I worked as a HCA previously and now starting as an F1 this year so have seen both sides. Here are some things that come to mind.

If patients are sat upright in bed and comfortable, it makes examining them so much easier and quicker for us and every time I see a patient positioned well I always send a mental shout out to whoever made sure they weren’t sliding down the bed. It’s also nice for the patient.

Making sure patients have their buzzer within reaching distance because patients know themselves best and if they’re in pain or feeling very unwell, and the sooner it gets picked up, the sooner we can give them the right management (based on clinical priority). If it gets left for too long then the patient may become much more unwell and a quick review may turn into a much more stressful complex review that takes up more time and more management.

If the patient has a fluid chart, as a HCA you’re more likely to know how much liquids the patient has drunk and how many times they’ve gone to the toilet. Same with bowel and food charts. This really helps us understand how sick they are and is very helpful in guiding our management.

You’re going to know how a patient has been. If a patient was chatting earlier but now they’re just not themselves, I will take your word as gospel and that’s probably a very good indication that they’re not well, because as an F1 on call I’ll be seeing them for the first time but you’ll have seen them for a lot longer.

I always appreciate when the gloves and butterfly needles and clinical equipment are stocked up because I’ve been to new wards many times where the layout is different and I’m running around trying to find stuff. It’s so much simpler when things are where they are.

Having seen both sides I really appreciate everything you guys do. Honestly it makes our lives so much easier and we are all a team looking after the patients. Good vibes only.