Support and career aspirations among trainee nursing associates:a longitudinal cohort study

  • Robertson, Steve
  • Snowdon, Sally
  • Wood, Emily
  • Tod, Angela
  • Ryan, Tony
  • Laker, Sara

  • Authors Steve Robertson is research programme director; Rachel King, Beth Taylor and Michaela Senek are research associates; Sally Snowdon is university teacher; Emily Wood is research fellow; Angela Tod is professor of older people and care; Tony Ryan is professor of older people, care and the family; all at the Division of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield. Sara Laker is associate professor, Winona State University, Minnesota, United States.

Nursing Times 117(12):p 18-22, December 2021.

This article has beendouble-blind peer reviewed

In this article…

• Sources of support used by trainee nursing associates change over time

• Future career plans considered by trainee nursing associates

• Why only 10% of respondents intend to stay in nursing associate roles in the long-term

Use this article for a journal club discussion with colleagues. To find out more go to nursingtimes.net/NTJCNursingAssociates Journal club participation can count towards your revalidation.

Key points

Different sources of support are used by trainee nursing associates as they progress through their training, and it is important to consider where gaps may occur

Taking time to understand and share the positive aspects of the nursing associate role can help reduce concerns about the role and create a more supportive environment

It is important to understand career motivations and aspirations at all stages of the nursing associate journey

How aspirations and motivations align with the needs of clinical areas, the organisation and the wider healthcare system should be considered

Abstract The nursing associate role was introduced in England to bridge a skills gap between healthcare assistants and registered nurses, and to provide an alternative route into registered nursing. Previous research has highlighted challenges that trainee nursing associates face and how qualified nursing associates are being embedded in the workforce, but no studies have explored trainee experiences over time. We conducted two surveys about support experiences and career plans over a one-year period: there was an increase in support from clinical supervisors and nursing associates, and a reduction in support from academic tutors. Support in the clinical setting improved from 56% to 65%. Only around 10% intended to remain in a nursing associate role and more than a third were uncertain about progressing to registered nursing. Most wanted to remain in their current organisation but a third were looking to change clinical setting. Understanding these patterns will help align individual career planning with organisational workforce requirements.

Copyright ©2021 Nursing Times
View full text|Download PDF