a caring and compassionate undergraduate nurse, can be prepared for qualified practice.
Julia’s main area of clinical interest lies in colorectal nursing. Having worked as a specialist and lead nurse for many years, Julia now contributes to research with a focus on understanding the patient’s experience in this specialist field.
Julia is currently Module Leader for three research modules in the nursing programmes offered at Bucks New University, at level 5, 6, and 7. These modules introduce students to approaches in research, enabling them to demonstrate critical thinking and an understanding of the research process. An awareness of different learning styles has equipped Julia to offer creative teaching to best enhance the students’ learning of research. Julia’s role also includes dissertation supervision for both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students.
Julia’s current activities outside of the university include roles such as the external examiner for University of Hull, consultant editor for Gastrointestinal Nursing Journal, and editorial board member for British Journal of Nursing.
Carol Wills MSc Multidisciplinary Professional Development and Education, PGDip Advanced Practice, Bsc (Hons), Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) (Health Visiting), DipHE Adult Nursing, Registered Nurse (RN), Enrolled Nurse (EN), Registered Health Visitor (HV), Community Practitioner Prescriber (NP), Registered Lecturer/Practice Educator (RLP), Senior Fellow (SFHEA) Subject and Programme Leader, Non‐Medical Prescribing at Northumbria University
Carol began her career undertaking enrolled nurse training in 1983 at Hexham Hospital in Northumberland. She then worked within neuro trauma at Newcastle General Hospital and then several years in coronary care and intensive care at Hexham Hospital. This experience and additional training to complete registered nurse qualification then stimulated her to focus on primary care and prevention of ill health. Carol worked as a practice nurse and nurse practitioner in Newcastle city centre and as a staff nurse within Northumberland community nursing teams before going on to complete a health visiting degree and working in Newcastle as a health visitor for several years. During this time, she undertook several leadership and teaching roles, including as Immunisation Training Co‐Ordinator, Community Practice Teacher and Trust Lead Mentor. Carol has been a senior lecturer at Northumbria University since 2002 and has led several postgraduate professional programmes including MSc Education in Professional Practice (NMC Teacher programme), PGDip SCPHN and the Non‐Medical Prescribing programme. She has also undertaken national roles including as Policy Advice Committee member and Treasurer for the UK Standing Conference SCPHN Education and Subject Expert for several quality approval panels and External Examiner roles. Her key areas of interest and research are around developing learning and teaching and advanced‐level practice.
Preface
The Nursing Associate’s Handbook of Clinical Skills has been written for trainee nursing associates, whose numbers are continually growing. Those who have contributed to the 59 chapters are experienced clinicians and academics. The text aims to help trainee nursing associates develop and hone their skills in order to demonstrate proficiency as they offer care and support to people.
The nursing associate, in England, is a new member of the nursing team. The role has been devised in order to help bridge the gap between the health and care assistant and the registered nurse; it is a stand‐alone role providing a progression route into graduate‐level nursing, should the nursing associate desire this.
The nursing associate works with a variety of people of all ages and in a range of settings in both healthcare and social care. A review undertaken by Health Education England (2015), the Shape of Caring Review, revealed a discrepancy in skills and knowledge between healthcare assistants and registered nurses. In England, the creation of a new healthcare role was announced – the nursing associate. The role helps to meet the changing health and care needs of patients and the public. In July 2018, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) became the legal regulator for the nursing associate, and on 28 January 2019, the nursing associate part of the NMC’s register was opened.
By law, the NMC was required to set standards of proficiency for nursing associates, and they did this (NMC, 2018a). The nursing associate is required to demonstrate proficiency in these standards in order to join and remain on the register. The standards set out what nursing associates are required to know and what they can do when they join the register. These standards are the minimum that are necessary to join the nursing associate part of the register.
This book is framed around annexes A and B of the proficiencies (NMC, 2018a). There are two parts reflecting the NMCs annexes, with subdivisions/units and the chapters. Providing the information in this way will make the parts, units and chapters easier to relate with and help the student make links with their programme of study; this is a core text.
In annexe A, the nursing associate is required to demonstrate communication and relationship management skills. At the point of registration, the nursing associate must be able to communicate effectively, with sensitivity and compassion, and to manage relationships with people which are key requirements to the provision of safe, high‐quality person‐centred care. The proficiencies must be adapted to ensure that they meet the needs of people across their lifespan, and in order to do this, the nursing associate requires a diverse range of communication skills and strategies that will ensure that individuals, their families and carers are supported to be actively involved in their own care wherever this is appropriate.
Annexe B of the proficiencies (NMC, 2018a) focuses on procedures that are to be undertaken by the nursing associate. The nursing associate is required to demonstrate proficiency in being able to carry out the procedures that have been described in this book in order to gain entry to the NMCs register along with an awareness of how requirements for procedures can differ across various health and care settings.
The nursing associate must apply evidence‐based best practice with all procedures that they undertake regardless of the care setting. The ability to carry out these procedures safely, effectively, with sensitivity and compassion are key requirements outlined in the NMC’s Code (NMC, 2018b).
The nursing associate contributes to most elements of care provision, including delivery and monitoring, the registered nurse takes the lead on assessment, planning and evaluation. Nursing associates contribute by reassessing, re‐evaluating and reviewing.
In demonstrating the procedures, the nursing associate must do this with an awareness of variations that may be required in different practice settings and for people across the lifespan. In doing this effectively and with expertise, the procedures are carried out in such a way that they reflect cultural awareness and ensure that the needs, priorities, expertise and preferences of people are always valued and incorporated into care provision.
The chapters engage the reader by using a range of teaching and learning tools. Tools include pre and post‐test questions, take note boxes and supporting evidence features that steer you towards the appropriate literature or provide links to electronic resources. Integrated throughout the chapters are the NMC proficiencies (NMC, 2018).
At the point of registration, the nursing associate must demonstrate cultural awareness when caring for people, ensuring that the needs, priorities, expertise and preferences of people are always valued and taken into account. Where appropriate, there are a series of flags that are used to highlight the fact that the nursing associate offers care and support to a number of people, in various settings. These flags are used to draw your attention to key issues. Red flags denote serious pathology; orange flags represent the equivalent of red flags for mental health and psychological problems;
