Trainee Nurse Associates

Trainee Nurse Associate and Nurse Associate roles are relatively new in the healthcare system, introduced as part of the wider drive to expand the workforce and address growing healthcare demands. They bridge the gap between healthcare assistants and registered nurses, offering additional support to healthcare teams, particularly in primary care settings such as GP practices.

In South Southwark, these role work closely with GP practices to support patient care, often focusing on routine clinical tasks, such as taking medical histories, performing basic clinical procedures, monitoring patient conditions, and assisting with chronic disease management. They are trained to provide high-quality care under the supervision of registered nurses or GPs but are not registered nurses themselves.We currently have two Nurse Associates (NA) and two trainee Nurse Associates (TNA) working within  the PCN across a number of practices and the lower limb wound clinic.  

The role is designed to be flexible and versatile, helping to alleviate some of the workload from registered nurses and GPs while improving access to healthcare for patients. Nurse associates are typically trained in a two-year program, which combines academic learning and practical experience, and take on both clinical and administrative duties which supports nurses to focus on more complex cases. These roles have been a welcome addition to the PCN, being valued by practices and supporting the expansion of our workforce.