Does a Healthcare Assistant need to have a strong stomach?

SlipHook

I have seen a lot of vacancies on job sites for HCAs, but I am unsure what they do exactly. I was thinking of applying for a vacancy, but I do not have a strong stomach. Would I need one to do the role successfully?

spadoosh

The job can vary depending on where its based.

In hospitals there will be a lot of bedpan emptying for example but in surgeries this will be less likely.

Ultimately i would say that there will be times when you need a strong stomach. Ive been told that breathing through gritted teeth is a good solution.

Just_a_Girl_2

It depends where the job is based really.

I was a HCA on a ward and it involved changing incontinence pads (urinary and faecal), wiping bottoms, cleaning up vomit, urine, blood, etc.

It's a very rewarding job though.

ohreally

If you can suppress your gag reflex you might just cope.

Sncjw

Yes you do. You will be cleaning bed pans and carrying them. You will be cleaning vomit. You will be cleaning fecal matter from patients bottoms.

You will be assisting maybe in blood related procedures. You will be dressing and undressing patients.

It's a very hands on role. Your helping the staff nurse care for the patient. Staff nurses want to look after their patients but many a time they can't do so due to complex medication prep, arranging for porters to collect patients, arraigning for procedures to happen, updating records.

You will also be doing observations, feeding for those who need help to feed. Communicating with patients, assisting them to the toilet or showers. Basically helping them with their very basic care needs.

suki1964

A swipe of Vicks under the nose does help

( wee tip I learned in the mortuary )

Red-Squirrel_2

Just_a_Girl wrote: »

I was a HCA on a ward and it involved changing incontinence pads (urinary and faecal), wiping bottoms, cleaning up vomit, urine, blood, etc.

Its important that you can do all this with a smile, and minimise the embarrassment for the patient too.

Art_Deco

SlipHook wrote: »

I have seen a lot of vacancies on job sites for HCAs, but I am unsure what they do exactly. I was thinking of applying for a vacancy, but I do not have a strong stomach. Would I need one to do the role successfully?

As with any nursing position you will need to help in all activities of daily living for a patient, On our wards health care/ nursing assistants do the following, washing ,dressing, helping to bathe, feed, dress, toilet , cleaning up bodily fluids, vomit, sputum, blood,take bloods, change dressings, clean wounds, ECG, take blood pressures sats, temperatures, resps,also need to do life support, courses , MVA/ RRI/ Moving and handling, courses ,write in all patients notes electronically, they also take to out patient appointments at other hospitals, etc,, recreation therapy, the list is endless,its very rewarding though.:)
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