Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
the questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed using the SPSS.
Ethical permission was gained from the University’s Nursing Ethics
Filter Committee and consent was also obtained from senior
managers in the School and Faculty.
Summary of key findings:
Results of the questionnaire revealed that over half (51% n=225) of
the students had worked as HCAs and over half 55% (n=243) of
those were continuing to do so whilst in full time nurse education.
Respondents indicated that they had worked and were working in a
variety of clinical settings, including A&E, care of the elderly,
maternity, surgical and acute care. When questioned 61% per cent
(n=270) of all students felt that previous HCA experience was
beneficial with 40% (n=177) believing that it helped them
understand aspects of their nursing course.
Interviews and focus groups provided greater insight into the
perceived benefits of such work. These included supplementation of
their bursaries, increased clinical confidence and enhanced clinical
skills. However, the dual role of student and healthcare assistant
raised several potential problems such as time for study, role
conflict, role confusion and role overlap. For example, students with
HCA experience believed that they were already competent in
undertaking basic patient care duties and therefore did not need to
be taught this as part of their nurse training. Moreover the lack of
role boundaries resulted in many students falling automatically into
the HCA role whilst on placement. This resulted in link lecturers,
mentors and/or ward managers reminding students that they were
training to be a nurse and not an HCA.
Conclusions:
This study confirms that students are working as HCAs in a part
time capacity. Responses indicate a mixture of both positive and
negative effects of student nurses being employed simultaneously
as HCAs. This study confirms earlier findings, on the motivating
factors of part time work among nursing students (Lee et al 1999;
Ford et al 1995; Seccombe et al 1995). Whilst this was a small
scale exploratory investigation, involving one time-point and one
institution, the study’s findings raises questions for those involved
in nurse education and stimulates debate and ideas for further
investigation.
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