Update on our Registered Nursing Associates
DCHS have supported the Nursing Associate role since 2019, I am pleased to report during this time:
· 53 trainee nurse associates have progressed through 8 cohorts of training and development across all areas of Nursing
· 7 of our Registered Nurse Associates are now undertaking their Registered Nurse training and
· We have been successful in attracting Registered Nurse Associates who have completed their training in other organistions.
What an amazing achievement by all involved!
Nursing Associates are members of the nursing team who have gained a Nursing Associate Foundation Degree awarded by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved provider, typically involving two years of higher-level study, enabling them to perform more complex and significant tasks than a healthcare assistant but not the same scope as a registered nurse. 'Nursing Associate' is a protected title in law.
This role is being used and regulated in England and it is intended to address a skills gap between Health Care Assistants/Support Workers and Registered Nurses.
In DCHS we support our Registered Nursing Associates to Provide, Monitor, Review and Contribute to patient care under the delegated responsibility of the Registered Nurse. DCHS and other organisations continue to follow NMC and HEE guidance as seen in the table overleaf, this does not include initial assessments and first visits requiring primary nursing assessment, diagnosis and planning of care.
All Trainee Nursing Associates and Registered Nursing Associates complete the DCHS competency booklet which gives clear expectations and a competency framework for the role that we are dedicated to continually review and grow within the remit of safe scope of practice. Having clear competency frameworks allows DCHS to have clearly defined roles for Registered Nurse Associate and Registered Nurses.
I therefore wanted to take the opportunity to encourage colleagues to continue to expand and grow this exciting role of Nursing Associate and the opportunity this brings to develop and progress our Nursing pathway in DCHS.
Michelle Bateman
Executive Director of Nursing, AHPs and Quality
10 December 2021