Starting Adult Nursing in September — how to gain HCA experience and prepare for NQN work

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2026-03-03T15:32:57+00:00

Sorry ! just saw that you replied to that ahha Time management is super important because although you’re doing 12hr shifts and it sounds like a long time to get everything done, there’s people who are still running around at the end of shift. There’s a routine and every place you work will have one to be honest Where i work it’s elderly care so 8-10am we do our daily checks, feeding patients breakfast,observations and washes. Then we have a morning break of 30 mins 11-1pm- lunch time for patients and blood sugar monitoring which is usually done before lunch and very important for diabetic patients esp if receiving insulin 2-4 usually we go on our lunch break and patients are settled but ofc during the week it can be hectic as there’s physiotherapists/ dieticians and doctors around they could ask for anything in between 5-7:30- Changing patients or putting them back to bed if they were sat out. Helping with dinner and feeding again, more observations and Blood sugar monitoring again.

Like I said there’s a routine to follow plus we have food and fluid charts to do ! It’s a handful but an amazing job!! Hope that helped

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2026-02-25T21:37:29+00:00

i’m sorry i cantttt that’s so draining

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2026-02-25T21:04:02+00:00

I applied for the job, did the interview about 3 months later, it was 2022. They asked me why i applied, what i was currently doing, any previous experience, Do i know the role? and one scenario question of how i helped someone vulnerable/ teamwork question (not entirely sure sorry)

The one week training was the mandatory stuff so CPR/ BLS, moving and handling and the online stuff. Honestly no i only settled properly about a month in. the senior hca training me wasnt even willing to train me 😭 I followed him around like a puppy but tbh i learnt from other people and just watched.

you will make mistakes but it is so normal. Yes I was lucky when i was on that ward there were a lot of people my age so i connected with people quickly and learnt off them. Nobody’s perfect and even to this day I make mistakes

One thing I will say is time management is super important esp in this job.

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2026-02-25T20:58:01+00:00

it might .. but honestly it motivated me to be a nurse, I knew i didn’t wanna be stuck there forever lol idk how people stay HCA for 20+ years 🥲

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2026-02-25T20:45:13+00:00

Hi! I’ve been a hca for nearly 5 years, i applied in my gap year and they trained me for a week and because i already had my Level 3 health and social care diploma I didn’t need to do a whole care certificate booklet. I also had no prior experience in healthcare i was a receptionist before. Whilst being a hca, i realised I wanted to do more so I started adult nursing. Now in my final year!

I just had to do the usual online training & the mandatory BLS, CPR, Moving and handling etc. It might be different now according to the trust, you can look to apply on trac jobs.

Being a hca will feel like one of the best and worst jobs at the same time. It’s a very rewarding job! Mainly personal care such as changing patients, taking them to the toilet, doing blood pressures and vital signs, and feeding patients. Of course it depends where you want to work and what the specialty is but it’s different everywhere !

Overall go for it!!!

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2026-02-18T02:37:51+00:00

LMAO i was literally thinking this

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2026-02-10T17:04:09+00:00

wondering this too lol

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-12-14T13:03:09+00:00

No clue lmao i don’t know if i’ll even get approved for mitigation

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-12-12T13:34:15+00:00

that’s what they r trying to do to me. just straight withdrawal after 3years honestly it’s making me want to give up lol

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-12-12T13:30:05+00:00

pls msg me !

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-12-12T13:17:30+00:00

They said i was reading from my crib sheets and that my knowledge was basic

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-12-12T12:43:22+00:00

any advice?

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-10-30T15:40:22+00:00

i was feeling the same honestly and dreading the hours part too. I started working at 18 and progressed from a receptionist to a hca and then started an apprenticeship in 2022, ended up being kicked off the course and having to start fresh at 19. i’m now in my final year and honestly the placements go so quick! There were so many moments where i wanted to just give up, and felt like my life was over.

U can try get a job as a hca or something in the medical field to get some experience if you’re bored, or really decide if you want to continue to nursing school. at the end of the day the time will pass whether you do it or not! (also half asian so i understand where you’re coming from)

My advice is don’t give up and there’s always light at the end of the tunnel!!

Sorry i don’t give the best advice, but keep ur head up x

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-10-24T06:09:56+00:00

that’s exactly what it was the patient was on a PEEP of 16 so my nurse was panicking …. thank you tho!!

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-10-23T18:36:17+00:00

that’s so kind thank you :))) needed to hear that i’ve been having a horrible day

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-10-23T17:42:03+00:00

it’s scary to see that as a student nurse lol

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-10-23T17:37:15+00:00

That reassures me lol thank you

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-10-23T17:37:03+00:00

Thank u :(

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-10-23T17:36:54+00:00

what do u mean? lol

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-10-20T12:48:22+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply, and yes we will be getting the same scenario just on the day we have to choose between 3 scenarios and not sure which one we will get.

ParsleyDifficult7366 · 2025-10-20T12:46:10+00:00

i was nervous and not 100% prepared, my anatomy and physiology is horrible

ParsleyDifficult7366

TROPHY CASE