Bank nursing/nursing agencies.

[Smurfgirl]

I am about to become a student nurse (eek!) and really want to continue working as a care assistant during my course. I think that bank/agency work is best for me, but how do I get into it?

I have 13mths experience as a carer in a residential home for the elderly, and an enhanced CRB check for being a student nurse. Do I just ring the hospital? Would I need hospital experience to be a bank auxiliary nurse?

Hi Smurfgirl, All hospitals have a nurse bank, just give them a call and they will send you an application form. Bank is probably better than agency in my experience as its good to get your face known as a good hca on the wards where you might want to work after training.Plus there can sometimes be a bit of animosity towards agency staff as they get paid more! I did bank while training and it really paid off. Also if you are a student nurse the hospital may pay you a b or c grade pay rather than a which all helps!

I did agency during my training. I got lots of shifts and always found that as long as I was friendly I never came across any bad attitudes. I would turn up promptly, work hard, and leave when told and tell them I was a student nurse! Then places often were really understanding and friendly, and some would even do some teaching. Pays more than bank usually. Where are you training?

Any bank or agency will be happy to have you.

Hi Flossam,

Which hosp do you work at? as mine has just cut back on agency just as i thinking of joining one. Have you ever done trained agency work ad a nursing home? does such work exist? just thinking it would be nice to mix some mad acute ward work with some more relaxed care of elderley! at moment ward work every day leaving me knackered for dd when i get home. Sharing child care with dh who (bless him!) hands dd straight too me as i get in the door. dont think i can keep up the pace!

Hi BM. I'm in London on an ITU ATM although hoping to return to Bristol next year.

Saw you on the Nov mum's but haven't posted because I don't know the answeres! Me and DP share child care here too, and haven't been to any baby care classess, will all change if we move though, he will have to go to nursery.

I think everywhere is trying to cut back on agency atm, our unit is even being mean with bank. Being quite off with people and a lot are thinking of leaving. Where are you? Do you have DD or DS?

I live in Reigate and work at East Surrey. Was working for one of the new private/nhs partnership jobbies (orthopaedics and gen surgery) before dd was born but when i returned it had really changed completley £££ obsessed.

So went back to the NHS and loving it actually(despite moaning about tiredness!) but its in real trouble with the ££ keeps sacking trust directors etc! also threatning to cut back on bank, but quite how it would stay open if they did i dont know?

only did itu when i trained but loved it! also started critical care course but half way through discovered dd had appeared and as pregnancy continued motivation for the course dwindled!

Will pay be as much in bristol? imagine london agency rate is pretty good? Have you heard of ambition nursing? any good?

I did the agency in Bristol. Pay won't be so good there, so I will prob have to go full time - hence poor DS being put to nursery.

Joined Mayfair up here, but only joined. They have never informed me the application was completed, a bit unhelpful and unorganised. A chap from work was joining pulse I think. We seem to see them a fair bit, and some from ambition too. See what the interview is like! If they keep you waiting for 20 mins while they try and find you application form and are talking about getting you to fill in another - run!

I am in Hull. I start on Monday and might give the hospital a ring after my induction week.

Good luck smurfgirl with monday,

if you ever need an ear (or email) to release to during training feel free. I only qualified in 2003 and can still clearly remember my (mature!) student experience.

x