Has anyone changed from admin to HCA?

pancakes22 · 2021-08-08T19:04:01+00:00

Just wondering how people have coped when moving jobs from something quite standard (laid back, sat at desk 9-5) to a much more fast paced shift work hospital environment. It seems such a contrast just curious to know how people found the change? I am imagining more fulfilling but more stressful, pressured exhausting!? Was the change in role worth it?

Original poster

pancakes22 · 12/08/2021 12:58

Hopeful bump? It seems such a big change would love someone's view?

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Musicaltheatremum · 12/08/2021 15:21

I'm a GP but we had a girl who started as a receptionist with us aged 19, she then trained to take blood in the surgery which she did for several years along side her reception work doing small clinics. From there she did nurse training and we kept her on doing her phlebotomy training. She qualified as a nurse 3 years ago and is now back training in our practice as a practice nurse. It can be done. Good luck, it's worth it. She loves the work.

Original poster

pancakes22 · 13/08/2021 19:16

That's lovely she has done so well. I may look into GP surgeries because it's the aspect of being in a hospital where it's 12 hours/night shifts on my feet all day that I think will be such a huge change. But then the opportunity is maternity which is where I think my heart lies which of course will be hospital based.

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ThunderwingDoomslayer · 13/08/2021 19:27

I worked in customer service and admin for a few years from age 18, wanted to work in health care so got a job as a care assistant (nursing home). Ended up doing my nurse training (qualified age 30). How well you'll take to it... how long is a piece of string? Many factors to consider. But physically you get used to it pretty quickly in the scheme of things IMO.
I remember a couple of weeks of having an achy back from being on my feet all day, but it didn't last long.

Original poster

pancakes22 · 13/08/2021 20:02

@ThunderwingDoomslayer that's so interesting thank you. So no regrets changing from desk job to more hard work then? I'm already 35 and would be starting out fresh.

Do you have children? My other concern is leaving a job I can work from home if kids sick, easily do bedtimes, school pick ups etc to less than friendly hours...

There are so many potential cons but yet my heart still wants to try!!

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ThunderwingDoomslayer · 13/08/2021 22:37

No regrets, although when I started I wished that I'd done it sooner! And I say that as someone dealing with a bit of 'fatigue' (not quite burnout) at this stage of the pandemic.

I do have children. Mine were 8 and 18mo when I left my office job. It was quite scary making the change from office hours to shift work (I was part-time in both, but obviously days/times varied once I started shifts) and I learned the hard way not to rely too much on grandparents. That was the biggest stress.

I've since had another child and now they're all older, and youngest is in school (and DH has much more flexibility with his job so does vast majority of school runs + school related mental load) its fine. I work in the community now which is much more family friendly IMO, as although it isn't 9-5 the unsociable hours are much less.

As an aside, I was really quite squeamish when I started out, but have come to love a bit of gore now and don't bat an eyelid at anything.

Bit of a ramble, but I'd say if the motivation to do it is strong, go for it.

Zelda93 · 13/08/2021 22:47

There are also apprenticeship opportunities which are worth looking into as you can earn and study .. there is also prison healthcare ok not so much maternity but they do flexible hours . Good luck

ThunderwingDoomslayer · 13/08/2021 22:48

In response to the childcare for sick days part - I'd say there is an up side, in that, say I need to stay off with a poorly child, I don't have work to 'catch up' on like I would do in other lines of work. I mean, I do have stuff, but the patients aren't waiting on you being there. So in that regard its easier. But I'm a very glass-half-full thinker, so thats just my positive spin on it.

Mscarna · 13/08/2021 23:10

I went from admin to a hospital HCA. It takes a bit of time to learn the ropes but once you do it's good. It's physically tiring but never boring. The patients were lovely. Hours wise, 12 hour shifts are good. You only work 3 days a week and once you're there it flies by. My hospital wasn't at all flexible with hours for childcare reasons, but I'd hope some are. I think it would be hard if you don't have a dp or family who can help. I didn't go on to do nurse training in the end but I don't regret the experience. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

RightYesButNo · 13/08/2021 23:12

I know you say your heart is set on maternity and if you were training to be a midwife or a nurse immediately, I would say, good luck and have at. But as you’ve mentioned becoming an HCA… my friend went the same route and was somewhat disillusioned. She was placed in maternity, as she wanted, but discovered at the level of an HCA, that having to empty the bedpans is pretty much the same in every department, as is blood pressure monitoring, and delivering tea. And especially if you enjoy babies, as she said her position had very little overlap with them. But, it gave her the experience and push to become a midwife and she’s enjoyed that. And apparently being an HCA in maternity means that you’ll also have to deal with more gore than some other departments as well, is my understanding (as you help with post-birth personal hygiene).

Now, with ALL of that said, if you want to do this because you have a deep desire just to help mothers before and after birth, even if it just means emptying the bedpan, and you’re not really baby-focused, then I’m sure you would be a truly lovely addition to any trust, and I’m sure many women will wish they’d had an HCA like you.

Original poster

pancakes22 · 14/08/2021 22:32

@ThunderwingDoomslayer

In response to the childcare for sick days part - I'd say there is an up side, in that, say I need to stay off with a poorly child, I don't have work to 'catch up' on like I would do in other lines of work. I mean, I do have stuff, but the patients aren't waiting on you being there. So in that regard its easier. But I'm a very glass-half-full thinker, so thats just my positive spin on it.

I do like a positive spin! I guess I just make the presumption that in hospital environments you can't easily take time off for things like childcare because you could be letting so many people down

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Original poster

pancakes22 · 14/08/2021 22:33

@ThunderwingDoomslayer

No regrets, although when I started I wished that I'd done it sooner! And I say that as someone dealing with a bit of 'fatigue' (not quite burnout) at this stage of the pandemic.

I do have children. Mine were 8 and 18mo when I left my office job. It was quite scary making the change from office hours to shift work (I was part-time in both, but obviously days/times varied once I started shifts) and I learned the hard way not to rely too much on grandparents. That was the biggest stress.

I've since had another child and now they're all older, and youngest is in school (and DH has much more flexibility with his job so does vast majority of school runs + school related mental load) its fine. I work in the community now which is much more family friendly IMO, as although it isn't 9-5 the unsociable hours are much less.

As an aside, I was really quite squeamish when I started out, but have come to love a bit of gore now and don't bat an eyelid at anything.

Bit of a ramble, but I'd say if the motivation to do it is strong, go for it.

That's definitely good to know you have got better at the gore! The thought of dealing with Vomit in particular does make me doubt everything but I'm hoping I would just get over it in the moment...!

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Original poster

pancakes22 · 14/08/2021 22:38

@RightYesButNo

I know you say your heart is set on maternity and if you were training to be a midwife or a nurse immediately, I would say, good luck and have at. But as you’ve mentioned becoming an HCA… my friend went the same route and was somewhat disillusioned. She was placed in maternity, as she wanted, but discovered at the level of an HCA, that having to empty the bedpans is pretty much the same in every department, as is blood pressure monitoring, and delivering tea. And especially if you enjoy babies, as she said her position had very little overlap with them. But, it gave her the experience and push to become a midwife and she’s enjoyed that. And apparently being an HCA in maternity means that you’ll also have to deal with more gore than some other departments as well, is my understanding (as you help with post-birth personal hygiene).

Now, with ALL of that said, if you want to do this because you have a deep desire just to help mothers before and after birth, even if it just means emptying the bedpan, and you’re not really baby-focused, then I’m sure you would be a truly lovely addition to any trust, and I’m sure many women will wish they’d had an HCA like you.

Yes I totally know what you mean. I wonder if this is one of the reasons why I feel unsure because normally people make a career move to make a career! But although I feel so drawn to healthcare, I just don't have the desire to do 3 years at uni again while juggling studying snd a family and then the life and death responsibility that being a nurse or midwife brings. I have the upmost respect for nurses and midwives and to know I could support them and make their lives easier would be fantastic but I also don't want to be doing these shift patterns just to be a glorified cleaner of really gross things!! I do have the hope that a friend in a maternity unit is doing things like breastfeeding support, has been put through phlebotomy training so can do bloods and is doing obs and removing catheters etc which feels more hands on and could keep things interesting and moving forward... but I am aware that even that after X amount of time may feel not enough and I'm not going to be able to earn much without taking it further with qualifications etc. At that point I will probably be back on Mumsnet wondering what on earth to do!!

I totally envy people who have always known what they wanted to do!!

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