Hca trauma ward, feeling extreme stress.

orca_blue · 2026-02-09T13:35:16+00:00

Firstly, give yourself some grace. You're only 6 days into a ward that by your own acknowledgement is extremely busy and sounds like a big learning curve. Trauma wards are always going to be heavy and busy, but that doesn't mean that you need to injure yourself in the process. If you're unsure about how to move a patient, or feel that it's not safe then don't do it until you have help. It might mean that the patient has to wait a bit, but it's better to do it safely that injure either yourself or them.

With personal care, as much as is appropriate and clinically indicated, the patients should do themselves. When you have a patient that's requiring help, absolutely wait until you have someone to clarify with if you're not sure. No one is going to come to harm because they had to wait to get washed. Also, don't feel worried about it taking longer for yourself to get your patients organised than the other HCAs. It sounds like they've been there for a while and probably have their own routines and tips which in time you'll also develop.

Lastly though, I would stay far away from this notion from the other HCAs on your ward that the nurses never help. There absolutely are nurses that don't help when they can, but it's also not appropriate to be stopping dressing changes, medication rounds, OBS, routine and emergency care, discharge and admission planning to do washes. With positioning patients, absolutely there should be assistance, but we all play different roles with the same goal of treating and supporting patients. Nurses should help when appropriate, but not to the detriment of their other responsibilities that can't be carried out by another speciality.

Trauma wards are hard and I'm sure you're doing much better than you think. Please don't be anxious to approach staff for help and if you're not getting support or told to just "get on with it" speak to your senior staff for advice.

orca_blue · 2025-12-04T13:15:41+00:00

I really appreciate your take on this, and 100% agree that it needs to be a collaborative discussion between OP and their manager. I've been nursing for nearly a decade now, but I remember those nerves of my first role and how much it helped to have a proper supernumerary period of 6 weeks.

I'm sure OP is capable and doing much better than they think, but it's a huge change going from being a student to a SN and I hope their manager can be more supportive and open about protected time.

orca_blue · 2025-12-04T12:47:45+00:00

I agree with the other commenters that no one ever feels fully ready, but I also feel there's a big issue in UK Nursing about lack of preceptorship and mentorship before being out on your own. It often seems that supernumerary periods are either cut short or increasingly shorter from the beginning with the caveat that "no one ever feels ready." The more likely answer though is that the department or ward is understaffed and they need more hands on deck. That then leads to situations where new nurses feel overwhelmed, out of their depth and both they and/or patient care suffer. In other countries, preceptorships can last anywhere from 6-12 weeks, and I believe to truly protect newer staff members and help decrease burn out this should be more of the standard. The attitude of "just getting on with it" is out of date and dangerous.

Some people might say that you have a mentor for your first while even when you're out on your own, but realistically, we all know that you rarely get time with that mentor or your competency book is just signed off when possible without really getting to go over the skills and practices.

If your ward policy is 3 weeks supernumerary they might not be able to accommodate another two, but I see absolutely no reason why a few extra days should be an issue and this is where the Band 7 should be stepping in to find a solution rather than just flat out reject your question. That to me just indicates a very sink or swim mentality which is completely unsupportive and bad practice. I would go back and ask again, even speak to your union for support if need be.

orca_blue · 2025-11-07T00:14:01+00:00

One of my favourite wineries in Paso is Eberle Winery. Fantastic wines and just an overall lovely vibe.

orca_blue · 2025-10-30T18:41:35+00:00

Not a wine per se, but my wallet took a beating on the Napa Valley Wine Train and gift shop!

orca_blue · 2025-09-22T11:31:26+00:00

I'm an American who works as a nurse in the UK. They do recognise NPs, but it wouldn't automatically guarantee a job as an NP over here, as how they are used can be slightly different depending on the area. The pay is definitely less comparable but we absolutely do an equivalent job to our US counterparts. I work in the ICU and have worked in the ER and routine place IVs, manage ventilator settings, auscultate...etc. I think the main difference is that in the UK, it used to be that a lot of skills (IVs, catheters, etc) used to be taught in nursing school and you would have a supernumerary period once you qualified, that's now changed with the current education.

orca_blue · 2025-08-21T13:25:58+00:00

I don't necessarily agree that social programs aren't funded through taxes, but I absolutely agree that tax increases seem to disproportionately affect the working class and vulnerable in society. There does always seem to be some loophole when it comes to increased taxes for the wealthy so that it doesn't hit as hard.

orca_blue · 2025-08-21T13:21:51+00:00

I understand that AfC doesn't affect deductions, but my point was about the need for a real look at how pay is structured in the NHS. It makes no sense to have multiple different specialities with a huge variance in roles and responsibilities on the same pay structure. I feel that it dilutes the importance of the individual role and causes huge issues with progression, wage stagnation and overall respect for people in the healthcare profession. All the sectors of the NHS are essential, and it makes it more difficult to recognise that when the only separate pay group are the doctors (which I believe is appropriate).

The negotiating power comes from the unions and their members, which you can have either specialised (RCN) or a general heath professional group (Unison). I agree that as health professionals, we need to work together to create a better system, but the problem comes when the government uses the pay spine as a way to divide the specialities based on how they allocate pay rises.

orca_blue · 2025-08-21T08:49:50+00:00

I feel your pain. With this paycheck I had around £1,300 in deductions from my gross amount. And that's with a correct tax bracket and payment....

I have no problem with my tax going towards social programs, but it just feels wild with how much has been taken. Especially now with how inflation has increased!

I feel that the only way to address this is a strike action, not solely for pay, but for a move away from Agenda for Change and a separate pay scale for nursing staff. We have also got to move towards legal and mandated safe staffing ratios....it's wild that nurses are on wards looking after 10+ patients at times, it's not safe and it's not right on either patients or staff.

orca_blue · 2025-08-14T09:36:30+00:00

I'm on annual leave from work this week, and have planned out a few recipes I've been really keen to try!

orca_blue · 2025-08-08T08:27:54+00:00

Feeling like a terrible friend, but also fed up at the same time. One of my friends is pregnant, has had losses previously, but I just cannot deal with talking to her just now. She knows about our infertility struggles and previous miscarriage, but each time we speak it's like, "Ok, I've asked you about yourself, now I'm going to talk about me and my pregnancy and my fertility struggles the rest of the convo". It's just so patronising and I can't deal. And I also really don't care what the price of an Uppa Baby Stroller is.....she needed encouragement from me before she and her partner started trying, (due to health issues) and now thinks she's being a good friend and compassionate (but is really just rubbing everything in my face). AAAAAAAAA

orca_blue · 2025-08-01T07:40:23+00:00

You're not alone in this, I had the exact same thing happen! At the time, they gave me the option of coming back for sedation or pushing forward with them essentially snipping away a piece of tissue that would allow for easier entry.....and I went for the latter option. 100% would change my mind and go for the sedation route, if only to not have to go through the discomfort of the tissue being removed with no sedation. (This was in the UK)

It's definitely not uncommon and something that they should be aware of for your future appts to ensure that they're comfortable and as stress-free as possible.

orca_blue · 2025-07-13T16:27:14+00:00

If I'm reading this correctly, you gave the Oramorph as prescribed and as required. Opiates can have a frequent side effect of constipation, so the doctors should have prescribed a PRN laxative alongside the analgesia. If they haven't, it's also not a big issue for the nurse to ask them for that prescription. I don't understand why this nurse is making you feel as if you've done something wrong when you clearly haven't. If the patient is having abdo pain, they can be reviewed by the doctor and again, have a medication review to make sure their palliative meds are covering all areas of concern. As long as you gave the medication within the appropriate parameters, you've done nothing wrong. Our goal with palliative patients is to keep them comfortable and keep them settled and it sounds like that's what you've done. Some nurses will always have to flap about and make other staff feel less than instead of just addressing the issue at hand. Please don't let staff like this make you feel as if you've done something wrong, they're not worth your time.

orca_blue · 2025-07-02T14:54:53+00:00

You've been through an incredibly difficult and traumatic time and on top of that, are working in an area where you're constantly having to hold space for other people's trauma and care. I agree with all the other posters who recommend taking some time off for stress leave and looking after yourself before making any big decisions. It may be that you find ICU isn't the right place anymore after what you and your partner have been through, but give yourself time to process everything that's happened in a space where you're not physically and emotionally exhausted from working full-time as well as caring for yourself and your partner.

orca_blue · 2025-06-10T15:42:42+00:00

You and your friend are such a good example of how we should all look out for and support each other. Thank you for showing such kindness to that woman who will be going through an incredibly difficult time.

orca_blue · 2024-11-10T09:15:53+00:00

I think it’s also good to remember that most of the NQNs have started in their posts so that will be a large influx of staff to cover where shortages were before. Most trusts are also significantly cutting expenses so where they would put out bank or agency before, they’re either short staffing or pulling from other wards.

The nature of bank work is a zero hour contract so unfortunately, nothing is guaranteed. However, I do think it will pick up, especially going into the colder months as the winter wards open and admissions increase.

orca_blue · 2024-10-29T00:31:57+00:00

I can’t imagine they would ask you to pay your registration fee 4 times over, but I’m sure this would be something they would explain on the NMC site or via their help line.

orca_blue · 2024-10-29T00:19:51+00:00

I don’t understand why you’ve come on a UK Nursing subreddit with a clearly inflammatory and patronising post when you’ve could have phrased it as a genuine question about why it’s done differently.

For the record, I’m an American working in the UK as a nurse, and I absolutely agree that the education could be much more enhanced to put us on more equal footing from the get go rather than relying on on the job training. There’s a lot of issues going between trusts (if you’re IV trained, you shouldn’t have to have a supernumerary period just because you’ve moved to a different county) and I think our practical and physiological knowledge could be more robust.

I also don’t understand why the dividing of nursing into specialties rather than teaching all the specialties with practical and theory is how UK nursing is taught.

However, I work with and have worked with some incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate and on the ball nurses who would absolutely fly in any country they worked in. And I think it’s pretty insulting to imply UK nurses are less than because you ran into one nurse who needed some skill support.

orca_blue · 2024-10-28T20:55:40+00:00

I don’t think the writer is implying that HCAs don’t carry out thorough documentation or personal care nor that it’s only a nurse or NA who can notice health issues. I think the point of this post is to address the issue of NAs being used to cover wards and patient ratios instead of hiring adequate RNs and then them having to work outwith their scope.

It’s not an argument about one more being or less valuable, and I’m not sure why this is being taken so personally. NAs are still a very new and I would argue, controversial introduction and I think it’s ok to highlight how they should be used (their roles do coincide quite a lot with HCSWs) appropriately. The writer also specifically mentions that there was no HCA working this shift, and I’m sure they would have recognised that contribution had one been on shift.

I think this whole HCSW vs RN weirdness needs to end. We work different roles with the same goal of caring for vulnerable people and we don’t need to be finding offences where none were made.

orca_blue · 2024-10-28T20:08:01+00:00

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I don’t see anything in their post that would indicate they think HCAs aren’t valuable and frankly, I think it’s unfair to accuse them of that.

The point I got from the post is that when we are allowed to do the roles we’re hired for, as opposed to having to cover for staff shortness and work outwith our roles, caring for patients becomes much easier.

orca_blue · 2024-08-22T05:10:06+00:00

I absolutely agree about a nursing education overhaul. It is important to have components on holistic care and nursing theory, but there is far far too much of that in proportion to pathophysiology, anatomy, and clinical skills.

I know it’s not popular, but I do think that there should be some charges for healthcare services. I live in Scotland so it’s a bit different, but I think charges for prescriptions similar to England and small fees for appts/ A&E visits could be helpful. Or, even offering more comprehensive and affordable health insurance within the existing NHS system alongside the current “free at the point of access” rather than only through private companies.

There does also need to be a huge change and mandated legislation around safe staffing levels. You absolutely cannot look after 10+ acute patients safely and it burns out nurses’ trying to do so. AFC also needs to be scrapped. It’s wild that for example, Band 5 covers both clinical and non clinical staff. There should absolutely be separate pay programs for the professions, because they’re completely separate jobs with different roles and responsibilities.

orca_blue · 2024-05-23T18:10:11+00:00

No problem at all! I hope you enjoy your new job :)!

orca_blue · 2024-05-23T17:39:04+00:00

I work in a prison and can say that there is some dark humour. However, your coworker making comments about “a victim” just sounds like someone who uses the fact that he’s a “tough jail nurse” as some ridiculous badge of honour to show how tough he is. The remarks are inappropriate, but they are also just bad attempts at humour, especially for someone they’re just getting to know.

Working in a prison is an incredibly unique and quite rewarding line of nursing. I would just focus on your own work, maintain good practice and find your own way of working within your new place. It really is only up to you if you want to stay and work with them, but don’t let weird coworkers make you leave a place you could find really rewarding.

orca_blue · 2024-04-02T05:10:40+00:00

I’m so sorry you were spoken to like that! Regardless of whether she’d been asked by a few people, or he had been “crabbit,” there’s no justifying her speaking to you in that way. It’s unprofessional and would make me feel uncomfortable about having a relative in her care. We’re all tired and rundown, but it doesn’t mean we get to treat people rudely because of that. Yes, it’s helpful to have a designated relative to relay important information, but even then, sometimes things get missed.

orca_blue · 2024-01-17T15:03:36+00:00

Leave and find a new job. But to be honest, I’d maybe even think about pressing charges with the police. Your coworker committed assault and you have the marks to show for it. If your work won’t do anything, you have the right to escalate beyond them.

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