RCN position on Medical Associate Professionals

Nursing is the largest safety critical profession in health and social care. Registered nurses have high levels of autonomy, which is reflected in our new definition for nursing.

The recent debate as to the role and scope of practice of Medical Associate Professionals (MAPs) has in some cases been widened to include Registered Nurses in roles such as Surgical Care Practitioners. Here at the RCN, we’re clear that where a Registered Nurse (RN) is employed in any such role, they remain Registered Nurses and do not become a ‘Medical Associate Professional’.

RNs work in multidisciplinary teams, most often in close collaboration with medical colleagues across all health settings. Those who take on roles such as Surgical Care Practitioner, work alongside doctors as autonomous professionals, practising at an advanced level of nursing having undertaken relevant post graduate education and training.

The RCN believes that role definition is essential in all spheres of professional practice. The role of Surgical Practitioner, when undertaken by a Registered Nurse, should be undertaken at an agreed level of nursing practice, and with defined standards (including for education and training).

NHS England (formally HEE)¹, the Academy of Royal Colleges², the Royal College of Physicians³ and the British Medical Association⁴ have published statements and letters related to Physician Associates which have included a stance that doctors should have priority for training and education opportunities within clinical practice. Access to continuing education and training are essential for Registered Nurses, who are already disadvantaged by the fact that they are rarely allocated protected time for education in job plans. The debate within the medical profession must not be allowed to further compromise this position.

The RCN raised concerns from the first consultation related to MAPS in 2017⁵ and our stance remains the same: Registered Nurses should not be considered as MAPS and this term should be specifically for assistant roles for doctors, including in surgery settings.

Footnotes:

We are happy to collaborate regarding this work or to lead this. We recommend that this is commissioned by DHSC or NHSE.

References:

1 NHS England » Ensuring safe and effective integration of physician associates into departmental multidisciplinary teams through good practice

2 Consensus_statement_High_level_principles_concerning_PAs_040324.pdf (aomrc.org.uk)

3 BMJ Opinion Pieces.pdf

4 20240142 MAPs scope of practice.indd (bma.org.uk)

5 CONR-4117.pdf