Aug 08, 2012, 08:01 pm
Hi, Yes easy peasy!!! I received my job when first studying nursing after one semester with a nursing agency. I worked through the agency in nursing homes, group homes for people with head injuries, and hospitals as both surveillance and as a nursing assistant on the ward. Don't knock the opportunity to consider aged care - you will learn a lot if you keep your mind open to it and it's always good to remember how patients must feel when the very basic of basics are not met, eg, brushing teeth! It was a fantastic learning opportunity plus it's always good to have money as a student since we're always broke (!!!) - I was able to work in areas including ED, mental health, community, surgical & medical wards, high dependency units and CCU. Whilst it is outside our scope of practice as a nursing assistant / PCA to perform some of the nursing duties, you get to have insight into the wards and in particular, from observation, you learn what NOT to do as a nurse! I've seen plenty of "bad" things - bedside manners from hell, a nurse replacing a NGT without aspirating and putting a feed straight into the NGT when the pt was coughing (moist). I learnt a lot through my time with agency but still have a long way to go even as a nurse! Most agencies, especially in this state are very good to work for and will give you the work if you are keen. Good luck X-D
