Starting job as bank HCA at local hospital.. Any advice from other HCAS?

kateclarke · 24/02/2015 11:21

I'm a nurse, and used to be a bank HCA. It is hard, but as long as you are willing to muck in you will be fine. As the nurse looking after the patient about anything you are not sure of eg if the patient can get up.
You will soon learn the nice wards you want to go back to and those best avoided

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Onlyonamonday · 24/02/2015 14:03

Thanks for that , yes I think I'm just panicking after one shift .. I need to get a grip, toughen up and give myself time ...
I am used to working hard and mucking in ..it's just getting used to the routines and the way things work.

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farmerhans · 27/02/2015 07:46

I'm a bank HCA in a hospital having worked community for years. Same as you, I liked the set team and patient etc.
You'll be fine, but it will be hard at the start, the pace is much quicker in a hospital! And because you are the bank staff, ward staff already have an expectation you could be rubbish, because they do get some slackers in all the time. Be positive, once you get the hang of obs, the patient turnover etc you'll fly through. As poster above said, you'll find the wards that you'll get to like. If you've come from residential care, maybe try a frailty ward, stroke or rehab wards (if the hospital has one?) Patients tend to stay a bit longer on those ones. Medical and surgical wards can be quite high paced. Stay away from ED, because that is manic. At least until you have a few more months under your sleeve! Good luck xx

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Onlyonamonday · 02/03/2015 21:57

Thank you that's helped a lot .. I know I'll get used to how it is ..it's just a lot of more clinical stuff to take in .. I'll post back here after a while and say how good/ bad I'm doing

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Elllimam · 03/03/2015 06:45

I am now a staff nurse but used to do bank as a student. It's all a matter of finding what wards are good, agree that rehab wards tend to be slower to start with. Medical receiving can be like hell on earth at times. Ask somebody the routine at the beginning of shift, there will generally be a fairly fixed routine (in my place it's breakfast out, feeding people, breakfast back in, wash everyone, obs, our breaks, writing up, ward rounds, lunches etc etc) don't be afraid to ask what to do and if you have finished a task ask someone what to do next. If they say there isn't anything to do, go ask the patients if they need anything. Good luck.

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Onlyonamonday · 04/03/2015 17:18

Thanks Ellliman that's great hearing the routine .. I like being busy and having lots to do , but knowing the routine is the main part . The one shift I did pick up was a very similar routine to how you have described .. I know once I've trained in the obs and got to grips with the vital packs I'll gain in confidence .. Already feel better thanks to all your posts

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UserName17 · 09/12/2020 20:57

@Onlyonamonday

I've worked in health and social care for many years, I currently work in a reablement centre for older people.. This is council run and is closing at the end of March. I'm taking my redundancy which is around nine months pay.

I have a HCA post as a bank worker at my local hospital but have only just inducted into the trust.

I picked up my first shift on a medical ward last week and it's left me feeling out of my depth ..the ward manager just looked annoyed that I hadn't worked a ward before (I get she has a massive responsibility) but I have to start some where. Luckily I worked with a lovely HCA and nurse ..but I still felt like the annoying one ( did my best not to look like a drip)
I have more training into the actual role of HCA towards the end of March
I'm pinning my hopes on this making me feel more confident.
I'm used to being based in a permanent job, getting to know a staff team and being confident in my role.
I have applied for a permanent post so fingers crossed.
I guess I'm just asking if anyone else has worked on bank work as a HCA and can offer any advice ... Feel a bit better writing this down..
Never been in this position in all my working days and it's really knocked me.
DH is great ..so supportive but we wouldn't survive on his wage alone.

Hi, just wondering if I can get some advice on being a HCA, am currently looking into it as a job I would like to apply for, I have the qualifications etc to apply, but am wondering if your a band 2 HCA on bank, are you able to choose any ward to work on, I'm wanting to work on a maternity ward or birthing centre? Would this be possible does anyone know? Or know how I can get into it? This post was made a few years back hope I get a reply! Thankyou!!!

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Soberfutures · 12/12/2020 20:50

To be eligible to work for a bank hca in the NHS you have to have atleast 6 months of experience as a hca in the past 2 years I think. Most trusts use NHS professionals for their staff on Bank. Do you have this experience?

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UserName17 · 13/12/2020 14:58

@Soberfutures

To be eligible to work for a bank hca in the NHS you have to have atleast 6 months of experience as a hca in the past 2 years I think. Most trusts use NHS professionals for their staff on Bank. Do you have this experience?

Hi Thankyou for replying, I have level 2 health n social care diploma, and maths n English I got in contact with the hospital and they offered me part time, but because I'm wanting bank as I need to work around my 2 year old, they said I need 150 hours experience in a care home which I'm currently doing, I would just love to be able to go on birthing wards and work in birth centres and wanted to know if that's what HCAs can do, Thankyou again for replying!

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Soberfutures · 14/12/2020 08:45

Yes. There are options to work on maternity and delivery depending on the trust. Mine only puts bank shifts to staff who work on maternity ward. And then on delivery they only tidy up and clean after the birth as the hca are not in the room during birth. So if you are hoping to watch and help during birth it is not usually a hca that does this. Hope this helps.

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UserName17 · 14/12/2020 11:42

@Soberfutures

Yes. There are options to work on maternity and delivery depending on the trust. Mine only puts bank shifts to staff who work on maternity ward. And then on delivery they only tidy up and clean after the birth as the hca are not in the room during birth. So if you are hoping to watch and help during birth it is not usually a hca that does this. Hope this helps.

Thankyou for letting me know, I didn't think it would be so much as watching someone give birth, it would be an amazing thing. I'll try work up eventually, I've seen the maternity care assistant online and what they do seems so good, but of course wasn't sure if that's a separate job to a HCA if that makes sense.

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yarncakes · 17/12/2020 23:17

I will be honest here I have worked as a HCA for 3 years and couldn't do it anymore. The stress was making me very ill.

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UserName17 · 18/12/2020 00:15

@yarncakes

I will be honest here I have worked as a HCA for 3 years and couldn't do it anymore. The stress was making me very ill.

Really? Am sorry to hear that! So many people have different views on it, is it that bad?

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Starting job as bank HCA at local hospital.. Any advice from other HCAS?