What is the difference between a nursing associate and a health and care assistant?
Nursing associates provide care alongside both registered nurses and care assistants as part of a wider nursing team. The role is designed to help bridge the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses. Nursing associates spend two years training for the role and are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Nursing associates contribute to the core work of nursing, freeing up registered nurses to focus on more complex clinical care.