Student nursing associates

What is a nursing associate?

They are highly trained registered professionals with a breadth of knowledge and a comprehensive portable skill set enabling them to deliver safe, effective and responsive care across a wide range of healthcare settings.

Their role aims to bridge the gap ;between healthcare support workers and registered nurses. Under the leadership, supervision and direction of a registered nurse, nursing associates can work independently or within a team to deliver holistic, patient centred care within defined parameters and in line with an agreed plan.

The role has been developed following several reports and high profile public enquiries, including:

  • Francis Report 2013
  • Cavendish report 2013
  • Willis report in 2012 and 2015
  • Shape of Caring review in 2015

The reports recommended there was a need to create and maintain a healthcare workforce that are proficient and competent to deliver the standards of care.

How to become a nursing associate

The Trust is working in partnership with a range of academic providers to offer a 2-year apprenticeship underpinned by the NMC proficiency standards.

The qualifications you will need to apply for this course are:

  • level 3 qualification, NVQ level 3 in anything or 2 A levels at grade C or above
  • maths and English GCSE grade C or above, or functional skills level 2
  • working minimum 30 hours

The course is a work based learning route and the programme consists of a minimum 2,300 hours. This means that a student nursing associate will be employed by the Trust for the duration of the programme.

On completion a nursing associate will be qualified to hold a band 4 post and be a registered professional with the NMC. The qualification allows progression onto the degree nurse pathway to become a registered nurse.

As this course is an apprenticeship you will undertake academic ;learning 1 day a week, which will usually be met by attending the weekly academic provider's study day. There will also be time for private study. The rest of the week will be in the workplace.

Email Claire Bolton if you are interested in finding out more about the role ;we'd encourage you to contact us for an informal chat.

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