Nurses expressed their concern at how the lines between the roles were being blurred.
Nursing associates are reportedly being used to fill nurse gaps and evening wearing the same uniform.
Delegates at the Royal College of Nursing’s (RCN) annual Congress this week were told how the roles of registered nurses and nursing associates were becoming worryingly similar.
A relatively new role, nursing associates were introduced across England in 2017 to “support nurses to spend more time using their specialist training to focus on clinical duties”.
They undertake a two-year foundation degree before gaining registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Members at the conference expressed their concern at how the lines between the roles were being blurred.
The nursing regulator, however, does emphasise a difference between the two roles. According to NMC literature registered nurses must “take the lead on assessment, planning and evaluation”.
Delegates agreed the practice was exploitative given nursing associates are paid just over £1.20 per hour less than a registered nurse.
The same uniform.
The concerns come amid claims that undergraduate student nurses on placement are being used to fill the Healthcare Assistant rota instead of being allowed to learn.
One nurse even claimed they were wearing the same uniform as registered nurses.
Siobhann Leviton said, “In a hospital in my region, there is very little difference between a nursing associate and a registered nurse. They even wear the same uniform.
“They manage the same number of patients as I do. They are involved and coordinate care… in the same way that I do.
“The only difference at the moment between them and I, is that I can do IVs and they can’t. There is a rumour that they will even be given that additional training.”
RCN forum member and nurse Dionne Daniel suggested the role was being abused by some trusts looking to cut costs.
Ms Daniel explained, “Say it’s an NHS Trust in financial difficulties, if you replace a registered nurse with a nursing associate there’s a cost saving.
“We know from the research the importance of registered nurses and the difference that makes to mortality.”
