I'm a healthcare assistant

[shuthefrontdoor]

Ask me anything....

What do you like and dislike about your job? How did you get into this type of role?

What would to say to someone who is interested in becoming a healthcare assistant?

Stupid question but what do you do!

Do you have any formal qualifications?

While 100% appreciating you can be a cracking HCA without any!

But do you need any?

I love taking bloods. I don't like performing ECG's, they are very hard to read. X

I take bloods. Administer injections. Dressings. Blood pressure checks. Diabetic checks. Stitch removal. Staple removal. Urine dips and height and weight checks.

Oh and assisting the doctor with minor ops and coil fittings x

I got into it as I was a receptionist at a GP surgery, I asked them if there was any jobs going and they put me on an apprentice course. Currently finished my care certificate. Now working on my diploma. I would say to anyone interested in doing it to just go for it. Have confidence in what your doing and take as much training as you want/need.

So, what trains do you have? Do you start with just 'the right attitude' and get given more responsibility? Do you need more formal qualifications? Who pays for them? In house? External?

Do you feel valued?

Sorry, cross posted!

Whats the difference between what you do and what a nurse does?

I can answer that: A Registered Nurse has a degree; a health care assistant may not have any formal qualifications whatsoever.

Wow...HCAs don't do any of that where I am. And they certainly don't read ECGs. Or give any meds...let alone injections.

Micah that doesn't tell me the difference in what they can actually do!

@RussellSprout

In hospitals, HCA’s can’t give out any medication where as that is the nurses responsibility. They can remove catheters but not insert them. They do everything else the OP stated in her responsibilities, however only band 3’s can take bloods in a hospital. They also remove cannulas, do a lot of ‘specialing’ which is one to ones with patients who can’t be left alone (for whatever reason).

They can’t write up care plans or discharge patients.

However if you’re a community hca then you can give out medication.

How can you give injections when a hca can't do medications?

@shuthefrontdoor is it busy working in a GP surgery? What is your experience like of the job so far if you are still in that post?

@KennyCalmIt every trust must work differently I know band 2s can take bloods and do cannula’s where I am.

This type of work is something I think I would enjoy and I'm looking for a change of career. Currently an office based Operations manager. Have you any advice for me if I was fortunate enough to get an interview for this type of roll? Thank you.

@ShatInTheHat if you register with NHS site there’s a lot of apprenticeships that come up. Usually for a HCA role they will want you to have a NVQ2 in health and social Care if you are not doing the apprenticeship route. Also a basic level of maths and English. Nights & weekends offer a good hourly rate. Volunteering would look good too maybe in a Care home or hospice.

@Trumpeditnow thank you very much for your reply. There's a job advertised at my local surgery that doesn't require any previous experience so I think I'll at least apply and see how things go.

@ShatInTheHat good luck. I’ll be interested to hear how you get on. I’ve also got a couple of interviews for GPS too.

Hey! Sorry for the slow reply. I completely forgot about this post. It has been a hectic time in GP land. When covid first kicked off we were very quiet. Now we are busier than ever. I completed my level 3 diploma so I am now a qualified senior healthcare assistant. I have also applied to do my nurse associate training and have a place at university. Busy busy busy!

Congrats @shuthefrontdoor! Thanks for all the hard work you do.