Apprentice Nursing Associate Review

We provide nursing support to our registered nursing colleagues. We undertake many of the same duties as them, but have a more limited scope of practice. We are lone workers and are expected to seek support where necessary in the treatment of our patients. We are supposed to have at least 25% time that is spent as supernumerary for learning opportunities.

Yes - as someone who did not previously work in a clinical healthcare role, everything I have learnt is new. I am able to undertake duties and can perform skills that I had never come across before. I have built on the basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology that I had from school teaching.

I think that this apprenticeship is an amazing opportunity for people who want to get into healthcare or become a registered nursing practitioner, but cannot afford or find a way to do the standard 3 year undergraduate nursing degree. However, being put in a 'homebase' and being a lone worker puts immense pressure on us where we are very busy. We often miss our learning opportunities and cannot fulfil the requirements of supernumerary time because our teams are too busy and rely on us to work as normal.

At the moment, it is currently being rewritten. But our modules are clearly set out, and when they were written, we have detailed and thorough assignment guidance and module guides. Our lectures are available on the student portal to have access to before and after lectures and for future references.

There is an effort put in place by practice educators to assist. We have regular forums where the apprentices can come together to share ideas, stresses, concerns and support one another on a regular basis. However, sometimes where we have individual queries, the practice educators do not always get back to us.

Although our lecturers are very busy, they do offer support where they can. If we email them on an individual basis, they do tend to get back to us if we need help urgently. However, if it is not urgent, we have to wait to address this in person during lecture days.

What we learn at university definitely helps us in our day to day jobs. We are supported with new skills and knowledge, that is current and helps us stay up to date so we can provide the best and most evidence based practice for the patients that we see day to day.

I believe there are groups and activities that go on within the Trust; however it is not something I have taken part in before. There seems to be a wide variety of social and professional opportunities for those who work in the Trust e.g Pride, BAME, exercise classes and so on.

Yes

They are spread over many boroughs and locations and have all different services available so there should be something to accommodate most people in different locations. I myself have not benefited from it yet, but I am aware of colleagues who did not have to step down a band to undergo training opportunities.

Enquire into what different services are available to work in around where you are locally, as there are some areas that are not covered - e.g in East London. Be aware of the Trust's values and what they can offer staff if you were to begin working within the Trust.