The Lived Experience of Contemporary Trainee Nursing Associates: The Evolution of the New Role as a Pathway to Nursing. A Phenomenological Study

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q2 NURSING

International Journal of Nursing Practice Pub Date : 2025-06-16 DOI:10.1111/ijn.70030

Shubhangi Sarwan, Kathryn Sethi, Victoria Skerrett, Samantha Peck, Katy Sutherland-Hastings, Joanne Brooke

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

In 2016, a new role, the nursing associate, was implemented within the nursing workforce in England to support the shortfall of registered nurses and create a new pathway into nursing. This study aims to explore trainee nursing associates' lived experience to understand if the new role has been accepted and embedded in the nursing workforce.

Design

This study used a qualitative inductive phenomenological design. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist (COREQ) was adhered to in developing this paper.

Methods

Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with participants completing their nursing associate programme in one higher education institute. Four focus groups with 14 participants occurred between June and November 2021. Thematic analysis was completed as described by Braun and Clarke from an inductive phenomenological perspective.

Results

Four themes were identified: (1) new opportunities and knowledge; (2) academic and practice support; (3) pressure within clinical placements; and (4) the need for continued education and training.

Conclusions

The new role has supported widening participation in higher education institutions and an affordable professional nursing pathway. However, challenges, such as a lack of understanding of the nursing associate role, remain in both clinical practice and higher education institutes. The development of the nursing associate role across specialities has commenced, which inevitably causes further confusion.

What is known about this topic?
- A new role, the nursing associate, was implemented in England in 2016 to support the shortfall of registered nurses.
- Nursing associates are registered with the governing nursing body in England, the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
- The implementation of nursing associates has been challenging due to a lack of acceptance and understanding by healthcare professionals and the emerging ambiguity of responsibilities across specialities.
What this paper adds?
- The nursing associate role has widened participation in higher education and is an affordable professional nursing pathway.
- Challenges remain for trainee nursing associations in both clinical practice and higher education institutions, which need to be addressed.
- The development of the nursing associate role across specialities has commenced, which inevitably is causing confusion.
The implications of this paper:
- The clinical identity of nursing associates needs to be further developed both across and within specialities.
- The responsibilities of nursing associates need to be further developed both across and within specialities.

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当代实习护理助理的生活经验：作为护理途径的新角色的演变。现象学研究

2016年，英国在护理队伍中设立了一个新的角色——护理助理，以弥补注册护士的短缺，并为进入护理行业创造新的途径。本研究旨在探讨实习护理助理的生活经验，以了解新的角色是否已被接受和嵌入护理队伍。本研究采用定性归纳现象学设计。本文遵循了《定性研究报告综合标准清单》（COREQ）。方法采用半结构化的焦点小组调查方法，调查对象为在某高等教育机构完成护理副学士课程的学生。2021年6月至11月期间进行了四个焦点小组，共有14名参与者。主题分析是按照Braun和Clarke从归纳现象学的角度来完成的。结果确定了四个主题：(1)新机遇和新知识；(2)学术和实践支持；(3)临床实习压力；(4)继续教育和培训的需要。结论新的角色支持了高等教育机构的广泛参与和负担得起的专业护理途径。然而，挑战，如缺乏对护理助理角色的理解，仍然存在于临床实践和高等教育机构。跨专业护理助理角色的发展已经开始，这不可避免地导致进一步的混乱。关于这个话题我们知道些什么？2016年，英格兰设立了一个新职位——护理助理，以弥补注册护士的短缺。护理助理在英格兰的管理护理机构——护理和助产委员会注册。由于医疗保健专业人员缺乏接受和理解以及跨专业责任的模糊性，护理助理的实施一直具有挑战性。这篇文章补充了什么？护理助理的角色扩大了高等教育的参与，是一个负担得起的专业护理途径。临床实践和高等教育机构的实习护理协会仍然面临挑战，需要解决这些问题。跨专业护理助理角色的发展已经开始，这不可避免地造成了混乱。本文的含义：护理助理的临床身份需要在跨专业和专业内进一步发展。护理助理的责任需要在跨专业和专业内部进一步发展。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Nursing Practice NURSING-

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： International Journal of Nursing Practice is a fully refereed journal that publishes original scholarly work that advances the international understanding and development of nursing, both as a profession and as an academic discipline. The Journal focuses on research papers and professional discussion papers that have a sound scientific, theoretical or philosophical base. Preference is given to high-quality papers written in a way that renders them accessible to a wide audience without compromising quality. The primary criteria for acceptance are excellence, relevance and clarity. All articles are peer-reviewed by at least two researchers expert in the field of the submitted paper.