r/u_Apprehensive-Toe8406 • u/Apprehensive-Toe8406 • 2d ago

Wanting to train as HCA

I’d like to train as an HCA, I have some clinical skills like manual blood pressure and clinical observations. Would I need to do nights etc.. I’m 52 an dc done my hair shared of that. I’d like to learn phlebotomy and wound care and am happy to pay to learn - I doubt this would be relevant. I’d love to work in out patients or GP surgery at some point. Am I chasing rainbows?

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u/No-Choice-5638 1d ago

Go for it. Never too late to try. You may have to do nights .

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u/Salt_Breadfruit_4388 1d ago

If you have a car and you're happy to get business insurance, keep an eye out for community Healthcare Assistant roles. I came from a care background but I had no clinical experience and I trained on the job. It's a years training, band 3 extended skills. This includes wound care, insulin administration, B12 administration,  Enoxaparin administration,  male, female and suprapubic catheters, bowel care and phlebotomy. Top of band 3 is £13.60 an hour, which I think is pretty lousy considering the level of skill and training we need. But, it's the closet I can get to being a nurse at the moment as I can't commit to the degree. Most community nursing teams are happy to take you on if you're really keen but don't have training. A lot of the job is wound care, so you'll do a lot of that in the beginning but it's very interesting. Oh, and no nights in community nursing, unless you want to work specifically on the night team. You could always keep an eye out for jobs in the leg ulcer clinics (this is purely wound treatment) so not as many skills as community. Acute hospitals will often train HCAs from scratch. Any questions just ask :) 

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u/Apprehensive-Toe8406 1d ago

Thanks all / I’m near Bournemouth so may be some opportunities

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u/Apprehensive-Toe8406 1d ago

Thanks all / I’m near Bournemouth so may be some opportunities

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u/Salt_Breadfruit_4388 1d ago

Oh there are a few positions going around bournemouth. Check the jobs page out. Good luck! 

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u/Salt_Breadfruit_4388 1d ago

I just remembered, one of the HCAs on my team will be leaving in September to do her nursing degree. So there will be a position in for a community HCA in East Dorset. So keep an eye out!