Student nurses in a simulation room

Accreditations

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Course Summary

Make a difference to people's lives as you study for a professional nursing career, as a trainee nursing associate (TNA), on our two-year Foundation Degree course.

Nursing associates play a crucial role in connecting health and care assistants with registered nurses, and this course will teach you to become a skilled professional who provides safe, ethical, and respectful care to all.

This course was newly introduced in 2023, and aims to produce compassionate, competent and confident nursing associates. The course will take account of all the relevant professional and academic benchmarks, producing nursing associates who must act first and foremost to care for and safeguard the public. They must work under their parameters of practice to deliver care that is safe, compassionate, person-centred and evidence based, and that respects and maintains dignity and human rights.

If you are a mature learner interested in this course, but lack qualifications or confidence, our free, five week, Get into Nursing course can help you gain a place in September 2025. 

Our Foundation Degree is a dynamic, interactive professional course which places the needs of service users and their families at its centre. The Programme Team are committed to supporting you to realise your potential to become a compassionate, person-centred nursing associate which is a new profession in the health and social care workforce.

 

Introducing the nursing associate

Introducing the nursing associate

What our Students think


What you'll Study

Year 1 (Level 4) covers key themes including: Professional and academic lifelong learning; Public health; Person-centred care; Applied anatomy, physiology and integrated pharmacology; Practice Learning. In Year 2 (Level 5), you will study: Enhancing professional and academic learning; Team working; Integrated care; Trans-professional research and innovation; Practice Learning; and Medicines management.

Module content:

  1. Transition to level 5: review of personal learning style, personal responsibility; SWOT analysis of academic writing and study skills; searching for evidence; research awareness; review professional development, lifelong learning; critical reflection, self-awareness; self-management and motivation; digital literacy and technology; problem solving.  Preparation for employment; CV building, applications and portfolio development.
  2. Review of the Professional regulations: Nursing and Midwifery Council, other regulatory bodies, codes of practice and professional regulation; consent; Role of the nursing associate as a role model; parameters of practice; Revalidation; Accountability.
  3. Review of Probity: Professional morals values and beliefs; equality and diversity; cultural multiplicity, spirituality; ethics and law and vulnerable individuals as service users; service user and carer involvement; rights, dignity, respecting diversity.
  4. Critical Reflection: self-awareness of own values and personal qualities; beliefs and values about health, professional boundaries; personal resilience, wellbeing and management of stress; kindness, compassion and respect. Learning from others; role of mentor, supervisor, lived experience connector; giving, receiving and acting on feedback.
  5. Advanced Communication: review and reflection of communication strategies to date including effective communication to others and in differing environments; advanced techniques and strategies for communication (conflict and complaints); role modelling appropriate behaviour, methods and language (to meet the needs of a variety of service users, elder speak, tone, delivery, word choice); non-verbal and verbal.

Module aims:

To enhance and advance the students socialisation of professional values and responsibilities of the nursing associate role.

Module content:

Module content will include:

  1. Drug and medicines acts: role and function of bodies that regulate and ensure safety and effectiveness, legislation that underpins practice, ethical frameworks; Individual legal responsibility, personal accountability, regulatory requirements. Statutory requirements in relation to mental health, mental capacity, children and young people and medicines, National Service Frameworks
  2. Use of medicines including: risks and benefits; controlled drugs; storage of medicines; administration of medicines under patient specific directions and patient group directives, self-administration; the use of medical devices; concordance; Rationale for invasive and non-invasive practice; commonly recognised approaches to symptom management, relaxation, distraction and lifestyle advice
  3. Pharmacological considerations including: Impact physiological state of individuals on drug responses and safety to include; older adult, child, pregnant and breastfeeding women, significant pathologies (renal and hepatic); Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics; Management of adverse drug events, drug reactions, prescribing and administration errors, side effects, repercussions in terms of individuals, carers, families, teams, departments and organisations; The management of long term conditions; Public health
  4. Communication and record keeping: in a variety of settings including acting upon concerns; Support for individuals’ families/carers receiving medical treatment
  5. Numeracy and drug calculations.

Module aims:

The aim of the module is:

To develop a comprehensive understanding of medicines management as a nursing associate within a variety of healthcare settings

Module content:

  1. Socio economic factors determinants of health: Impact of illness and disability on the service user, family and carers; family history and other factors; population health and public health priorities
  2. Structures and functions of human body: multi pathology and related conditions through the lifespan; renal; Hepatic; musculoskeletal; skin; urinary and digestive system.
  3. Physiological and Psychological explanations of a variety of health and health behaviours across the age and ability continuum; common cancer; injury and falls, frailty, wound care; psychotic disorders; self-harm; suicide; service user perspectives.
  4. Review of effective health and wellbeing promotion activities: behaviour and lifestyle choice; health policy strategies and care pathways; local and national public health interventions; brief interventions; contribution to education and promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals, families and or carers.
  5. Applied Pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Module aims:

The module aims to advance the students conceptualisation of care delivery enabling them to work across a range of health care settings and with a diverse group of clients appropriate to their parameters of practice. 

Module content:

Module content will include:

  1. Research awareness: importance of research, innovation and audit in improving quality of patient safety and care; role of nursing associate in supporting others and adoption of innovative practice and new technologies.
  2. Evidence related to healthcare practice: search for evidence and use of databases; research governance and statutory and advisory regulatory bodies; policies and frameworks; service user choice; ethical and legal considerations; challenges to changing practice; audit and quality assurance.
  3. Service improvement: search for evidence: use of audit data to inform practice: PDSA cycle; change management theory; analytical skills in a research/audit/service improvement context; articulation and presentation of service improvement.
  4. The research process: audit and research methods; service user involvement; use of research and audit information to interpret and apply new knowledge.
  5. Methods and techniques of dissemination: interpretation of results; information pathways; peer and user perspectives.

Module aims:

The aim of the module is to develop the students’ ability to contextualise evidence, research and audit into health care practice.

Module content:

  1. Supporting learning: teaching role; learning and teaching strategies; role modelling peer supervision; skills of teaching and facilitation, supervision.
  2. Preparation for a teaching role: preceptorship; mentorship; mentorship role; role modelling and coaching as applied to health care.  
  3. Transition to nursing associate role: leadership role and competencies; change management; time management; prioritisation and delegation, leadership styles and models, role modelling, supporting peers; embedding nursing associate role into workplace cultures and philosophy.
  4. Team working: respect and values of team, development of team environment, MDT, culture of cares.

Module aims:

The trainee nursing associate will be able to articulate the principles underpinning leadership, team working and learning in practice. As part of the transition to nursing associate, the module aims to develop their leadership, team working and teaching potential.  

Module content:

The content of the module will form the basis of theory which will be applied to practice in the workplace. The translation of skills acquired in an academic mode into one which is appropriate to employment is also part of the process in which the student will engage. Discussion between University tutors and students will facilitate the realisation and articulation of this content with reference to the particular project/activities selected which may include:

  1. Critical reflection on progress as a student nursing associate: review of PAR: successes and challenges.
  2. Development of a learning contract: SMART objectives.
  3. Experimental learning in the workplace.
  4. Review and evaluation of objectives: self-analysis; peer and supervisor review.
  5. Domains and parameters of practice for nursing associates.
  6. SWOT analysis of effectiveness.
  7. Application to practice: programme domains; parameters of practice.

Module aims:

  1. To facilitate the student to apply knowledge and skills to activities that the student will undertake in their work place.
  2. To extend the student’s ability to relate theory and practice and to translate and reflect on the knowledge and skills they have gained into terms intelligible to an employer.

Who you'll Learn from

Vicky Perrin

Programme Leader for Nursing Associate (Direct Entry) FdSc
Blank profile picture.

Laura Duncan

Senior Lecturer/Mental Health Programme Lead
Laura Duncan

How you'll Learn

You will be taught in blocks of theory or practice. When in theory, you will be based at University Centre Warrington and have a mixture of in-person learning such as seminars and practical sessions in the simulation suite, which will also be supported by online learning. You will have access to taught material and wider reading via the University's Portal system, enabling access to module learning via laptop, tablet or smart phone.

During practice, you will work 37.5 hours a week on placement and will work alongside practice assessors and supervisors who will support you to achieve the proficiencies required to register as a nursing associate.

The assessment strategies employed throughout the course are designed to ensure that you will be exposed to a mix of assessment methods measuring both academic and clinical competence. Assessment methods include:

  • Portfolios
  • Learning logs
  • Practical examinations
  • Practice-based assessment
  • Case studies
  • Assignments.

The assessment of the practical learning is via the Practice Assessment Document (PAD) with the support of a practice assessor/supervisor.

Entry Requirements

Extra Information / General Entry Requirements

Applicants must possess:

  • GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or above OR Grade 4 or above OR a Level 2 equivalent (e.g. Functional Skills)

AND ALSO possess ONE of the following (or equivalent):

  • NVQ Level 3 in Care or related subject
  • One A Level or two AS Levels in an appropriate subject level
  • AVCE or BTEC National Diploma
  • T Level (Pass)
  • Access: a pass from an appropriate kite-marked access course

Applicants are invited to attend an interview; this will seek to assess the candidates' communication skills, motivation, aptitude and knowledge of the nurse associate role.

 

Safeguarding / suitability

All successful candidates who receive an offer of a place for this course and choose the University of Chester as their Firm choice will be required to undergo checks with regards to their suitability to practice.

A couple of months prior to admission to this course, the University will contact you to request that you complete a self-declaration form detailing any relevant convictions or other information that you believe may have an impact upon your ability to undertake work with children or vulnerable adults. You will also receive instructions on how to complete an online application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check through the University as a registered body. There will be a charge for this.

Please note that the University does not accept previous DBS checks from other registered bodies or the update service.

For details about the cost of the DBS and for further information, please visit our DBS webpages.

 

 

Beyond the Classroom

On this course, you’ll spend time out on placement where you’ll apply what you have learnt to real scenarios in healthcare settings. Practice learning will be supported in specialist areas of practice by a Practice Assessor / Mentor allowing you to apply theory to practice.

 

 

Fees and Funding

£7,850per year (2024/25)

Our full-time tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2024/25 are £7,850 a year.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU starting in or after the 2021/22 academic year will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. 

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Where you'll Study University Centre Warrington

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

The overarching aim of the course is to facilitate the development of the Nursing Associate. However, some students have completed this programme and utilised the credits (240) to progress on to other degree programmes, including accreditation of prior learning onto 18 months of the Bachelor of Nursing degree programme at the University of Chester.

Progression options

postgraduate study 

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Adult Nursing BN (Hons) service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and Careers and Employability.