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NHS nursing assistant interview -help please

Hello,
I am so excited, I have managed to get an interview for a nursing assistant position in the ITU department at my local hospital.
I have no experience in care, although lots of experience working with the public and some life experience I can bring to the role.
If anyone has experience in this kind of interview I would be so grateful for any help, tips and advice you can give me. I haven't been to an interview for years. Or if anyone has experience of working in this job role I would love to hear your experiences.
Thanks
Julie

P.S Are suits out of fashion for interviews now ?

Comments

  • Hello,
    I am so excited, I have managed to get an interview for a nursing assistant position in the ITU department at my local hospital.
    I have no experience in care, although lots of experience working with the public and some life experience I can bring to the role.
    If anyone has experience in this kind of interview I would be so grateful for any help, tips and advice you can give me. I haven't been to an interview for years. Or if anyone has experience of working in this job role I would love to hear your experiences.
    Thanks
    Julie

    P.S Are suits out of fashion for interviews now ?

    Well done on getting an interview. I'm no expert in HR techniques but I have worked in care and as a HCA in hospitals (through agency work) which I'm guessing will be similar to what you are doing as a Nursing Assistant

    I have also been employed by the NHS but that was in an administrative capacity.

    I guess questions to ask would be relevant to the Job Description - take a look at it and think of what else you would like to know
    • Is there a rota and what is it? how often in advance will you know it?
    • How long is the induction? how long will you have to shadow someone before you can work independently?
    • Ask about training courses - Moving and Handling; First Aid; Infection Control; Health and Safety and Safeguarding; Hospital Observations Monitoring (blood pressure; breathing; pulse and SATS) will most likely be on the agenda.
    • Qualifications - do the offer NVQ training? (tbh imo it doesn't always get you a better rate of pay (although maybe in the NHS it does) but I suppose if you have and someone else doesn't it could be a deciding factor for future jobs
    • Other things you may be expected to carry out - empty and replacing leg bags; stoma care; administering oxygen; making beds; taking blood counts for diabetes; giving or helping with showers, baths, bed washes; giving bed pans; transferring people onto and off commodes; cleaning equipment and sterilising commode pans; helping individuals choose their meals for the next day; assisting with mealtimes and feeding/clearing up; taking the drinks trolley round; being aware of visitors and confidentiality (know how much information you can give); answering bells and going off to get what the patient needs whilst at the same time being called by numerous other patients on your way and knowing how to respond to them and advise that you are in the midst of seeing to someone right now but will be back when you can - not a nice part of the job as people often think you are ignoring them when actually you're in the midst of caring for someone else; oh yes not be adverse to cleaning up soiled patients and bedding; admin (written notes at the end of the shift and also recording of hospital observations. Be prepared to work with agency staff (and please remember, they may be on a better hourly rate than you but they don't have permanent employment, guaranteed hours or holiday) - I imagine it can be a pain having to go through everything when an agency person comes along to work a random shift but they really do appreciate being shown and advised and they will want to come back, when they are treated not so nice they don't want to go back to that ward.
    Hope the interview goes well, just be pleasant and calm - I would imagine they like 'team players' rather than people that want to be 'top dog' - if you have to do a group interview with other candidates for the job remember this as often people are trying hard to stand out in a group exercise that they exclude others when maybe the interviewer wants to see them interacting with others and work as a team - but like I say, I'm no expert just the experience of one individual here

    It may be that you are doing a very different role but HCA and Nursing Assistant do sound pretty similar. Hope this helps
  • ahhhh wow Thankyou so much, that was so kind of you to write so much it has really helped. Do you enjoy your job ? It would be such a change for me, I am more than a bit nervous :o
    :beer:
  • Person_one
    Person_one Posts: 28,884 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 17 January 2014 pm31 11:43PM
    On second thought, I've PMed the OP!
  • Thankyou xx
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