If you are interested in becoming a Nursing Associate or are a practice interested in recruiting, please email enquiries@healtheducationderbyshire.co.uk for more information on funding and requirements.
Nursing Associates: who are they?
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In 2017 the Government announced the creation of the Nursing Associate role. The role is bridging the gap between health care support worker and registered nurse and helping meet the changing health and care needs of patients and the public.
- Nursing Associate is a stand-alone role as well as also providing a route to Registered Nurse.
What Nursing Associates will know?
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Further education and experience will allow for role development. Nurse leaders across England have been clear that the intention is for Nursing Associates to support, not substitute, registered nurses.
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Read more about the Nursing Associate standards at NMC
Entry requirements –
There are no formal entry requirements however you would normally be employed as a Healthcare Assistant in general practice. To complete the nursing associate apprenticeship you will need to have 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent. You may also have Level 2/3 Health and Social Care qualifications.
Career progression -
When you complete your nursing associate apprenticeship you will register with Nursing and Midwifery Council as a regulated nursing associate. You can train to become a registered nurse by completing a shortened nursing degree or a nursing degree apprenticeship.
What value will they bring to General Practice?
They will increase the capacity of general practice nursing teams. As a response to the growing demands in Primary Care,GPNs are embracing some activities traditionally the domain of GPs such as :
- Prescribing
- Treating minor illness
- Managing long term conditions
- Be well placed to help with some of the routine work of GPNs
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Nursing Associate training offers a career development opportunity
- With continued professional development, Nursing Associates will provide additional capacity within the nursing team
- Nursing Associates bring a breadth of knowledge and skill to general practice
- Trainee Nursing Associates bring valuable insight across whole systems
Please click each university which will direct you to the Nursing associate courses available
"Nursing associates are trained to work with people of all ages and across all four fields of nursing: adult, child, mental health and learning disability."
Up to £8,000 support funding available
Gifted apprenticeship Levy providing full course funding
"A provider that invests in training is an attractive employer.
"General practices with a visible training ethos will be at the forefront of recruiting the best.
"Many general practice HCAs are keen to embark on Nursing Associate training.
What skills do you need?
- a desire to help people
- knowledge of psychology
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- sensitivity and understanding
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer