Two weeks remain to submit your views for a consultation on the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding required for the new nursing associate role.
Related Article: Community nurses call for more ‘GP back-up’ in palliative care decisions
Eleven pilots sites are currently training around 1,000 nursing associates, although the decision is yet to be officially made as to whether the role will be created.
NHS Employers said earlier this year that ‘a number of political, social and economic factors have led to unprecedented pressures on health and social care services’ – with a lack of nurses an outstanding issue.
Related Article: All GP practices to be trained in supporting veterans in £1.8m programme
Both healthcare support workers and new apprenticeship schemes are expected to be sources of nursing associates – which will fill a gap in the workforce between registered nurses and healthcare support workers.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned against the use of nursing associates to replace registered nurses and raised concerns about the speed at which plans have been implemented.
The draft standard was written up employers from health and social care, with additional involvement from Health Education England (HEE) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Related Article: Action needed on ‘damaging’ school nurse decline to help tackle STI rise
You can complete the survey by clicking here. Submissions will be accepted until 12pm on Friday 21 April.
