. I started in February 2023 and I can already see the benefits of this job. It has given me more time outside of work, and they are person centred, so I feel heard and supported. I can also see the opportunity for career progression, which is also important to me.

I have shared my journey because I know a lot of RVNs can relate to it, and I am hoping that it will give you the courage not to give up in your search for the hours that work for you. Your perfect job does exist.

Kim Rathbone RVN