Nursing associate

Nursing associates work with healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care for patients and the public.

Working life 

Nursing associates work across all four fields of nursing: adult, children’s, mental health, and learning disability. Your skills and responsibilities will vary, depending on the care setting you work in. You’ll need to demonstrate the values and behaviours of the NHS Constitution.  

Your duties are likely to include:  

  • undertaking clinical tasks including venepuncture and ECGs
  • supporting individuals and their families and carers when faced with unwelcome news and life-changing diagnoses
  • performing and recording clinical observations such as blood pressure, temperature, respirations and pulse
  • discussing and sharing information with registered nurses on a patient's condition, behaviour, activity and responses
  • ensuring the privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times
  • recognising issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults  
nursing associate smiling at patient in bed

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Pay and benefits

Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours and may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends. As a student nursing associate, you’ll usually be paid on band 3 of the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system, with registered nursing associates usually employed on band 4.

You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases the longer you’re in service.

Entry requirements 

To begin your training as a nursing associate, you’ll need GCSEs grade 9 to 4 (A to C) in maths and English, or Functional Skills Level 2 in maths and English. Some employers will also ask for a level 3 qualification. You'll also need to show that you can study for a foundation degree level and complete the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship programme.

Student nursing associate places are usually advertised on NHS Jobs but some places are available through direct application to universities. Applicants accepted onto university courses will need to fund their own training.

Peggy-Jane Murrell

Student nursing associate

I have always been made to feel very welcome and supported in my new role.

Read Peggy's story

Your training 

You'll undertake a combination of academic learning and work-based learning. You'll be employed in a healthcare setting such as an acute, community or mental health hospital, care home or hospice but also gain experience in other settings. This will mean travelling to placements and working a mix of shifts.  

It is very important to plan and manage the competing demands of your job role, study and placements. You'll develop an understanding of all elements of nursing and caring for individuals with conditions such as dementia, mental ill health and learning disabilities/difficulties.

Career development

Once you’ve finished your training, you’ll have the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours to work as a nursing associate. Registered nursing associates can also go on to train as a registered nurse by putting their training towards a shortened nursing degree or registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA). 

Your nursing associate training may shorten a registered nurse degree apprenticeship to 2 years.   

To find out more about the apprenticeship route, including how to apply, speak with your line manager, education team or apprenticeship lead. Your employer may want you to complete a year working as a registered nursing associate before you progress to registered nurse training. 

Registration

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is responsible for registering and regulating nursing associates. 

Displaying 1 - 5 of 25 matches

  • Nursing Associate

    Truro and Penwith College

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    Qualification
    Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc
    Study mode
    Full-time
    Duration of the course
    2 Years
    Leading to a career in
    Nursing associate
    Contact details
    [email protected] 01872 305746
    Region
    South West
    Admissions address
    Truro College
    College Road
    Truro
    TR1 3XX
    United Kingdom

  • Foundation Degree Nursing Associate

    Kingston University

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    Qualification
    Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc
    Study mode
    Full-time
    Duration of the course
    2 Years
    Leading to a career in
    Nursing associate
    Contact details
    [email protected] 0203 510 0106
    Region
    London
    Admissions address
    Yorkon Building
    Kingston University
    Kingston upon Thames
    London
    KT2 7LB
    United Kingdom

  • Nursing Associate

    University of Greater Manchester

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    Qualification
    Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc
    Study mode
    Full-time
    Duration of the course
    2 Years
    Leading to a career in
    Nursing associate
    Contact details
    [email protected] +44 (0)1204 903903
    Region
    North West
    Admissions address
    Deane Road
    Bolton
    BL3 5AB
    United Kingdom

  • FdSc Nursing Associate

    University of Greenwich

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    Qualification
    Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc
    Study mode
    Full-time
    Duration of the course
    2 Years
    Leading to a career in
    Nursing associate
    Contact details
    [email protected] 020 8331 9000
    Region
    London
    Admissions address
    Avery Hill Campus
    Avery Hill Road
    London
    SE9 2UG
    United Kingdom

  • Nursing Associate

    University of Lincoln

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    Qualification
    Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc
    Study mode
    Full-time
    Duration of the course
    2 Years
    Leading to a career in
    Nursing associate
    Contact details
    [email protected] 01522 886644
    Region
    East Midlands
    Admissions address
    Brayford Pool
    Lincoln
    LN6 7TS
    England

Showing 6 of 24 results

  • If you're no longer a registered nursing associate, returning to practice is really straightforward.  Here's how you can do it:

    • readmission
    • Test of competence
    • return to practice course

    Readmission

    You might be able to re-register with the NMC without doing a course or a test.  You'll need to contact the NMC to find out how to do this. 

    Test of competence

    The test is made up of two parts:

    You can apply through the NMC website, where you'll also find lots of preparation materials and essential reading to help you revise for the test. 

    Return to practice course

    A return to practice course will refresh your skills, leaving you ready to return to being a nursing associate with confidence. It involves a combination of classroom and placement-based learning. Find return to practice courses on our course finder.

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