Apprenticeship training course

Nursing associate (NMC 2018) (level 5)

Providing care for people of all ages and from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.

• Qualification level: 5 ; Equivalent to higher national diploma (HND).
• Typical duration: 24 months
• Apprenticeship category: Health and science
• Maximum funding: £15,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Also known as:
  • Nursing associate
  • Nursing associate is a protected title and may only be used by someone on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Act in accordance with the Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates (NMC, 2018), and fulfil all registration requirements
  • Keep complete, clear, accurate and timely records
  • Recognise and report any factors that may adversely impact safe and effective care provision
  • Take responsibility for continuous self-reflection, seeking and responding to support and feedback to develop professional knowledge and skills
  • Safely demonstrate evidence-based practice in all skills and procedures required for entry to the register: Standards of proficiency for nursing associates Annex A & B (NMC 2018)
  • Act as an ambassador for their profession and promote public confidence in health and care services
  • Communicate effectively using a range of skills and strategies with colleagues and people at all stages of life and with a range of mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural health challenges
  • Recognise signs of vulnerability in self or colleagues and the action required to minimise risks to health
  • Develop, manage and maintain appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues
  • Provide, promote, and where appropriate advocate for, non-discriminatory, person-centred and sensitive care at all times, reflecting on people’s values and beliefs, diverse backgrounds, cultural characteristics, language requirements, needs and preferences, taking account of any need for adjustments
  • Report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes
  • Challenge or report discriminatory behaviour
  • Apply the aims and principles of health promotion, protection and improvement and the prevention of ill health when engaging with people
  • Promote preventive health behaviours and provide information to support people to make informed choices to improve their mental, physical, behavioural health and wellbeing
  • Identify people who are eligible for health screening
  • Promote health and prevent ill health by understanding the evidence base for immunisation, vaccination and herd immunity
  • Protect health through understanding and applying the principles of infection prevention and control, including communicable disease surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship and resistance
  • Apply knowledge, communication and relationship management skills required to provide people, families and carers with accurate information that meets their needs before, during and after a range of interventions
  • Recognise when capacity has changed recognise and how a person’s capacity affects their ability to make decisions about their own care and to give or withhold consent
  • Recognise people at risk of abuse, self-harm and/or suicidal ideation and the situations that may put them and others at risk
  • Monitor the effectiveness of care in partnership with people, families and carers, documenting progress and reporting outcomes
  • Take personal responsibility to ensure that relevant information is shared according to local policy and appropriate immediate action is taken to provide adequate safeguarding and that concerns are escalated
  • Work in partnership with people, to encourage shared decision making, in order to support individuals, their families and carers to manage their own care when appropriate
  • Perform a range of nursing procedures and manage devices, to meet people’s need for safe, effective and person-centred care
  • Meet people’s needs for safety, dignity, privacy, comfort and sleep
  • Meet people’s needs related to nutrition, hydration and bladder and bowel health
  • Meet people’s needs related to mobility, hygiene, oral care, wound care and skin integrity
  • Support people with commonly encountered symptoms including anxiety, confusion, discomfort and pain
  • Give information and support to people who are dying, their families and the bereaved and provide care to the deceased
  • Recognise when a person’s condition has improved or deteriorated by undertaking health monitoring, interpreting, promptly responding, sharing findings and escalating as needed
  • Act in line with any end of life decisions and orders, organ and tissue donation protocols, infection protocols, advanced planning decisions, living wills and lasting powers of attorney for health
  • Work collaboratively and in partnership with professionals from different agencies in interdisciplinary teams
  • Maintain safe work and care environments
  • Act in line with local and national organisational frameworks, legislation and regulations to report risks, and implement actions as instructed, following up and escalating as required
  • Accurately undertake risk assessments, using contemporary assessment tools
  • Respond to and escalate potential hazards that may affect the safety of people
  • Participate in data collection to support audit activity, and contribute to the implementation of quality improvement strategies
  • Prioritise and manage own workload, and recognise where elements of care can safely be delegated to other colleagues, carers and family members
  • Recognise when people need help to facilitate equitable access to care, support and escalate concerns appropriately
  • Support and motivate other members of the care team and interact confidently with them
  • Monitor and review the quality of care delivered, providing challenge and constructive feedback when an aspect of care has been delegated to others
  • Support, supervise and act as a role model to nursing associate students, health care support workers and those new to care roles, review the quality of the care they provide, promoting reflection and providing constructive feedback
  • Contribute to team reflection activities to promote improvements in practice and services
  • Access, input, and apply information and data using a range of methods including digital technologies, and share appropriately within interdisciplinary teams

Full information on Nursing associate (NMC 2018) (level 5) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Find training providers for this course

Regulated occupation

Nursing associate (NMC 2018) (level 5) needs a training provider who is approved by Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Apprenticeship location

Check if a provider can offer this training for the apprenticeship location.