The Nursing Associate role is designed to bridge the gap between health care assistants and registered nurses.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have formally confirmed they will regulate the role, provide educational standards and help establish the role within the clinical setting. They will work closely with Health Education England (HEE) to ensure the pilot schemes lead up to NMC registration.
What is a Nursing Associate?
Nursing Associates will be trained to deliver care in a range of primary, secondary, community and social care settings. Training schemes will include both technical knowledge and clinical experience.
The aim of Nursing Associates is not to replace registered nurses or healthcare assistance but provide support.
Will Nursing Associates be regulated?
Yes. The Nursing and Midwifery Council will provide education standards and a new part of the NMC register specifically for Nursing Associates.
Who will Nursing Associates be accountable to?
According to the RCN, Once qualified, nursing associates will be accountable to registered nurses. Registered nurses will always be accountable for any decisions they make around delegation of any tasks, but nursing associates will have to take responsibility for the actions they take.
Will Nursing Associates be able to administer medication?
Health Education England has said nursing associates will only administer medicines “if suitably trained and competent, in settings where it is deemed appropriate and where this is guided by organisational medicines management policies”.
What will Nursing Associates be able to do?
Like many roles this will be dependent on the area and trust deploying the staff and many areas are still developing operating procedures for these staff. You should take a look at the Nursing Associate Job Description for an idea of the skills they will hold.
