Ambassadors to fly the flag for the Nursing Associate role

40 Nursing Associates and Trainee Nursing Associates from across the country have volunteered to support Health Education England (HEE) to promote, raise awareness and improve understanding of the Nursing Associate (NA) role.  

The Ambassadors will share their stories, knowledge and experiences through social media, at regional and national events and across other channels. They will be part of HEE’s Trainee Nursing Associate and Nursing Associate (TNA/NA) Ambassador scheme and support the ambition to grow the Nursing Associate workforce.   

James McLean, Deputy Chief Nurse, Health Education England said:  

“I am delighted that so many people have stepped forward to be a champion for this key role, highlighting why it is a great career choice within the health and social care sector, both as a role in its own right and as a route into registered nursing.  

Having ambassadors who have first-hand experience of the role will support the development, promotion and advancement of the nursing associate profession in England.”  

NA Ambassador Zoe Bunney, first year trainee nursing associate, University of Chester/East Cheshire NHS Trust said: 

“Being a trainee nursing associate has opened up a world of opportunities for me. It has opened my eyes to the different areas of nursing and how incredibly hard everyone genuinely works. Without this programme, there would have been no way that I would have ever been able to afford going to university to further my career. Being a trainee nursing associate has started me on my journey to my dream career and I love every minute of it.” 

NA’s are an important part of the clinical workforce and help to bridge the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses. Nursing associates work with people of all ages in a variety of settings in health and social care.  The role also offers an exciting entry point into a fully-registered nursing career for a range of people including existing healthcare assistants. 

The role was introduced in response to the Shape of Caring Review (2015), to help build the capacity of the nursing workforce and the delivery of high-quality care.   

For more information on the Nursing Associate role go to https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/nursing-associates