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

I would join a Union ASAP. Unison is who I recommend!

They should know by my job title l. HCA's at the trust can't administer medicines. It's a very restrictive role for obvious reasons and they should know that

Qualified mental health nurse her of 25 years - I wouldn’t know how to clean a wound - some wounds need specialist bandaging and sloughing.
you’ve been dumped in it - doesn’t surprise me - sadly - well done for being assertive and clarifying and speaking up - where did they expect you to get paracetamol from? Your “training” is too basic - you could do with a mentor - do you have a list of duties?
Other environments may be better ie different wards?

It's illegal for a HCA to administer any form of drugs so the OP absolutely did the right thing by refusing.

I am familiar with the need for meds training, and I am sorry you have been treated like this. You are of course right, if you do something you are not trained in you will be yelled at as well. Sadly I’ve had similar experiences in schools and often find myself having to somehow follow multiple sets of conflicting instructions. We seem to have lost the ability to train people and have no tolerance with those who do not know what they haven’t been told. I can only assume that the level of stress inflicted on the NHS as a whole is not helping.

Must depend on the hospital because it’s strictly banned where I work. As an nmc registered professional it’s up to me to dispense and supervise the medication actually being taken. I am not allowed to delegate this and to be honest I’m amazed any hospital would allow this to happen. But god knows these days.

Name changed for this ,ex HCA as you might gather from my user name.

The first week of training for me was spent in a classroom with zero stuff about dressing etc., It was all about policies and procedures, equality and diversity, box ticking exercises.

Not forgetting the 2 hours we spent being told not to let patients die from hunger or thirst following yet another scandal.

Do not, under any circumstances, go running to HR or whistle blowing in your first few weeks, this will not end well for you.

Some staff think it's ok to treat others like crap, either tell them straight or learn to live with it.

Welcome to the NHS, get used to it. I used to be an OT and left for a multitude of reasons but I was often asked to do tasks that were totally out of my remit. Eg I’d be asked to do things that were far more suited to a physio and, whilst we worked closely together, I wasn’t competent enough to do the tasks safely. When I first qualified I wasn’t confident enough to speak up but by the end, I would just say ‘no’ and find someone suitably qualified if asked to do something that I didn’t know how to do.

Do you not realise that only registered professionals can give medication? It might only be handing it over but you have to be registered. HCAs aren’t allowed to do it.

What if they're putting someone's well-being over God forbid, life in danger? Still don't say anything?

Nobody should have to learn to live with blatant nasty behaviour

People look at your uniform. You're either doctor, nurse or other. You come under nurse. Most don't care to know what level of "nurse" that is. They want something done, so it's down to you to say "no, I can't do that." Which you did. Doctors rotate specialities within their training. You don't know what things other HCAs they've worked with have been able to do.

Is this because you're working via bank or an agency? You mention working in a fracture clinic and then a night shift. Without a base ward or clinic you won't necessarily be known as brand new and given the support you need. When you work in one place you get to know your colleagues and they will know and hopefully support you too

Strongly disagree, it sounds like OP is doing brilliantly. It is absolutely the correct thing to do to speak up if something you have been asked to do is not within your remit (and I don't mean not my job I can't be arsed, but not been trained and not permitted to carry out x thing). Patient safety is key and saying if not comfortable doing something for genuine reasons ie not been shown/taught is absolutely better than just cracking on and potentially harming the patient.

OP it does sound like you've been thrown it at the deep end, as is sadly often the way especially at the moment. Staff should know the limitations of a HCA and absolutely keep pushing back if they're expecting you to do stuff you shouldn't. I'm sure you will be a great nurse if you so choose to continue on that path.

Are you being serious? Do you honestly believe that?

Shouldn't you have had some supernumerary time? . None of that is acceptable. Our HCA's do a week of clinical skills before hiring the wards. And we would be really careful with then until they are up to speed. Plastering requires extra training and you should never be giving drugs.

YANBU OP it’s frightening!

That's awful. I had more training and support as a carer (who frequently get crap from HCAs). I can administer prescribed and recommeded meds though in line with a MAR chart - but again that's part of my training, which included work shadowing.

🙄 most clueless post on the thread award goes to @Keyansier

OMG is someone seriously suggesting that on your first week you should have access to the drugs trolley, or that you should know the aseptic technique or the proper dressing to dress an infected wound.

None whatsoever to start as a hca though some will do care certificates, etc as they progress.

Some of these comments are just as bizarre as what OP is experiencing within work. I mean, I'm not the brightest spark but even myself, someone who isn't it remotely close to being any sort of HCP.. knows that not any ole bugger can administer medication. That's like telling a member of cabin crew to fly the plane to it's destination after just eyeballing the CP and briefly looking at the controls.

Op.. I hope things get better for you! It really is a shame as you seem so lovely. Sorry you're experiencing this xx

Are you bank staff, OP? You might find it easier to block book a row of shifts on the same ward, so you can get to know the staff and they can get to know you. If you were a new HCA where I work, you would be shadowing someone for your first shift. Don't ever take orders from doctors, they are not our line managers, direct them to the sister or staff nurse in charge.

Secondly, as pp have already said, join Unison.

To administer any medication the HCA need to have medication training

Welcome to the NHS op😬 it sounds like you are doing brilliantly based on how you have addressed these situations.
As a nurse, I know how invaluable my HCA'S are, I don't think many areas allow band 2 HCA to do dressings and certainly not administer any drugs. Drug admin is registered professionals only, the Drs may not even be aware of this I think they try their luck, you wouldn't believe some of the things they asked me to do

Sadly you do need to be fairly thick-skinned to survive, there are some unpleasant and burnt out staff but there is also plenty of lovely staff to.

I assume you have a contact in practice development, you should speak to them. Luckily no harm came to patients because of you but, other new staff may not realise and we all have an obligation to protect patients.

The HCA role in one of the hardest, lots is expected of you and for minimum pay. We desperately need HCA'S I love my HCA'S they often save the shift, so skilled but, their training does not reflect the role and it appears to vary. You really are expected to hit the ground running. Fwiw I absolutely loved gynae nursing but they closed the ward and I do miss it.

Please keep going you will be fantastic but seek support. The NHS does allocate blame although it denies this, I have contacted Freedom to speak guardians absolutely useless.

I think some don't even know what a HCA job entails and then others are a care assistant in a care home which is completely different by far! So that's where the mess part is getting mixed up here.