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Nurse Associate

The nursing associate is a new support role in England that bridges the gap between healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver hands-on, person-centred care as part of the nursing team. Nursing associates work with people of all ages in a variety of settings in health and social care.

The role was introduced in response to the Shape of Caring Review (2015), to help build the capacity of the nursing workforce and the delivery of high-quality care. It will be a vital part of the wider health and care team and aims to:

  • Support the career development of Health Care Support Workers (HCSW)
  • Enable nurses to focus on more complex clinical work
  • Increase the supply of nurses by providing a progression route into graduate-level nursing

The Greater Manchester Training Hub supports Primary Care and Social Care organisations and their staff to access the Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA) Apprenticeship.

The TNA Programme is a 2 Year fully funded Level 5 Apprenticeship. The entry requirement is Maths and English Language at Level 2. You have the choice of 2 universities to undertake your studies, the University of Bolton and the University of Salford, where you will undertake day release. You must have the support of your employer to undertake the apprenticeship and be contracted to work a minimum of 30 hours per week. You will spend the majority of the programme at your place of work developing the skills, knowledge and behaviours to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), you will need a practice assessor (Registered Nurse or Registered Nurse Associate) and practice supervisor. The programme requires you to have exposure to 3 settings, ‘at home’, ‘close to home’ and the ‘acute hospital’ as well as the 4 fields of nursing, Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, Adult, Children and Young People. You will be supported throughout the programme by an experienced team of educators. Once you have completed the apprenticeship qualification which is a Nursing Associate Foundation Degree you can then progress with further studies at Level 6 to become a registered nurse.

Further information can be found:

For more information please contact contact GMTH@GMFEDS.co.uk

Healthcare Support Workers Short Course – Level 4 certificate

About the course:

The programme is designed for HCSWs and HCAs who wish to develop their professional skills and in future progress to a Nursing Associate role. Through this unique programme of interactive blended online learning, learners will learn to reflect and build on their existing knowledge and experience in order to respond to future healthcare requirements and confidently manage change in the workplace.

Course Summary

  • Duration: 12 weeks online learning plus one Essentials Clinical Workshop (2x 2-hour sessions)
  • Notional Study Time: 150 hours
  • Delivery: Interactive Blended Online Learning
  • Course Assessment: E-Poster and 500-word reflective commentary (100%)

Entry Requirements

To enrol on this programme you must:

  • Have achieved or be working towards care certificate level
  • Actively be employed  as a Healthcare Assistant or Healthcare Support Worker with aspirations to be a Nursing Associate

What’s on Offer?

  • Functional skills qualification offered to meet criteria required for entry to the Nursing Associate course
  • Support will be offered to gain this if required
  • PC TNA PEF support is available to discuss future progression towards becoming an NA in Primary Care

For further information, to express an interest or if you wish to discuss in more details please see the flyer

 

Greater Manchester Nursing Associate Foundation Programme 

Free accredited clinical training combined with dedicated and experienced clinical support. For all New Qualified Nursing Associates (NAs) transitioning into or working in a General Practice or Orimary Care Network. Also available to NAs within the first 12 months of working in General Practice.

For further information, please click here.

 

GPN Foundation Skills Training Offer – Face to Face/Online – For nurses and Nurse Associates new to Primary Care – Practice or PCN Employed

This also provides free access to a 15 week course along with 1:1 support from an experienced Stockport Practice Nurse (from our Stockport Training Pod).  This offer is face to face and online and starts on 12th June 2023. The sessions are running in Salford. The ‘Foundation Skills Flyer’ is available here. There is no backfill funding with this offer but it does include cervical cytology, immunisation training, chronic disease management, family planning and female health. If you want to register for this course, please scan the QR code on the flyer.

Employer Resources

To become a registered nursing associate, individuals must pass a foundation degree awarded by an NMC-approved provider, typically taken over two years. The programme includes both academic and work-based learning and prepares trainees to work with people of all ages and in a variety of settings in health and social care.

Routes to Training a Nursing Associate

Trainee nurse associates cane either:

  • earn while they learn as part of an apprenticeship programme or
  • apply direct to university

Currently, most nursing associate training programmes are being delivered through the apprenticeship route, However, a growing number of universities are now offering direct entry programmes, for which trainees will need to fund their own study. You can find a list of all approved programmes on the NMC website or visit UCAS to search for self-funded courses open to application.

Primary Care Trainee Associate Pathway

Health Education England has produced a useful resource for Primary Care colleagues which illustrates the steps to employ a Trainee Nursing Associate in Primary Care – Trainee Nursing Associates in Primary Care infographic updated Feb 22.

To accompany the pathway an infographic which can be used as a quick guide to introducing a Trainee Nursing Associate into Primary Care has been produced – Trainee Nursing Associates in Primary Care Pathway ideal – streamline updated.

Further information can be found Employer resources/Health Education England (hee.nhs.uk).

 

Your Future Nursing Associates

This infographic sets out the different routes available for organisations to train Nursing Associates and any costs to employers, developed by NHS Employers –

Your future nursing associates | NHS Employers