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

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Reply 20

No Future

Original post by Thracia

Bum-wiping is probably the most unpleasant thing you'll come across. Don't worry, some can do it for themselves.

Depends on the ward and your luck :wink:

If you're lucky nobody needs bum wiping.

If you're unlucky then....

Reply 21

SeaJay

Original post by JuJu23

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. :smile:

There are pros and cons to ward based and bank. Having worked in bank, I personally would choose ward based as you tend to get blamed for anything that goes missing as a member of the bank team, (nobody trusts you - does toughen you up though)... You also know where everything is on a ward if you're based there and you can make friends with your colleagues and get to know the specialist doctors better (great for getting a really good reference.....)

You can make friends as bank staff, but it's usually with other bank staff. The big pros to being on the bank team are: More flexible hours, and you get to see every department in action (massive plus for applying to medicine!). It's also easier to get a job in the bank, and once you're there, you can try out the wards and transfer to one you like (if they like you that is!).

If you can't get an HCA job, try for a ward assistant post (crappy job, but better than nothing) or a phlebotomist post.

Hope this is helpful - sorry if I've repeated anything others have said - I didn't read all the posts.

C x

Edit: Have just read posts from others and wanted to clarify some points:

*As bank staff you do get annual leave and sick pay. It's the law.

* You can still have a bitchy manager, but usually you only see them for the start/ end of the shift when you clock in and out.

* There will be bum wiping. But this is not the worst job you can do. Oh no. My worst included: clearing up diarrhoea and larger dumps from the floor (the elderly gentleman who supplied the latter was so proud and pleased with himself that it made it more bearable somehow!) And the ultimate worst? Blood bag spillage in gynae. I have never wretched so much in my life.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 22

fairy spangles

Nurse Bank all the way.
You get your holidays accumulated in every wage packet.
You can work when you feel like it, dont have to work nights/12 hours shifts if you dont feel like it
If you hate the people on the ward - dont go back.
For one job on the bank i had to sit in the x-ray room on my own for 9 hours and just make sure no one died. Can you imagen ending up with that job for an entire year??

Reply 23

oola_oola

Original post by JuJu23

If you can't get an NHS job you could try applying to any private hospitals in your area. I've been on a HCA bank at a private hospital for the last 8 months and it's been amazing :smile:

As my hospital is so small I've been on every ward and know pretty much every doctor. You get to know the nurses and other HCAs better because there are only a few wards so it's not as lonely as on NHS banks.
If you do get a HCA job I recommend working in the Outpatient department. You get to chaperone doctors during examinations, which is so good for medical experience!

For your info, I was rejected last year and I now have an offer for September 2011 :smile:

(i think because of HCAing)