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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Those of you who work in the NHS

11 replies

Gizzygizmo · 23/10/2018 10:22

Baby is 10 months old and i work as a cleaner 2 hours an evening 5 days a week in a small comunity hospital, only doing part time while he's still so little and he's breastfed still.
Before maternity leave I was a care assistant in a care home, love the job but hated the environment (management, and how the home was run)
I've always wanted to get into the nhs, and now I have my foot in the door.
Those of you who started off small, did you progress? If so, what to? And what opportunities could it lead to? If any.
I like the cleaning, but I don't want to do it forever.

OP posts:
MakeMineALarge1 · 23/10/2018 10:44

Th NHS is a massive organisation and is one of the largest employers in the UK, what is it you want to do in the NHS? Do you want more pt contact? When baby is older do you want to do longer hours and maybe work as a HCA? Or retrain as a nurse/midwife?

Original poster
Gizzygizmo · 23/10/2018 10:48

Thanks for the reply Smile

When hes a bit older i would increase my hours and apply for hca, I would love to train as a nurse, but I wouldn't know even where to begin

OP posts:
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 23/10/2018 10:54

From an HCA you could qualify as a nursing associate.

I think there might be a patheway for nursing asosciates to qualify as nurses as well. Or at least there was talk of creating one.

HilaryBriss · 23/10/2018 10:55

You need a degree to be a nurse these days, information can be found here: www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/become-a-nurse

thenightsky · 23/10/2018 11:02

I started as a two hour an evening cleaner of offices when I was in 6th form. Then took on cleaning of wards at the weekends to earn more pocket money. Applied to become a nursing assistant and then applied for student nurse training. Made my way up to ward manager. Had kids. Retrained to be a medical secretary, a job I did for a couple of decades and was MUCH nicer than being a nurse! Retired last year, but continue on Bank Staff admin. This was all a very long time ago, so the pathways to nursing are probably more difficult now.

JellyBaby666 · 23/10/2018 11:04

I started as a maternity care assistant - a HCA but for maternity. I had worked with children previously but no medical or hospital experience. There are opportunities to progress, take on more skills and be able to work in specific areas - train to be in theatres, for example, or phlebotomy and take blood. I eventually decided to become a midwife, and my experience definitely helped, but it wasn't a guarantee. See if there are any HCA/MCA jobs, although they are incredibly competitive as lots of people want experience before applying for nursing/midwifery. If you've breastfed, you could look into peer support, as another way in and to broaden your experience? Good luck!

Miljah · 23/10/2018 11:09

In my Trust it is possible to become a nurse from cleaning. A colleague is doing just that. She became an HCA, then she had to get her Maths GCSE, then did a Trust sponsored NVQ course (with study leave which is rather more than most of us get!), and is currently doing an access course via a local uni which will progress to nursing, sort of like an apprenticeship, I think. I believe that she will make it, however, another colleague, with all due respect, is being sold a pup. She managed Maths but is resitting English.

While we all help her with her NVQ when we can, she's really struggling academically. She appears to believe that if she can amass enough level 2 points, she'll get on an access course.TBH she might be right as there is, and will be such a huge hole in HCP supply soon! So something must give, which will probably be the current 3 A level, degree trained, £50k debt holding HCPs ...

But it is possible to do if you're bright enough and determined enough. It might take time, you may have to ask a lot of questions to find the right person to talk to, as that 'career trajectory' isn't yet clear-cut.

hibbledibble · 23/10/2018 11:13

If you want patient contact, then a health care assistant job is a good start. You could use this to build experience, and consider what other role you would like to train for (there is a multitude). Some trusts offer open days regarding different careers.

YeOldeTrout · 23/10/2018 11:14

NHS is the largest employer in Europe. Large = most employees.
British Army is supposed to be #2.
Someone told me the 2nd largest private employer the other day... Aviva?

ThePortlyPinUp · 23/10/2018 11:16

The matron of my department started off as a cleaner, she worked her way through the ranks in the same trust. She has recently been featured in an advertising video for the trust explaining how it is possible to work your way through different roles.

Taylia · 23/10/2018 12:50

I started in the NHS 10 years ago as a band 3 admin assistant.

In the next few weeks I will be interviewed for a band 7 group manager. Crossed fingers.

Promotions are there if you want them

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