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Can a medical student work as a HCA ?

  • 14-01-2018 10:20am
    #1
    Bambina21
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ✭


    Hello,
    I'm a 5th year medical student wondering if it's possible to work for agencies as a health care assistant (Nurse on call, etc). I dont have any Fetac courses, but i've been working as a live-in carer in the UK during the summer months for the last 4 years. I've got manual handling, 3-day course in personal care, safe guarding etc, first aid, and medical school knowledge. 
    Is this sufficient or are the agencies in Ireland very strict in their requirements?


Comments

  • #2
    davo10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    Bambina21 wrote: »
    Hello,
    I'm a 5th year medical student wondering if it's possible to work for agencies as a health care assistant (Nurse on call, etc). I dont have any Fetac courses, but i've been working as a live-in carer in the UK during the summer months for the last 4 years. I've got manual handling, 3-day course in personal care, safe guarding etc, first aid, and medical school knowledge. 
    Is this sufficient or are the agencies in Ireland very strict in their requirements?

    To work as.a health professional in Ireland, you must have the qualifications commensurate with the job, you cannot work as a Doctor unless you are a registered medical practitioner, you cannot work as a nurse unless you are a qualified nurse. Safety of patients, particularly the aged/vulnerable is taken very seriously so yes, the requirements are strictly adhered to and vigorously checked.


  • #3
    GalwayGrrrrrl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,519 ✭✭✭GalwayGrrrrrl


    A friend of mine worked as a HCA while he was studying to be a nurse but I think you need the fetac course. Not sure about requirements for homecare with bluebird care etc as I’ve seen they pay for the course while you are working for them. Could be worth checking out.


  • #4
    Postgrad10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,792 ✭✭✭Postgrad10


    Plenty of social science and nursing students working as health care assistants in nursing homes and for agencies. Send your cv in to them.


  • #5
    Postgrad10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,792 ✭✭✭Postgrad10


    davo10 wrote: »
    Bambina21 wrote: »
    Hello,
    I'm a 5th year medical student wondering if it's possible to work for agencies as a health care assistant (Nurse on call, etc). I dont have any Fetac courses, but i've been working as a live-in carer in the UK during the summer months for the last 4 years. I've got manual handling, 3-day course in personal care, safe guarding etc, first aid, and medical school knowledge. 
    Is this sufficient or are the agencies in Ireland very strict in their requirements?

    To work as.a health professional in Ireland, you must have the qualifications commensurate with the job, you cannot work as a Doctor unless you are a registered medical practitioner, you cannot work as a nurse unless you are a qualified nurse. Safety of patients, particularly the aged/vulnerable is taken very seriously so yes, the requirements are strictly adhered to and vigorously checked.

    The OP doesn't want work as a nurse or doctor and they are not yet qualified. He/she just wants health care assistant or carer work. Often these only require on the job training and health and safety training.


  • #6
    davo10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    Postgrad10 wrote: »
    The OP doesn't want work as a nurse or doctor and they are not yet qualified. He/she just wants health care assistant or carer work. Often these only require on the job training and health and safety training.

    Read op, "nurse on call etc"


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  • #7
    alibab
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 678 ✭✭✭alibab


    davo10 wrote: »
    Read op, "nurse on call etc"

    Yes nurse on call look after the health care assistant agency allocation also they are not just a nursing agency. Op lots of student nurses and student doctors working as health care assistant when training give nurse on call a ring will set you right .


  • #8
    davo10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    https://servisourcetraining.ie/getting-job-healthcare-assistant/




    The role has recently been consolidated, with a specified entry level, progression and responsibilities. Healthcare support at FETAC level 5 is the specified educational requirement in order to be considered for employment. Following up on this, vaccinations, Garda Vetting, references and an appropriate visa to work are all necessary before work can commence. Getting these in order can be time consuming and should be started at the early stages of the Healthcare Support course. Experience is the final requirement and although one of the educational modules covers a minimum of 30 days on the job experience, some acute care healthcare assistant roles require two years’ experience before beginning.


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