Becoming a HCA in my gap year. Help please :)

I don't know if the application process is different in Wales, but I applied to work on a specific ward and it was nurses from that ward that interviewed me etc.
If you want to be able to choose when you do shifts then you could do nurse bank, but then obviously you don't get your annual leave pay, and you'll be working on lots of different wards, so you won't be able to make friends with other HCAs/nurses easily, which could make it more lonely.
You can do pretty much any area, but they will specify if you need any experience/NVQ qualifications when you apply, so you can just avoid jobs that need things you don't have. When I applied it said that experience was preferable, but I didn't have any and got the job!
Hope this helps a little

I phoned the nursing bank (i didnt realise there was a way to apply directly) and they told me to apply via nhs jobs. i would love to be able to choose where i can work, well it would be preferable. How long did you work as a HCA? and did you go onto med school?

Yeah, it would be nice to choose where and when you can work, but at the same time, remember you'll be doing this for a while, so just be aware that you're unlikely to make new friends as a bank HCA. On my ward, I'm now good friends with the people I work with, and we go out on night out etc, which you would miss out on.
I've been working as a HCA for about one and half years now, and will be starting med school in September! Very excited

I applied for medicine for 2011 entry, didnt get in but its still my passion to do medicine. I'm warming to the idea of a gap year now. I'm hoping on becoming a HCA in North Wales. I'd love to know what people thought of the application process, did they go into a nursing bank, what areas are you allowed into and do they allocate you a ward/unit etc. Thanks to anyone that can help answer these questions.

I'm a Clinical Support Worker with bank. I'm not sure if it differs from region to region, but it was an application form and a fairly informal group interview. They asked for two references, one being my school.

Generally the work isn't bad, you get to know the other staff after a while. You'll also decide which wards you like. Getting shifts can be an issue, there have been weeks where I've only managed to get one.

I would be worried about becoming a bank nurse because of the uncertainty of work

I worked in a department during my gap year. I did not work on the bank.

Where you are allocated depends on what you apply for.

Are you applying for a specific vacancy on a specific ward or are you applying to be on the bank?

Bank shifts in my hospital are often on medical assessment unit, elderly care, stroke ward, general medical (respiratory or gastro), surgical wards. Sometimes there are shifts on A&E, ICU and if they are really desperate then gynae, theatres (rare).

To apply for jobs, go to the NHS jobs website or call HR of your local hospital.

Wow! That sounds my kinda gap year job i would much prefere to be on one ward. I shall have to phone up human resources and see what they say. If i dont get a medically related job i will be distraught! I think it would be a nice job to get experience and really see what hospitals are like on a long term (well a year) basis.
Where did you find out about the vacancy for the HCA? Which med school are you going to? And well done !!

I would be worried about becoming a bank nurse because of the uncertainty of work

Well i've looked on the NHS jobs website and there isnt anything in the whole of north wales on there for HCAs. But i got told the bank will be recruiting in April. I would rather not do bank, to me, correct me if i'm wrong, its a little uncertain and not secure to working a set amount of hours a week. I will call HR definately. From applying how long did it take you to start working? And did you train on the job? because i will be leaving sixth form in june and would like to start soon after.

Thanks

It can be better than being permanent as you don't answer to a bitchy manager every shift and if you don't like the ward, you don't have to work there again and to some extent you can choose where you want to work.

It's also far more flexible, you can work when you want (e.g. choose the higher paid shifts) and as much or as little as you want. I've never had a problem with getting enough shifts, there's more than enough 9/10. I used to get texts pretty much every day asking people to work extra shifts.

I do bank every uni holiday and it's honestly less stressful than when I worked only in one department. Plus I can choose when to work and get paid more as I work weekends/nights, whereas when I worked in one dept, I was given a rota and had no choice when I worked. There's no shortage of shifts and you can gain a lot more experience by working on different wards.

It might be daunting at first if you've never worked in a hospital, but it's not bad at all (apart from the bumwiping).

I delayed my start as I went on holiday so idk what's normal.

My hospital gives an induction course for new HCAs, but I never had any training (long story) and just learned as I went along.

As long as i have a glove i'm sure i can get used to the bum wiping okay i think you've just sold the bank to me

How do you apply to be a bank HCA?

I would be worried about becoming a bank nurse because of the uncertainty of work