Apprentice nursing associates

The apprentice nursing associate role is  rewarding, challenging, provides job satisfaction as well as a stepping stone to undertaking further study for those that would like to become a registered nurse.

You will work as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team. In this role you will be working closely with people who may be unwell or require additional support or have different needs to people you might normally interact with.  You will have good team working skills because people you work with will rely on you, as you will rely on them, for help, guidance and support.  Colleagues will rely on you to turn up to your shifts on time, to be organised, to act in a professional manner, keep calm under pressure and to treat those you come into contact with courtesy and respect.  Working in a caring role means you will often need to help people with hygiene needs, touching as part of care and handling bodily waste.  It is important you consider how you might feel about this when you think about applying for the nursing associate pathway, as it is a crucial element of the role.

We understand that before making the decision to apply it is important to do your homework – to get a ‘feel’ for the job, the organisation you’re thinking of joining and to decide “is this really for me?” You can research this role in more detail from the following websites

• Nursing Midwifery Council
• Nursing Midwifery Council – Becoming a Nursing Associate

• Permanent employment
• University course fees paid by CUH
• Paid leave for academic study and practice placement
• Support throughout your employment and training
• Promotion to a Nursing Associate (Band 4) position
• A career pathway working and learning in one of the most vibrant, innovative and exciting NHS Trusts in the country

This is not a 9 to 5 job. As a hospital, we provide a 24/7 service. Our clinical staff, including HCSWs, need to work to meet the needs of our patients, so are expected to work a variety of shift patterns including days, nights, weekends and public/bank holidays. You may be expected to work long days, short days or a combination of the two.

It is important that you understand you will be required to work on a rota, doing shifts that will include days, nights and weekends.  This ensures you learn how to provide care as our patients’ needs change across a normal day.

• A programme of 24 months duration
• Working as a apprentice nursing associate for 22.5 hours per week and as a university student for 15 hours per week
• An expectation of additional study in your own time

Upon commencement on the university place the programme lasts 24 months.  Promotion to the apprentice nursing associate role will be subject to registration with the NMC

The pay for this role combines the NHS Pay Band 2 based on the employee’s current pay point and the CUH Career Apprenticeship Career Pathway pay rate. The details of the salary are detailed before commencement of the programme.

There is paid leave for academic study and practice placement and your university course fees are paid directly by CUH.

Earn, learn, no debt