FD Nursing Associate Foundation Degree

About the course

This new Nursing Associate role developed by the Department of Health, aims to deliver high quality, holistic, person-centred safe and effective nursing care in and across a wide range of health and care settings.

• You’ll learn how to respond to the physical, cognitive and mental health care needs of all patients and service users across their lifespan.
• Supported by a team who really understand the role of a nursing associate, you’ll learn through face to face and online lectures, seminars, group work, simulation and role play.
• You'll practice and develop your skills through clinical placements in a range of statutory, private and voluntary services, in order to prepare you to pursue your career.
• You’ll have the opportunity to hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.

Nursing associates work across all fields of nursing including adult, children, mental health and learning disability, alongside healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care for patients and the public. In the role you'll discuss and share information with registered nurses on a patients’ condition, behaviour, activity and responses; support individuals and their families and carers when faced with unwelcome news and life-changing diagnoses; undertake and record clinical observations including blood pressure, temperature, respirations and pulse, as well as recognising issues relating to safeguarding.

This Nursing Associate Foundation Degree course is a full-time two year undergraduate course consisting of Foundation (Year 1) and Intermediate (Year 2) Level study at Framework for Higher Education Qualifications Levels 4 and 5 respectively, which is in keeping with the Framework for Higher Education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, 2008). The course is designed to be progressively demanding between levels. Once qualified, Nursing Associates will be regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Your career

Once qualified the course offers you a wide variety of career opportunities to work within the NHS and wider sector. This could include working in GP surgeries, hospitals, primary care, hospices and nursing homes. In addition you could also undertake further study and join the second year of the Nursing BSc(Hons) course and specialise in a particular field of nursing include adult, child, learning disability and mental health.