Any nhs workers got any tips? Starting bank work on monday!

[Loobieloo27]

My new job starts on monday as a bank healthcare in nhs, i was previously a care assistant in a care home but i'm so nervous!

Any tips, things to do/not do? Thanks

Take your own mug tea etc do not assume it's communal as it varies from ward to ward. Ask the routine of the ward. Its different everywhere. If you don't know how to do something ASK but do try and use your initiative. Enjoy your new work x

Just be receptive, interested,friendly and look for things to do. Do not stand there looking bored and uninterested. That’s my tip anyway😀.
Bank care is a good way in, enjoy it but be aware it can be frustrating as you are not part of the team until you do frequent shifts on the same unit. Good luck.

As above if you want a cuppa! We don't supply for our staff and it's awkward when bank staff turn up expecting a hot drink!

Don't be afraid to ask questions. If it's quiet don't stand around, sit and talk to a patient! Drives me mad when staff stand around whilst they could be say comforting a confused or lonely patient.

Don't get your phone out on the shop floor!

Go on break when you're asked! Even if you think it's too early. We are a big A+E department with 14 RN's and 9 HCA's so trying to organise breaks can be a nightmare 🙄

Oh and enjoy your shift!
HCA' s are the best, we really value ours, I started off as a HCA and now a band 7...

So most wards have the same kind of way of doing things. So helping people up to have their breakfast and then washed, some may do washes before breakfast. The night staff may have done all the morning observations but there may be some you need to do.

Observations are then repeated at 10:00, 14:00, 18:00 unless stated otherwise on the patients notes could be less but could be more. Make sure you know what the abnormal blood pressures/temps/sats/pulses are so you can alert the nurse and make sure you document that play anything else you do.

During washes you'll have to alter the nurse to any pressure care problems/incontinence etc so thats pretty much the same in a care home.

The rest of the time is answering call bells, feeding etc and chatting to the patients. Just ask the nurse exactly what they want you doing. Don't be led astray by bloody lazy HCA's.

Try and work on as many different wards as you can at first and then you can see which type of ward you like best and which interests you the most. If you work hard the senior staff will ask you to come back.

Keep an eye on any catheter bags and don't forget to document fluid intake and how much you empty out of these. Same as food charts and stool charts always find out which patients need these down.

Smile and be cheery.

'plus' not play!

Alert not alter....I seriously need to proof read when using predictive text!

Make sure you have your own pen. Or pens. Do not leave unattended...

Taking note of those thanks they're great! I've been at the care home for 8 years so its rather daunting being the newbie again

How did today go?

I was also wondering that. Hope it went well.

Get yourself a permanent contract asap.
I worked as bank for 3 years and then got a permanent contract. I didn't know that the 3 yrs I was on bank don't count as years of service in the NHS. Therefore I only have 2 yrs service, instead of 5. This can affect your pension, pay increments etc.

I did this for a year before I did my training. I found the best thing was to get orientated on arrival - most important - where’s the crash trolley, fire equipment, kitchen and sluice! As pp said, establish the routine of the environment - you’ll get some odd looks but everywhere is different. Even whether they tuck the sheets in or not! (Usually medical tuck and surgical don’t).

Good luck with it - I got a permanent contract within 4 months of starting

I'm 4 days into my care camp induction, lots of information and slideshows! Today we did blood pressure, loved the electric and got so baffled my the manual. Felt a little out my depth after that!

Thanks for asking!

Don't wrry about being baffled by the manual BP, I was frequently the only person who could do it on a ward.

Please remember that if someone is overweight, they need bigger cuff and the really frail old ladies need a smaller cuff.

I used to get really frustrated by HCAs getting worked up about low BPs and then find out they had used too big a cuff, which gives a false low, in the same way too tight a cuff gives a false high.

I only got the hang of a manual BP in the community when there was minima background noise, it’s a skill but once you’ve got it, it’s quite straightforward.

I agree about the size of cuff.

So i've now completed my care camp, now i have to choose a ward to shadow on, any tips?? I know trusts are all different i just have no idea where i want to go 😊