Roles vary from organisation to organisation; you could be working in a hospital setting, a care centre or a patient’s home environment. Despite the differing of environments, the basic principles of being a health care assistant are the same.
If for example you work in someone’s home you are likely to be one of the few people the patient sees during the day and you will generally do the visit on your own unless you are required to do any lifting or moving of the patient then a colleague will work with you on these visits. If working in a centre or hospital you are surrounded by other work colleagues and also patients in a busier more formal environment.
Some of the basic duties you will be required to do are as follows:
Making sure patients get up in a morning and get to bed at nightHelping patients to wash, shower or dress as necessaryHelping to serve food or helping people eat if they are unable to do it themselvesMaking and changing beds as required by the guidelinesEnsuring that patients unable to move are turned/moved regularly in their beds to prevent pressure soresTalking and reassuring patients to help them feel less anxious or concernedTo help patients move to where they need to do if not able bodiedEnsuring that all patients can go to the toilet or are given a bed pan etcKeeping a clean and tidy ward, room or at the patients homeOrdering and maintaining the stock and equipment supplies as requiredTaking and recording observations such as temperature, pulse and breathing on a regular basisUsing specialised equipment such as lifts to move patientsAll roles vary to some degree but the main consideration is a friendly and hardworking nature to which patients who are feeling vulnerable can rely upon.
Related: Healthcare Assistant Cover Letter Example
