Skip to main content
Media centre

First Nursing Associates to complete Teesside University studies

19 May 2019

 

The first Nursing Associates in the North East have completed a new healthcare qualification at Teesside University.

Gill Hunt, Director of Nursing and Quality with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Matthew Van Loo, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing in the University’s School of Health & Social Care; Derek Marshall, Chief Workforce Strategist and Planner for Health Education England North East; Marion Grieves, Dean of the University’s School of Health & Social Care; Linda Nelson, Associate Dean (Enterprise & Business Engagement) in the University’s School of Health & Social Care; Haley Whelpton from Health Education England.
Gill Hunt, Director of Nursing and Quality with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Matthew Van Loo, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing in the University’s School of Health & Social Care; Derek Marshall, Chief Workforce Strategist and Planner for Health Education England North East; Marion Grieves, Dean of the University’s School of Health & Social Care; Linda Nelson, Associate Dean (Enterprise & Business Engagement) in the University’s School of Health & Social Care; Haley Whelpton from Health Education England.

The Nursing Associate is designed to support health care assistants and the registered nursing workforce in delivering hands-on care to patients.

Teesside University was one of just 35 sites nationwide to offer the two-year Nursing Associate Foundation Degree when the new role was launched in 2017.

The first cohort of 92 students on the Nursing Associate course recently completed their studies at the Centre for Professional and Executive Development at the University’s Darlington campus.

All of the students are employed by healthcare providers in the North East, with the course developed in close consultation with partners across the region.

Nursing associates work with people of all ages and in a variety of settings in health and social care. The role will contribute to the core work of nursing, supporting registered nurses to focus on more complex clinical care.

The role has been designed to help bridge the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses. It leads to professional registration as a Nursing Associate which can also provide a progression route into graduate level nursing.

The Teesside University course involves a work-based learning model which mixes classroom teaching alongside work placements to ensure students gain the necessary technical knowledge and practical experience.

Among students who completed the course is Chris Bradshaw, who works for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. He said: 'The course was very good as it showed all the different sides of the NHS, from caring for babies to the elderly.

As the course was brand new it has helped to make me a more robust person, which will help to stand me in good stead for my future as a Nursing Associate

Chris Bradshaw, who works for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

'As the course was brand new it has helped to make me a more robust person, which will help to stand me in good stead for my future as a Nursing Associate.

'What I enjoyed about the course most was meeting people who are like-minded and wanted to progress in their chosen field. I also enjoyed the periods of time spent in the different placements which I completed.'

He added: 'I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the lecturers who helped us through the course and to focus on what we needed to do to complete the course.'

The students who completed their studies are the first from Teesside to join the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) register as Nursing Associates. Marion Grieves, Dean of the University’s School of Health & Social Care, said: 'We are delighted to be helping to build the nursing workforce in the North East. We have a very robust partnership with NHS healthcare providers and are pleased to have been able to work together with them to meet their workforce needs.'

Gill Hunt, Director of Nursing at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We have a fantastic network of healthcare providers across the region who have worked in partnership with the University to develop this course. This model ensures that everybody has the same level of qualification and expertise which will result in a much better consistency of care.'


 
 
Go to top menu