Nursing assistant - what are the hours like?

[Angelsandstardust]

I have an interview for a Nursing Assistant role tomorrow afternoon but have this week split with my partner.

I'm now thinking I won't be able to go for the interview as I have no family at all to help, nor friends.

My children are 11, 14 and 15.

The application said I range of posts are available, full and part time hours and I will be asked my preference at interview.

Are all shifts 12 hours, do you have to work nights?
I'm guessing so but just wanted to make sure before I withdraw my application :(

I would say it depends on the department.
If it’s a clinic type set up then it will be 8ish til 8ish. No nights.

If it’s a ward then yes, 12 hours plus, days and nights, back to back shifts.
Your kids are older so can they be alone overnight, get up for school in the mornings, feed themselves after school, get ready for bed?
Also don’t forget Christmas Day, bank holiday and school holidays working. There is fierce competition for these times off as lots of ypur colleagues will have kids.

People do it, but with loads of support.

I assume it's a nursing assistant within a hospital. Not all shifts are 12 hours, you can do earlies/lates, even twilights.

I would definitely go to the interview and see what 'range of hours' means. Before you go, work out what you would like ideally.

NA may well be 12h shifts but also, like nursing some school hours/PT etc

Your kids are older so if and on the occasion you may work non-standard hours, they could surely manage?

Good luck though but do go and see. An interview is just as much to see if you like the job as it is to see whether they like you!

Are you sure you're not having a blip in self confidence and trying to talk yourself out of going.

Your 15 and 14 year old are old enough to look after themselves and the younger one. This could be an excellent opportunity so have a chat with your partner about how you can make this work.

A friend has just started a nursing assistant/hca job. She registered as a bank assistant instead of a full contract so she could choose her hours. She just logs on an picks whichever shifts/wards she wants - plenty of work available.

Would that work better for you?
But yes she generally does 12 hr shifts.

It will totally depend on what department. It certainly won't be 9-5 though.
Lots of HCAs work 3 long days a week. Noy always nights needed. Depends.
Your kids are older though so I would imagine would be ok if you were working late?

Why would you need childcare to go to an interview with kids those ages? They are fine to be left home together!

I would go and find out.

They are absolutely desperate for staff right now and likely prepared to be significantly more flexible.

OP I absolutely second out loud with bells on what @AnnaMagnani has said!
We are desperate for help in the NHS and even I got a set day off as a senior nurse when I returned from mat leave a few months ago and that used to be heavily frowned upon a few years gone by.
Go for it! Make it clear and discuss your availability, availability - as long as it's not totally unreasonable I'm sure they will consider it if you are right for the position.
Good luck 🤞🏻

Don't know why I put availability twice haha xxx

Hospital where I worked, 3 x 9 hour days and one 13 hour day a week ( so 3 days off), or 4x 11 hour nights shift, 4 on 4 off.

Some day staff worked 3 x 13 shifts with an occasional shift to bring their hours up to full time.

All those shift lengths include breaks, which you often didn't get.

All the overtime you could wish and constant shifts overunning.

Some favouritism in shift allocations, some people worked permenant nights ( more money and less work), some got every weekend off. Some were made to work most weekends and couldn't get on nights.

Having said that, I was lucky, I got mostly what I wanted.

Not EVERY job in a hospital involves long or overnight hours. If the job is an outpatient clinic, the hours will be more family friendly.

Our clinics run 9-5.

I'd also say that long days can work really well - you do a lot of hours in each shift but the result is you have a lot of the rest of the week off.

Can be easier than 9-5 in terms of how much time you have for yourself and your family.

Thanks, my eldest has autism and my youngest adhd and although I can pop to the shops for an hour or two with no issues, I'd be wary about overnight. They're not very streetwise children so still get worried if there is noise outside the house, etc.

I wouldn't have a problem with long shifts during the day and weekends are no problem, after school and coming home up to around 9/10pm would also be fine but that would be about my limit

I also don't fit the essential criteria - I'm only doing my level 2 functional skills English and Maths and havent yet passed it, have no gcses and no official care experience, all of which the job asks for, so I worry that if I also say I can't do nights I'll be laughed out of the interview room!

Go! They wouldn't have invited you to interview if they didn't think you were appointable, regardless of the English, maths and so on. Remember: you're interviewing them to see if the job is a good fit for you as much as the other way round.

Since the OP asked about shifts, it's reasonable to assume they are aware it's not Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.

Way I ask whether you got the job? I am in the same boat as you , no gcse and have an interview in 3 weeks time