Routes into nursing

Clarifying the routes into nursing

With the removal of the bursary, and addition of apprenticeship routes, the routes into nursing available to different people can be confusing. In response to this CapitalNurse has been working with the Mayor’s office to develop an online resource to clarify the routes available.

Nursing degree apprenticeships

CapitalNurse has completed a pan-London procurement of Nursing Degree Apprenticeships. Eight Higher Education Institutions have been awarded as preferred providers. Any London NHS organisations can join without further procurement required by emailing simon.dennis@nhs.net.

Second registration

CapitalNurse has developed a fact sheet on second registration opportunities in London.

Work experience in nursing

CapitalNurse is working to support more London health and care providers to provide nursing work experience opportunities for young people interested in pursuing a career in nursing.

Best Practice Guide

CapitalNurse has developed a Nursing work experience Best Practice Guide that provides a pan London resource for health and social care organisations in London to support the process of work experience in nursing.

The guide highlights the realistic challenges in play across London, and it gives organisations clear guidance based on existing best practice models in offering work experience to young people as a mechanism to attracting people into the nursing profession.

This approach recognises that by providing an opportunity to engage, inspire and inform young people by offering work experience, it can support your organisation to develop the future workforce.

Application form

CapitalNurse has developed a pan London Work experience in nursing application form for young people and/or their parents/guardians to complete in order to simplify the process for young people to access work experience in their local health and social care organisation.

Additional resources

Capitalnurse has also developed other resources that health and social care organisations can use to support their recruitment work with local schools/colleges, download these below:

• Nursing work experience in London TriFold leaflet
• Nursing as a career - slides for employers

Newly Qualified Nurse (NQN) Employment Offer

Best Practice Guide

CapitalNurse has developed a Newly Qualified Nurse (NQN) Best Practice Guide that provides a pan London resource for Health and Social Care organisations to support the process of recruiting student nurses into newly qualified nurse roles.

Our approach recognises that when organisations provide a fair and streamlined employment offer to students, there is a significant benefit to both the employer and candidate, both in feeling valued by their organisation and the organisation retaining their NQN.

The best practice guide can be used for all types of NQN employment; those trusts offering guaranteed host student employment as well as for those trusts offering regular application and employment processes.

In addition, the guide has been designed to provide a comprehensive start to finish selection of best practices, but each individual aspect can be used in isolation.

Additional Resources

To support Trusts with preparing their students for their first values based interview as a registered nurse, CapitalNurse has produced a PowerPoint pack which can be adapted to fit the organisation, Interview techniques.

Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) Resources

CapitalNurse supported Trusts to prepare Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors for the new roles as detailed in the Standards for student supervision and assessment, (NMC 2018). We funded the pan London Practice Learning Group to develop a range of SSSA Resources to current mentors to transition to the new role of Practice Assessor and sessions to prepare new staff for the roles of Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor.

Return to practice

CapitalNurse has developed a best practice guide that provides a pan-London resource for health and social care organisations and higher education institutions (HEIs) to support nurses who have left the profession to regain their Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration and return to practice (RtP). The guide provides a comprehensive start to finish selection of best practices from the point of recruitment and onboarding of returners, and the support offered throughout their placement period and for prospective future employment, but each individual aspect can be used in isolation.

Supporting second year students

CapitalNurse has developed a best practice framework for higher education institutions (HEIs) and placement providers as a comprehensive start to finish selection of best practices to supporting second year student nurses, specifically focusing to reduce attrition during the pre-registration programme. The framework also encompasses a range of local case studies demonstrating the value and effectiveness of the principles referenced within the document. We have also produced a Self-care Handbook as a helpful resource with some self-care ideas that student nurses can access. (The Self-care Handbook can be downloaded from the "Related Documents" section below).

Capital Student Ambassador Best Practice Guide

Student Ambassadors play a key role in improving students’ experiences and reducing attrition rates from pre-registration programmes for student nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. This best practice guide is a pan-London resource for health and social care organisations to support the process of recruiting Capital Student Ambassadors.