Nursing associates work withhealthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care for patientsand the public.
Working life
Nursing associates work across all four fields of nursing: adult, children’s, mental health, andlearning disability. Yourskillsand responsibilities will vary, depending on the care setting you work in.You’llneed to demonstratethevalues and behaviours of the NHS Constitution.
Your dutiesare likely to include:
- undertaking clinical tasks including venepuncture andECGs
- supporting individuals and their families and carers when faced with unwelcome news and life-changing diagnoses
- performing and recording clinical observations such as blood pressure, temperature, respirations andpulse
- discussing and sharing informationwith registered nurseson apatient's condition, behaviour, activity and responses
- ensuring the privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times
- recognisingissues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults
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Pay and benefits
Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours and may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends. As a trainee nursing associate, you’ll usually be paid on band 3 of theAgenda for Change (AFC)pay system, with qualified nursing associates usually employed on band 4.
You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases the longer you’re in service.
Entry requirements
Tobegin your trainingas a nursing associate, you’llneed GCSEs grade9 to 4(A to C)in maths and English, or Functional Skills Level 2 in maths and English. Some employers will also ask for a level 3 qualification. You'll also need to show that you can study for a foundation degreelevel and complete the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship programme.
Trainee nursing associate places are usually advertised on NHS Jobs but some places are available through direct application to universities. Applicants accepted onto university courses will need to fund their own training.
Martyn Davey
Nursing associate
The university part of the nursing associate training allowed me to take on more responsibilities and will provide me with career progression – something I never thought I’d achieve!
Your training
You'll undertake academiclearning one day a weekand work-based learningthe rest of the week.You'll be employed in a healthcaresetting such as an acute, community or mental healthhospital,care home or hospice but also gain experience in other settings.This will mean travellingto placements and working a mix of shifts.
It is very important to plan and manage the competing demands of your job role, study and placements. You'll develop an understanding of all elements of nursing and caring for individuals with conditions such as dementia, mental ill health and learning disabilities/difficulties.
Career development
Once you’ve finishedyour training, you’llhavethe knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours to work as a nursing associate.Qualified nursing associates canalsogo on to train as a registered nurse by putting their training towards a shortened nursing degree or registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA).
Your nursing associate training may shorten a registered nurse degree apprenticeship to 2 years.
To find out more about the apprenticeship route, including how to apply, speak with your line manager, education team or apprenticeship lead.Your employer may want you to complete a year working as a nursing associate before you progress to registered nurse training.
Registration
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is responsible for registering and regulating nursing associates.
Find out more
If you're interested in becoming a nursing associate, find out more on this dedicated website.
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Find a vacancy
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If you're no longer a registered nursing associate, returning to practice is really straightforward. Here's how you can do it:
- readmission
- Test of competence
- return to practice course
Readmission
You might be able to re-register with the NMC without doing a course or a test. You'll need tocontact the NMCto find out how to do this.
Test of competence
The test is made up of two parts:
- a multiple choice computer based test (CBT)
- a practical test known as the Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)
You can apply through theNMC website, where you'll also find lots of preparation materials and essential reading to help you revise for the test.
Return to practice course
A return to practice course will refresh your skills, leaving you ready to return to being a nursing associate with confidence. It involves a combination of classroom and placement-based learning. Find return to practice courses on ourcourse finder.
