Trainee Nurse Associate Apprentice Review
at NHS
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Healthcare
Norwich
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
1.9 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
2/5
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Skills Development
1.4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Supporting Staff Nurses in various settings, such as inpatient wards, general practitioners surgeries, acute hospitals, and in the community. Looking after the patients, making sure they are supported with their medication, hygiene needs, nutrition. Supporting and leading the team, delegating tasks, representing the nursing discipline in various meetings, organising admissions and discharges.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
1/5
I do not enjoy the constant miscommunication between the city college and the university, I really just want to learn things and complete the course, I do not appreciate seeing others pointing fingers at each other when things go wrong. It does not set a good example at problem solving and taking ownership.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
2/5
I have learned a lot about medications, different types of forms used (referrals, handovers, discharges, admissions, emergency transfer), creating and updating care plans on Systm1, communication with other professionals, the roles of various professionals. However in all various settings I worked in so far, majority will treat me as a health care assistant, hence not allow me many learning opportunities. A lot of things mentioned above I learn in my own time to keep up with the course.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
Not really well organised, timetable has changed a few times now, not to mention the course started in February, got paused in April due to pandemic, then in September the course started from the beginning. I did not feel that we as students had any say in this decision. Then our second placement also got postponed, when other cohorts went as planned.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
1/5
I do not get all the supernumerary time that I have allocated, even though I ask in the handover for specific tasks to be assigned to me, so I can count that as protected learning. That usually does not prove to be enough. Also many staff members treat me as a health care assistant, not allowing me opportunities to learn.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
I make sure I am upto date with all e-learning, I also do a lot of learning and research in my free time and book spoke days in advance to ensure I achieve all hours requested. Support varies depending on staffing and skills levels on shift. I aim to book things in advance and block the time for it.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
I learned a lot of useful skills during the course which help me in my daily performance. I aim to work with different staff members to experience different ways of working and witness and learn different models of communication. Too many online teaching sessions happen on Wednesdays, those who have a study day on that day cannot attend.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
None that I have time for, so I have not got a great knowledge about it. There are emails sent from UEA, but the amount of them is overwhelming, so I do not tent to read all of them. I work full time, have lectures once a week; study, do research, prepare assignments, homework and attend various meetings or spokes/teaching sessions in my free time.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend NHS to a friend?
No
Why?
Personally this course and mainly it’s organisation has caused me a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety. Too many misunderstandings, not enough clear communication from both city college and the university. If I were not this far in the course I would consider leaving to protect my mental health.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to NHS?
I would advise others to consider the amount of their own time they will have to sacrifice and to really think through whether they are ready for such commitment, as the course is very intense, not to mention full time job in a busy environment. It’s a great opportunity, but it requires a great amount of work.
