Page 54 - The Gazette Autumn 2023

54 The Gazette QARANC Association
‘Our knowledge was tested with mock
exams every Monday’
The HCA foundation course is a 20-week phase 2 course to prepare direct entrants and trade transfers for work as a class 2 HCA within the QARANC and an NHS hospital. Two recent graduates, Pte Arthur and Pte Okoye, report on their experiences.
Our first week in January was an induction where personnel from various departments came to speak to us on how the camp runs. We met members of staff including Captain Sheppard, SSgt Fiddy and SSgt Wilde and through an icebreaker we were able get to know our classmates and build friendships.
Our lessons included Pearsons (an apprenticeship we need to complete within 18 months to obtain a level three in clinical healthcare support,) Anatomy and physiology and some practical clinical skills including basic life support, aseptic technique and admission process including clinical observations.
The teaching was delivered to a high standard both theoretically and practically, ensuring we were all engaged in team tasks. Kahoot quizzes were used for revision, which we enjoyed and got competitive with. Our knowledge was also tested with mock exams every Monday, and revision sessions was prepared by our teaching staff in the evenings.
During our phase two training, we attended a QARANC Association meeting in Birmingham, where we met serving QAs and veterans. They gave a presentation on what the Association is about and what it does, and we enjoyed hearing stories about the veterans’ time in service.
We went on a trip to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM), Stanford Hall and Burton -upon- Trent hospital. We chatted with the staff in these hospitals and toured wards and departments, including CT, neuro, orthopaedic and trauma. In Burton-upon-Trent hospital, we had all our manual handling lesson and practical with the qualified staff.
Midway way through our course, we completed a six weeks’ placement where we both had the
My whole experience at the hospital was amazing
opportunity to develop our skills in the Queens hospital Burton -upon Trent.
Pte Arthur: I was privileged to have the opportunity to go on a placement at Queens Hospital Burton- Upon-Trent. I was assigned to the Acute Short Stay ward where I shadowed for the first week by a healthcare professional. During this period, I observed and practically applied all the clinical knowledge and skills learnt in the classroom to the ward. My day-to- day routine included recording patient observations, completing fluid charts, personal care and assisting in clinical duties. I also improved my communication skills with patients and their families, and helped patients move from place to place.
Another interesting experience on my placement was that I worked with some of the nurses in my ward and had the opportunity to learn and perform wound dressing, changing stoma bags, performed an electrocardiogram (ECG) and did a complete admission on a patient who was transferred to my ward. Seeing my patients recover from being poorly and getting discharged was one of my happiest moments.
My whole experience at the hospital was amazing, despite the stressful moments, overall, I really enjoyed my placement and was happy to have kept smiles on the faces of my patients.
Pte Okoye: My experience in Discharge Assessment Unit was very interesting one. I got really acquainted with the members of staff which made learning and working very easy. Some days were good and others very hectic, but it was all part of getting used to the hospital setting. He had loads of