HCAs - need your advice

[katie2812]

Hi 😊

I started as a HCA today doing the TNA course in October.

Not going to lie, I have come home upset. I've always dreamed of working in health care and I was so exicted. I am on an AAU unit and the person who was meant to be training me had twenty years experience etc. So I was even more happy. That was until she sat down most shift in her phone, drinking coffee, excluding me from different things she was doing even though I asked her to include me in whatever she does so I can learn. The second half of my shift she avoided me completely.

I kind of got the grasp of things but I couldn't understand why she wouldn't let me shadow her properly or show me what to do. She basically said I do nothing until I'm asked to do somethNg which is weird because I don't want to stand and do nothing.

So my question is

1. is that the case - I wait until I'm told to do something? I offered EA etc. Changed bed etc. Did. Some observations but there's only so much tea to serve

2. what can I do when there's nothing To do, what odd jobs can I do?

I will be asking my manager this tomorrow but I just want a bit of advice

Im a student nurse and it seems to differ from area to area and who youre working with. Some people love to teach and some dont, id just accept that this person does not and use your initiative/watch other staff members.
Youll probably find someone you work very well woth who will teach you alot.

It's so frustrating. Ijust wanted someone to take me under their wing and show me stuff but she just wouldn't do it

I'm gonna use my intiative more tomorrow and just ask my manager to show me different things

Just over a month ago, I left a Senior Healthcare Support Worker role for many other, bigger reasons. However, I too was put with another HCSW who was supposed to train me and she really didn’t want to, it was quite obvious! She didn’t want make any conversation with me at all, she just wanted to go to work get her work load done and try get finished on time to go home , which is fair enough.
She remembered to explain a few things now and again, but I had to mainly ask questions, which I could feel got on her nerves.
She wouldn’t eat with me at lunch time, she had her lunch in the clinic room!
It was awful being in one room for eight hours with a stranger who didn’t want to engage or make me feel welcome.
I can sympathise with you, but I don’t have a solution as I resigned for other reasons.