To tell you about my first week as a HCA in a hospital?

[atronger]

I am gobsmacked.

I didn't get any training. I did an online video training series, that lasted about an hour. Then done.

Some competencies like blood pressure checks etc signed off by a RN during my shift. And that's it

Second day in and I was asked to administer paracemtol twice by two different doctors! I said to them both I'm not a nurse. I cannot administer drugs but I can ask someone to do it. They both told me off, and the last one told me I was 'just being useless'

I was on a morning shift today and a senior nurse was extremely rude to me because I couldn't fix a cast (fracture clinic). I am not trained to! More snidey remarks

Yesterday I was on a night shift and asked by a senior nurse to help clean a wound. Didn't really feel it waa my place to do so, spoke out about it but she showed me once and I got it, so did the other leg for this very lovely patient. All fine. But felt pressured to do it when I wasn't really sure I was allowed. Was completely brushed off like I was being ridiculous and of course I could. Then got a telling off by ward sister for doing so

I came into this because I'm very interested in becoming a Nurse when the time is right in my personal life. But I'm shocked at how some medical staff speak to their colleagues

Well I can see why you couldn't fix a cast, I may not have necessarily knew how to either, but surely you know how to clean wounds and give people paracetamol? I know how to do that without any training or not working in your industry so I'm not surprised they were short with you if you kept refusing to do very simple things on your first day and moaning. You don't really sound cut out to be a nurse IMO unless you learn to toughen up a bit

It doesn't excuse rudeness, but it must be extremely frustrating for already overworked and stressed nurses and doctors to have completely untrained staff in their teams - especially if those untrained staff are being appointed by the higher-ups as a cost-saving measure with the reassurance that they’ll be able to take on all kinds of tasks. I’d be pretty frustrated if I couldn’t even delegate finding paracetamol and cleaning wounds to somebody whose job that’s supposed to be.

If you’re unsure what you’re allowed and not allowed to do, I think you need to raise it with whoever manages you urgently.

She isn’t allowed to give paracetamol. Even nursing students can’t unless directed supervised by a registered nurse.

Haha, very funny. But you cannot administered even paracemtol without being qualified to do so. I could lose my job.

The wound was infected and needed a particular way of cleaning if, which including removing something first. And there is a special method required that involved being sterile and using the correct technique. Never done it before. You can't just crack on with what you 'think'

I'm really not sure why people are accusing me of being incompetent for something I am not ALLOWED to do.

HCAs can support patients to take uncontrolled medications as long as they’ve been trained and if they’ve been instructed by an appropriate person. The problem is that the doctors assume OP has been trained, and are frustrated when she says she isn’t.

I really hope it gets better for you. We’re not all like that, I can’t imagine talking to anyone like that. Our HCA’s are what keeps our wards running. You deserve respect.

@ComtesseDeSpair it is frustrating and must vary between Trusts because I've been told quite firmly I'm not to administer any drugs at all unless physically handing them over with a nurse present. And even then I need a sign off to do it (I have been told this isn't going ahead yet by management)

Most people have been so lovely

Very full on job but I love it

I'm sadly not surprised to read this. I hope it gets better for you - please know that all of us really appreciate the work that you do

If you’ve specifically been instructed that HCAs, even when trained, must not handle any kind of drugs, then ultimately it’s a whistleblowing issue if doctors are asking any HCAs to do so: they either clearly need further training or are making deliberate breaches. Whistleblowing is everybody’s responsibility.

The nurses assumed you mean?

What exactly is a hca ?(presume health care assistant) but what qualification does it require?

Their treatment and attitude towards you is appalling. You need to protect yourself and patients by continuing to identify what you are able and permitted to do (with training) and what you can not do. I so hope things will improve for you as properly trained and supported it can be one of the most valued and rewarding roles. I can not believe things have deteriorated so far. At the very least you should have a period of induction and supported working.

The team I’m in would collapse without the lovely HCAs

OP - bear with it for a few weeks, it will take you a week or 2 just to work out who is who (colleagues), and who you can most easily approach for advice.
see if there is another HCA who can informally buddy you?

I did some stints as a volunteer HCA during covid. It was horrible - luckily I have some background training but I found the culture hostile, staff unhelpful to each other let alone me, and the general quality of care and compassion to be awful.

I know it's not the same everywhere, and some shifts were better/worse, and I loved what I was doing but I gave up pretty quickly simply because of the unsupportive and unfriendly culture.

Sorry read it wrong it was doctors asking you.

What is your job description?

What can you do?

I guess it's a baptism of fire finally getting onto the wards.

Bloody hell op you must be wondering what you have signed up for xx

Those implying OP is incompetent don’t have a bloody clue. She wasn’t wiping a bloody grazed knee in a playground ffs, she was in a HOSPITAL. If your child was in hospital with injuries and an untrained person was asked to clean a wound, without advice on appropriate equipment and technique, and your child was left in unnecessary agony or with cloth fibres in the wound, would you be happy? Would you fuck. What abour your elderly parent with liver problems? You’d be happy for an untrained person to be administering medication? And you’d still be after their head on a stick if something went wrong.

HCA here (Band 2) job role basically entails personal care, toileting even for band 3 it’s just obs/ECG/Blood pressure. You definitely shouldn’t be getting asked to do anything further especially without training. Are you stuck to that one ward?

@LadyGardenersQuestionTime
sounds like that was an awful experience for you.
when the whole culture is wrong it really is terrible

Why didnt you get any training, I am shocked that any member of staff is being expected to work without even the basics. Have you had basic life support, infection control , manual handling, fire, dignity training yet. I know hospitals are busy but thats totally unacceptable to me. Is it A&E. I would change departments, let the training dept know, the RNs are also putting themselves at risk if you made an error, they know to only ask staff to work within their competency levels.

I for one think your training was dire.
I went to work for the NHS and the first week was spent doing all the basics in a classroom, along with a new Ophthalmologist, a new Porter, a few RGN's and me.
We all had to pass, basics, including manual handling, doing OB's, CPR, rules of the trust, health and safety, you name it. Even though I've been a nurse for many years a great week of training.
I'm glad you said no to giving paracetamol that's the RN's job in the NHS.
I do hope it all gets better for you.

Keyansier do you know what the protocol is for administering medication to a patient ?
Are you aware that wound management isn't just a case of dabbing with some cotton wool and TCP ?

OP. You sound lovelyand I'm sure you'll make an amazing nurse

What job do you do? OP is not allowed to give ANY sort of medicine she would loose her job and the RN asking her would have to stand before the NMC for asking her. OP is working in a hospital not a nursing/care home.

Report these members of staff to HR.