Apprenticeship Course

Nursing Associate Apprenticeship

Course details

Next course date

September and April

Duration

Minimum of 2 years

Course description

What is a nursing associate?

Nursing associate is a relatively new role, which bridges the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses. Nursing associates work in many health and social care settings, from hospitals to care homes, hospices, GP practices and community services.

Responsibilities vary depending on the care setting you work in, but your duties are likely to include:  

Key benefits of this apprenticeship

I love how hands on it is, from placements to practicals. I have explored areas which I wouldn’t have chance to do in my normal everyday role, which has been super beneficial for my career development.

Tarnia Lefevre
Previous nursing associate apprentice

Who is this apprenticeship for?

You need to be in relevant paid work for at least 30 hours a week and have the backing of your employer. If you don’t have this, or would prefer to study full-time, you could take our two-year Nursing Associate FdSc instead, which gives you the same qualification.

People usually take this apprenticeship for one of the following reasons:

These are all good reasons to take this apprenticeship!

After completing the programme and the End Point Assessment, you can join either our Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship or one of our full-time nursing degrees in year two, meaning you can complete that qualification faster (within 18 months.)

Please note:

Postgraduate Engineer Degree Apprenticeship logos
a student nurse looking at stats

Expert teachers

Our teaching team includes experts in all four areas of nursing. All are qualified health professionals, with years of experience in nursing and leadership roles within health and social care. They have strong links with the local NHS trusts as well as with smaller health and social care providers.

Anna Wild alongside two colleagues receiving a Chief Nursing Officer award

From Healthcare Assistant to Qualified Nursing Associate

Before beginning her apprenticeship journey, Anna was a healthcare assistant in A&E during Covid-19, an experience that kickstarted her ambitions to become a healthcare professional.

Read Anna's storyRead Anna's story

Structure, certificates and assessment

The course includes the following modules, which everyone must take:

  • Human Growth and Development across the Lifespan
  • Communication and Working in Teams
  • Providing and Monitoring Nursing Care
  • Promoting Health and Independence
  • Personal and professional development for Nursing Associates
  • Integrated Theory and Practice
  • Research and Evidence Based Practice
  • Medicines Management
  • Patient centred care for complex health needs
  • Leading and Integrating care
  • Assuring quality and safety of care
  • Applied Theory and Practice

 

A blend of on-the-job and academic learning

Most of your learning will be on-the-job and led by your employer. However, you will come into university for one day per week (45 weeks of the year), during which you will attend lectures, tutorials, seminars, debates, and practice-based workshops. You may also need to come into university for an extra ‘skills week’ each year.

Placements

As well as working in your paid role, you must also complete 460 hours of placements in other environments (about 20% of the apprenticeship). We will need the support of your employer to find these placement opportunities. You will have a Practice Supervisor on each placement who will provide guidance, support, and valuable feedback.

Please be aware that you are expected to travel up to 90 minutes each way to get to a placement, and to work the shift hours set by that organisation.

How you are assessed

You will be assessed on both the practical and academic parts of the course by a Practice Assessor and an Academic Assessor. They will regularly discuss your progress. You will need to record your completed proficiencies, placement hours, supervisor meetings and more, in a practice assessment document.

Your university work will be assessed in a variety of ways, including through poster presentations, exams, essays, assignments, and case-based discussions.

After you have completed the two-year programme, within three months you will need to complete an End Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA is a process that ensures you have met the requirements for the apprenticeship.

From care worker to registered nursing associate and beyond

While working in the private care sector, Rachel Atkin began researching careers in nursing and found out about the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship. She's now completed the course and is moving on to our BSc Adult Nursing.

Read about her journeyRead about her journey
A person wearing a headset while in a virtual call.

Request more information about our apprenticeship programmes

Want to talk to a member of the team about our apprenticeship programmes? Make an enquiry and a member of our team will get in contact with to provide you with more information about our apprenticeships, and how our programmes can up-skill your workforce.

Request more information about apprenticeshipsRequest more information about apprenticeships

Entry requirements

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all ages as long as they can be considered adequately prepared to succeed on the programme. 

Apprentices do not need Maths/English at the start of the course. However, some employers may insist on this for them to support their candidate.
If apprentices do not have Maths/English they must achieve this by the end of the programme in order to gain the apprenticeship qualification, Nursing and Midwifery Council registration and to ensure they are funded.

A relevant Level 3 qualification or a portfolio application. 

To apply for this apprenticeship you must currently be in paid employment of at least 30 hours per week. Your employer must cover the costs of the apprenticeship and will allow external placements as well as their usual working week.

Fees and funding

Employers

Cost of the apprenticeship will normally be in line with the funding band £15,000, but individual agreements will be considered depending on student numbers and involvement of employers.

Apprentices

Fees will be paid by your employer with government funded support or through the apprenticeship levy.

Additional costs and optional extras

How to apply

For more information call +44 (0)800 001 5500 or email apprenticeships@derby.ac.uk

Applications to this apprenticeship must be made through the employer. If you are an individual who is not yet employed within this sector, you may find the following links useful:

https://careerfinder.ucas.com/jobs/

https://www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/

https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/

Contact us

EnquiryEmailPhone
Apprenticeship Hub apprenticeships@derby.ac.uk +44 (0)800 001 5500

If you want to find out more about studying a short course, please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Contact us Contact us

Additional information about your studies

Additional costs and optional extras

We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.

The information below is correct for entry in the academic year September 2020 - August 2021 only. Entry for future academic years may be subject to change.

Mandatory costs not included in your fees
Optional costs not included in your fees

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