For those new to my blog let me just reintroduce myself…

I’m Amy, I’m a 27 years old and I have just finished my Nursing Associate Training at Oxford Brookes University. I am currently sat anxiously awaiting my final results before I can (fingers crossed) join the NMC register.

Now for a quick recap on how I got here!
I had always wanted to be in healthcare from as far back as I can remember. It all started when my Grandparents brought me my first Nurse kit and outfit at the age of 4/5. I loved it!
It must have sparked something inside of me though as all through my life all I have ever wanted to do was work in healthcare.

I worked hard all throughout school to try and achieve these goals unfortunately however, I did not do as well as I had hoped in my AS Levels. I decided rather than resit the year to head off to college and study for my BTEC level 3 in Health and Social Care. I did really well and achieved D* overall. I was thrilled. At this point though the thought of attending University for another 3 years filled me with dread and so I decided not to delete my UCAS application.

Instead I met a guy, got engaged, brought a house and had a baby! Achieving all these other life goals meant that my career took a little bit of a back seat. During this time however I did manage to secure myself a job as a healthcare assistant on a respiratory ward. I absolutely loved my time there picking up the fundamentals of basic patient care and generally learning so many new skills.

After a year of being there I decided I needed to relocate to begin working closer to home. Whilst working in Pre-Operative Assessment I got the chance to follow patients through from pre op to post op and it was whilst doing this a passion was ignited for surgery. I absolutely loved seeing patients come in for sometimes major surgeries and then a few days later leave for home fit and well. Knowing we had helped improve their quality of life was something that really stuck with me and I knew then this was for me.

In Dec 2017 I swapped my full time job as a healthcare assistant in a pre-operative assessment clinic for being a first time Mum. Whilst on Mat Leave I heard about the Nursing Associate course and became intrigued as to how this could help me progress in my career. After further limited research (I was part of the 2nd cohort and so not much was known) I decided to go for it.

I approached work about allowing me to do the course but they said they would be unable to support me. I knew this was too good an opportunity to turn down and so I applied for the course externally. I was interviewed successfully and in Sept 2018 straight after returning from Mat leave I began the Nursing Associate course.

As an external applicant I was placed on a unit rather than staying where I currently worked and so I began working on a renal dialysis unit. Whilst here I developed so many new skills such as; cannulating fistulas, programming dialysis machines, calculating dry weights, Renal diets and why its important patients follow them and also how to respond in emergency situations. Dialysis patients are known for dropping their blood pressure and so it was important I knew how to manage this and how to deal with it when it happens. I developed so many new technical skills but I also learnt how to communicate better with patients. With patients being there for 4 hours plus 3 times a week you soon build up a rapport with them and this was something I really enjoyed being able to do.

In my 1st year I had 3 placements they were: a complex medicine unit, district nursing and day surgery. It was whilst on day surgery that I was able to experience the theatre environment once again and I realised how much I enjoyed it. I spoke with the practice development team throughout my time there and they were really happy with my progress and could tell I was enjoying it so much. They asked me if I wanted to stay and I said ABSOLUTELY!

The transfer went through successfully and I was able to start my 2nd and final year in theatres. I along with one of my friends on the course are the first Nursing Associate Trainees within theatre at our trust and so we have almost been carving the way for future NATS. Our trust is currently in the process of drawing up a plan of what we will and won’t be able to do but I am very much looking forward to my future within theatres! I already have plans to top up my course and become an ODP in the future but for now I am taking a year out to relax and unwind after what has been a challenging two years.

Apologies for the silence… I have been enjoying some well needed R and R after one roller-coaster year!

Last time I wrote I was awaiting some results and also half way through finishing my final module of year 1! Now you find me coming to the end of my summer break and preparing for the start of Year 2!

I can’t believe how fast the time has gone! This time last year I was sat at home with my 8 month old little girl preparing to go back to work after maternity leave and start a degree. I was scared, apprehensive and nervous. But I needn’t have been!

I’m not going to lie this year has had its ups and downs! I have laughed, cried and very nearly quit! If it hadn’t been for some of my lovely cohort I probably would have! I have met some amazing people on this journey and I can’t thank them enough for their support, encouragement and guidance. We have been through a lot together but have somehow pulled each other through!

I have ended my 1st year achieving grades I never in my wildest dreams imagined, grown in confidence, made friends for life and am now officially one of HEE NA ambassadors! (like seriously how does that happen?!)

Just one set of grades stands between me and year 2 now but I honestly can’t wait to get back to Uni and get stuck in! (I’m sad I know 😂)

The journey may be tough but my god is it worth it! Dreams really do come true and this course has opened doors I never even thought possible!

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney

Sorry for the radio silence the past couple of months.

It’s been a very busy time with deadlines galore and a Husband, House and Baby to tend too.

Thankfully semester two is over with and I am now halfway through my final semester of year one. The end is finally in sight!

Results for semester two are due tomorrow and I am bricking it!

So in order to take my mind of it I thought I would take the time to write another blog post for you all 😊

This post ties in quite nicely as I wanted to talk to you about the role of the nursing associate and this week saw the 1000^th NA joining the NMC register! Woo!

From what I have seen… and heard, the response to nursing associates has been somewhat hit and miss.

I hope this post goes someway in helping to educate people on what our job entails, allowing them to be better equipped to support us when out in practice.

Firstly, we are not here to steal the nurses’ jobs (and yes, I still hear this)!

We are simply there to support them allowing nurses’ more time to focus on other things.

For example, on a ward the ideal scenario would be that the nursing associate takes on their own case load of patients (usually the more stable), allowing the nurse more time to look after those who are more acutely unwell and thus potentially requiring more attention.

We are trained to work across the lifespan and in a variety of different settings and as such you may find us cropping up in a variety of different settings; from mental health to children to community the list is endless.

Our role came about from the Shape of Caring review by Health Education England (HEE) in 2015. In this review it was found that there was a large gap in knowledge between healthcare assistants and the registered nurse. After many discussions the Government decide to create a new role to help bridge this gap and thus the nursing associate was formed.

2017 saw the first nursing associates in the country beginning their journey on the pilot course and….

In October 2018 the NMC finally provided us with a list of standards. The release of which seems to have helped massively in letting others know more about our role and where we fit in to the healthcare team. If you haven’t seen them already here is the link; https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/standards-for-nursing-associates/

As you will see from the standards we are able to administer drugs via oral, topical and inhalation routes alongside sub cut and IM injections. However, we will not be allowed to administer controlled drugs or anything that needs to be administered IV.

My personal experience has been very positive so far. I have a very supportive department, but I know this hasn’t been the case for everyone. What has helped me is starting on a brand-new department when I began the course. Quite a few people stayed on the ward where they were HCA’s before and have found the transition very difficult.

Personally, what I have found the hardest is still being treated like an HCA and not being allowed the time to expand and develop on what I am learning in University. In my trust the aim is for us to have at least 2 supernumerary shifts a month however, this very rarely happens due to staff shortages. Me and colleagues are also often denied learning opportunities due to people not seeing us as students. This can be very disheartening. Yes, we are paid but we are first and foremost students and need the same support, guidance and opportunities.

Things are starting to improve now that people are more aware of the role and long may that continue!

If you come across nursing associates in practice, please just try and make time for them. Take them under your wing, let them ask questions, give them opportunities with which to learn and grow. They really will thank you for it!

If you have any more questions about the role let me know 😊

Thanks for reading….

Until next time

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton