Trainee nursing associates
The Nursing Associate (NA) role is a new role being introduced in England to bridge the gap between registered nurses and health care support workers. The first test programmes began in early 2017, with approximately 2,000 trainee nursing associates (TNAs) commencing that year. The government announced another 5,000 TNAs will be trained in 2018 and 7,500 in 2019. The role is to be regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and it is expected that the first NAs will be regulated in early 2019.
The pace of change to develop this programme and regulation is immense and the RCN is working closely with the NMC, Health Education England and test sites on this. A number of consultations are or have been conducted – please see the links below for details of RCN action and responses.
The RCN welcomes TNAs as members and are considering how to develop this membership category and services for NAs on qualification.
Forthcoming RCN consultation
We are expecting the NMC to consult on the standards, Code and guidance for nursing associates in spring. The RCN will consult with members regarding the proposals. We need to know what our members think so we can make a strong response to the NMC and continue to influence how the role is developed and implemented. Look out for an email containing a survey, or come along to one of the free workshops we shall be hosting.
Trainee nursing associates resources
RCN resources
Nursing Associate Consultation Workshops
- Nursing associate consultation: Free RCN workshops
RCN consultation responses:
- RCN Response to Nursing Associates’ Fees (2018) RCN response to the Nursing and Midwifery Council's consultation on nursing associates’ fees
- RCN Response to Regulation of Nursing Associates in England (2018) RCN response to Department of Health's consultation on regulation of nursing associates in England
- RCN response to Nursing Associate Consultation (2016) The RCN has responded to Health Education England’s consultation on proposals to introduce a “Nursing Associate” role to the health workforce
Further resources
NMC. Standards for nursing associates. This page highlights the knowledge and skills that a nursing associate needs to meet.
Nursing support workers
- Become a Health Care Assistant and Health Care Support Worker
- Become an Assistant Practitioner
- Become a Trainee Nursing Associate
- Become a Nursing Associate
- Learning resources for the nursing support workforce
- UK wide information for the nursing support workforce
- Accountability and delegation
- RCN Nursing Support Workers Facebook Group