Trainee nursing associates
The nursing associate is a new generic nursing role in England that bridges the gap between healthcare support workers and registered nurses, to deliver hands-on, person-centred care as part of a multidisciplinary team in all four branches of nursing (Adult, Child, Learning Disabilities & Mental Health).
Nursing Associates are members of the nursing team, who have gained a Nursing Associate Foundation Degree awarded through accreditation by an approved University Higher Education Institutuion. This typically involves two years of higher-level study and practice palcement, enabling them to perform more complex and significant tasks than a healthcare assistant but not the same scope as a graduate registered nurse. Nursing Associates are therefore capable of delivering high-quality care while supporting nurses and the wider multidisciplinary teams to focus on more complex clinical duties.
The nursing associate is a protected title in law and the role is regulated in England by the NMC (only employ people into the role who are qualified and registered as nursing associates). Nursing associates are subject to regulatory requirements such as revalidation and fitness to practise and must pay the same NMC registration fee as qualified Nurses. As registered professionals, Nursing Associates are individually accountable for their own professional conduct and practice. They will be expected to uphold the NMC Code of conduct, under their own level of accountability to work within their scope of practice and to raise concerns where needed. The role also provides a progression route into graduate-level reduced nursing programme.
There are increasing opportunities for Health Care Support workers to apply for an apprenticeship through their employer.
Nursing degree apprenticeship - adult
An apprenticeship is a system of learning and working enabling people to achieve a qualification in their chosen career. The Nursing degree apprenticeship is a new way of becoming a Registered nurse in the UK. Apprentices are employed in health organisations that offer the programme and are students at a university that partners with the employer. They are supported by North Mid and the university to achieve the learning and skills required to become a registered nurse. There are increasing opportunities for Health Care Support workers to apply for an apprenticeship at North Mid.
It takes up to 4 years to qualify as a registered nurse. Two of these years will be as a trainee nursing apprentice and a further two years as a nursing degree apprentice.
For eligibility criteria, please see individual university websites.
Nursing degree apprenticeship - learning disability (part-time)
The learning disability nursing degree apprenticeship programme is another new way of becoming a Registered nurse in the UK. Apprentices are employed in health organisations that offer the programme and are students at a university that partners with the employer. They are supported by North Mid and the university to achieve the learning and skills required to become a registered nurse. There are increasing opportunities for Health Care Support workers to apply for an apprenticeship at North Mid.
