As university students look back on the last term, for Anna Rose and Yasmin Eager the last four months have provided them with a special opportunity – to become the first trainee nursing associates at the Queen Victoria Hospital.
The nursing associate role has been devised nationally to bridge a gap between health care assistants and registered nurses, to deliver additional hands-on care. Anna and Yasmin are among 2,000 people in England currently on a two-year training course.
Queen Victoria Hospital is part of a group of healthcare providers in Sussex and Surrey offering the opportunity for trainee nursing associates to join its team, alongside studying at the University of Brighton. Once they’ve successfully completed their Level 5 programme they will gain a Foundation degree in Health and Social Care Practice which will enable them to register with the NMC and work as registered nursing associates.
Commenting on the trainee nursing associates opportunity Anna, who works in the hospital’s outpatients department, said: “I've been interested in nursing for a long time, and moving into a health care assistant role last year confirmed for me that this really was what I wanted to do. As a mum working part time, a full time nursing degree really wasn't an option, not just financially but also because of needing to balance family and work life. The nursing associate programme lets me study and train whilst I earn. It’s such an exciting opportunity, and I'm thoroughly enjoying training and developing my skills here at Queen Victoria Hospital.”
Ros Waters, departmental matron of the outpatients department, also said: “I am very happy to support the nursing associate role as we are able to grow our own workforce of the future. Anna and Yasmin are especially valuable as they are training on the job and are already very much part of the team.”
Geraldine Opreshko, director of workforce and organisational development at Queen Victoria Hospital said, “We’re delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to members of staff who want to further develop their nursing skills. The nursing associates role is one of a number of apprenticeships we offer to help staff learn, gaining nationally recognised qualifications, whilst they earn.”
A further three healthcare assistants at Queen Victoria Hospital are being supported to undertake the programme starting in September.
