Nursing Associate

Overview

The Nursing Associate has a breadth of knowledge across the lifespan, providing holistic and person centred care and support for people of all ages and in a variety of settings. The Nursing Associate will help to bridge the gap between Health Care Assistants and Registered Nurses by working independently under the leadership of Registered Nurses, working within the sphere of nursing and care and within all aspects of the nursing process.

Nursing Associates are equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours relevant to employment; and will act in accordance with the NMC Code:
Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates.

• Under the supervision and working in partnership with a registered nurse provide and deliver a high standard of nursing care contributing to the ongoing assessment, providing and monitoring care based on evidence and working in partnership with the multi-disciplinary team.
• Provide compassionate, safe and effective care and support to patients in a range of care settings.
• Monitor the condition and health needs of patients within their care on a continual basis in partnership with patients, families and carers, ensuring appropriate escalation to a registered nurse when required.
• Support patients to improve and maintain their mental, physical, behavioural health and well-being.
• Promote comfort and well-being by ensuring that patients' personal and social needs are met and be able to care for a patient's nursing needs.
• To safely undertake the following procedures to meet the patient's nursing needs to include; undertaking routine procedures including venepuncture, ECG recording, measuring and interpreting blood glucose levels, recording and interpreting vital signs, continence care, bladder and bowel care, pressure area care, wound care, skin clip and suture removal, removal and application of casts, application of splints, nutrition, hydration, foot care, skin integrity, mood identification (as outlined in the NMC Nursing Associate Skills Annex).
  
  Identify and report changes in a patient's condition to a registered nurse.
• Prioritise and manage own workload, recognising where elements of care can safely be delegated to other colleagues, carers and family members.
• Provide and receive sensitive information concerning a patient's medical condition.
• Work with the registered nurse and engage with other agencies and community teams to ensure a safe, individualised approach to the admission and discharge of patients.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous patient records in line with Trust policy and the NMC Code.
• Provide effective evidence-based care for service users under the supervision of registered nurses in order to perform non-complex activities, in line with clinical governance and professional standards.
• Recognise the effects of medicines, allergies, drug sensitivity, side effects, contraindications and adverse reactions.
• Undertake safe and effective administration and optimisation of medicines in accordance with Trust policy and the NMC standards of proficiency for nursing associates.
• Administer medicines via the following routes, oral, topical, rectal, subcutaneous and intramuscular in line with NMC Standards and Trust policies.
• Comply with Trust policy in relation to any safety critical medicines to be administered by Nursing Associates.
• Monitor the condition and health needs of patients within their care following administration of medication.
• Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes related to medicines management.

• Communicate effectively with dignity and respect to all patients, relatives and others giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care.
• Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
• Report accidents, incidents, near misses or…