Our Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA) Programme is a two-year apprenticeship open to internal and external candidates. Breaking away from a traditional university route, our TNA students are employed into the trust so that they can earn while they learn as part of one of the highest performing trusts relating to staff satisfaction in the UK.
Upon graduation of the programme, our newly qualified nursing associates are placed into a permanent nursing associate vacancy within the organisation. Our TNA graduates do not have any student loans or debts to pay back and benefit from the financial security of a guaranteed job when qualified.
The academy recruits for this extremely popular programme twice a year; in August for a January start and in February to begin the following June.
For more information about the Trainee Nursing Associate programme, please click here.
Where will I be training while on programme?
The trainee nursing associate undertakes a wide variety of placements encompassing acute, community, mental health, learning disability and child health settings. This allows for the nursing associate to work in any area upon completion of the foundation degree.
Is the nursing associate programme branch specific?
No – the nursing associate is a generic role, upon completion will not be, for example, an adult or child health nursing associate, they will be able to work in any speciality.
Will I be supernumerary on placement?
As the programme is a work-based learning apprenticeship, you will be counted in staffing numbers while in your practice base area. Trainee nursing associates are only supernumerary when they are on other clinical placements within the trust.
When a trainee nursing associate comes from a different experience background to a new placement how can the team support them on placement?
The trainee nursing associate is allocated to different placements to gain wide nursing experience. The team will orientate the trainee, allocate a practice assessor and practice supervisors to ensure the trainee gains wide learning opportunities and teaching from staff about the care provided by the team.
What will I be paid whilst on programme?
Trainee nursing associates are employed as a band 3 (adgenda for change) by the trust during the 2-year training period.
When I have qualified, will I be able to do everything a nurse can do?
Nursing associates are not qualified to do all the nursing activities a registered nurse can. Prior to beginning the course trainee nursing associates must have experience in providing care to people. Upon completion, they qualify with a foundation degree, but unlike student nurses haven’t completed a management programme. This means they must always work under the supervision of a registered nurse but will have all the clinical skills and nursing skills required to care for a group of patients.
Will I be able to progress to become a registered nurse in the future?
Yes – the nursing associate foundation degree will allow entry onto a shorter pre-registration nurse training programme. You can apply for the registered nursing degree apprenticeship following the successful completion of the TNA programme. You do not have to apply for this programme immediately, you may choose to build your skills and experience as a nursing associate before moving on to registered nursing.