Nursing
Nursing Associates are registered healthcare professionals who work as part of the nursing team, delivering hands-on care to patients and supporting registered nurses in a wide range of health and care settings. The Nursing Associate role was introduced to expand the nursing workforce, to provide a more consistent level of clinical competence among healthcare support workers, and to create a clear progression route for those who wish to develop their career in nursing. Nursing Associates work with patients across all ages and conditions, carrying out clinical tasks under the supervision of registered nurses and contributing to person-centred care.
At the University of Salford, this two-year full-time programme prepares you to practise as a Nursing Associate working with adult patients. You will develop the knowledge and skills required for safe and effective nursing associate practice, studying anatomy and physiology, pharmacology principles, communication, person-centred care, safeguarding, and the legal and ethical frameworks that govern professional healthcare practice. The adult nursing pathway focuses your clinical learning on the conditions, care needs, and settings most commonly encountered in adult healthcare, including acute hospital wards, community health services, and care homes.
Practice placements are embedded throughout the programme, giving you direct, supervised experience of caring for adult patients in NHS and other settings.
Graduates are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as Nursing Associates, enabling them to practise across the NHS, independent healthcare providers, and the voluntary sector. Many Nursing Associates go on to use their qualification as a springboard into full degree-level registered nurse training, with prior learning from the Nursing Associate programme taken into account in their progression. The role offers meaningful direct patient care and a clear pathway for continued professional development and career advancement within the nursing profession.