Within North Staffordshire Combined, the Trust have developed excellent relationships with several universities in the local area; Keele University, Staffordshire University and the University of Derby. This relationship allows the Trust to provide varied apprenticeship routes into nursing, which enhances our recruitment and fosters a ‘grow your own’ approach. It enables the Trust to offer many routes into the nursing profession giving flexibility to our staff and supports development.
The Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA) course involves completing a two year foundation degree, with a partnership between the university and the Trust which allows the student the chance to develop vocational knowledge alongside their academic study. This allows the application of theory to practice and vice versa. On completion the student enters the NMC register as a band 4 Registered Nursing Associate. The Trainee Nursing Associate role was introduced at Combined in 2018 and we are proud to be able to offer this training and employ Registered Nursing Associates at Combined.
NHS Employers state:
“The role has been introduced to help build the capacity of the nursing workforce and the delivery of high-quality care while supporting nurses and wider multidisciplinary teams to focus on more complex clinical duties.”
Sian Howle started her journey of nurse education on the TNA programme and is now a registered Perinatal Mental Health Nurse in the Trust’s Parent and Baby Unit and credits the Trainee Nursing Associate pathway for the role that she now holds at Combined.
“The support that was given by Staffordshire University and the Practice Education team at Combined was fantastic and I grew in confidence.”
This pathway enabled her to gain the practical experience she needed, alongside a partnership with her university. This route enables student nurses to experience working for the Trust and learn more about the values that Combined hold as a Trust, whilst providing paid work during the two years of study and post registration.
In addition to the TNA route, Combined work with our University partners to offered the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) route, a three year degree programme. This allows the students nurses to study for a qualification and become a Band 5 Registered Nurse whilst working on the wards and studying at university at the same time. Registered Nursing Associates are able to do a shortened route of the RNDA programme and register as a Nurse, should they wish.
Over the last 3-4 years we have supported a number of our Nursing Associates to achieve this qualification. We delighted to celebrate their success and would like to congratulate them on becoming a registered Band 5 Staff nurse within the field of Mental Health. The Nursing Associates who have achieved this qualification are:
- Natasha Copeland
- Sian Howle
- Becki Kay
- Julianne Kettle
- Desi Somers
- Nicky Winfield
Current Crisis Care Nurse Julianne Kettle was part of one of the first RNDA shortened route at the Trust and says:
“Beginning out as an apprentice provides you the advantage because it enables you to learn the fundamentals first and advance while having the knowledge you need at your disposal. As an apprentice, you will understand what areas of interest you have, what you are strong at, and where you may grow, which you will then apply throughout your development.”
Julianne is excited to start her nursing career at the Crisis Care Centre within the All Age Access team.
Combined have also worked with our University partners to create a Masters programme into Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Nursing. This programme is an accelerated MSc over a two year period with a mix of theory and practice experiences, as candidates have a previous degree qualification. At the end of the programme successful students can join the NMC register as a band 5 Registered Nurse. We are delighted to celebrate in there success of achieving this qualification, well done to:
- Emily Littlewood
- Iona Mcintyre
- Atif Muir
- Bethany Trevor
- Louisa Wilson
At Combined, we are pleased to be able to offer different routes into nursing for our employees to join our Trust as a professional registrant and have seen the positive effects that these pathways have given to our workforce and nursing students in terms of their knowledge, practical experience and passion for the outstanding care which Combined provides to people who use our services.. We give recognition to the hard work, dedication and determination that all these students have shown throughout their training.
Well done all, we are overjoyed with your success and achievement, we are pleased to welcome you to Combined as Registered Nurses.
