Health Care Assistants

eth0_

Does anyone know if there are such things as healthcare assistants in hospitals in Ireland, like in the UK?
They work alongside nurses, assisting them. Most go on to be nurses themselves.
Anyone heard of this sort of job?

talla

Yes those roles are available. The girlfriends mother is a nursing assistant or nursing aid(cant remamber the exact title of the job) in St. Hames hospital in Dublin.

eth0_

Originally posted by talla
Yes those roles are available. The girlfriends mother is a nursing assistant or nursing aid(cant remamber the exact title of the job) in St. Hames hospital in Dublin.

Cool. Could you do me a huge favour and ask her how she got into it? I don't think you need any previous qualifications, it's all on the job training..?

talla

I'll see what I can find out, usually dont talk to the woman, cant stand her. I'll post back anything I find.

DundalkDuffman

In the hospital that I work in they are called Wardsmaids or ward attendents. Can't say what other places would call them. There is no specific qualifications for the jobs and people just send in their CV to the HR department

hobnob101

Hi eth0_,
Yes, I was one myself! It's a different system here though. Here there are no grades of HCA like the English NVQ's. In fact they have only started bringing in qualification here. It's the Fetac qualification now. But you don't need it to get work everywhere yet because it has not been available widely enough. It is not that easy to get started without previous experience. The agencies won't touch you and the HSE hospitals are tightening their belts where recruitment is concerned. But there are plenty of nursing homes and private hospitals out there. Be warned that conditions vary widely. Your best bet if you want to do that sort of work is to apply directly to individual homes/hospices/hospitals. Get on the phone. Why are you thinking of getting into it?
There is a board just for healthcare assistants at http://www.jackiebrownmedical.ie/forum
You may get more answers there too.

Larianne

I just started work as a care assistant in a private hospital. I think it's quite hard to get into unless you have experience or know someone who works in the hospital to recommend you. I'm hoping to get into the healthcare industry so I'm doing it for experience and to make my application stronger.

There are PLC/fetac accredited courses available. I think it's a year course.
They may take you on if you have work experience in hospitals or have done volunteer work before to show a general interest in healthcare and caring professions.

I agree to try nursing homes and private hospitals.

Are you looking at getting into nursing, eth0?

eth0_

Blimmin' hell guys...this thread is FOUR years old :-)
Thanks for the replies but i'm studying to work as a psychologist now.

Larianne

Dam! Hate when that happens (2nd time to me lately!)

cronos

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