Average Candidate Response:
Nurses have a more specialised role than healthcare assistants; whilst HCAs can take observations and blood tests, nurses are more involved in the interpretation and application of the findings.
Excellent Candidate Approach
Both of these professions involve caring for and attending to patients’ needs, and thus require empathy and compassion. However, nurses have a more specialised role than healthcare assistants, who are involved in the general looking after and care of patients. Nurses carry out duties that include the administration of medication, and the monitoring of patients’ statuses, in addition to assessing vital signs or carrying out physical examinations. Nurses are also responsible for attending to minor physical injuries that do not require surgery, an example being the management of wounds or burns.
There is also a greater role for specialisation as a nurse, and this can range from being an asthma nurse specialist to a heart failure nurse specialist. Unfortunately, there isn’t this same scope as a HCA. Nonetheless, Healthcare assistants play an important role in looking after the general wellbeing of patients. This can involve taking observations, washing and dressing patients, serving meals and making beds, amongst other things. Ultimately, healthcare assistants are key in ensuring patients are comfortable when staying at hospital as well as facilitating the work of nurses and doctors.