Seconding healthcare assistants to a pre-registration nursing course

Abstract

Attrition from traditional pre-registration nursing programmes in the United Kingdom continues to be substantial and, once qualified, new staff nurses experience a number of challenges in adapting to their new role. A possible solution, strongly favoured by the current government, is to second existing healthcare assistants onto pre-registration programmes. The premise is that, because of their previous caring experience and exposure to work in the National Health Service, secondees will be more committed to complete training and will undergo role transition more effectively.This paper presents an in-depth, qualitative study concerning the role transition of newly qualified staff nurses who had previously been employed as healthcare assistants. Uptake of the scheme had been substantially lower than anticipated, with only a small number of secondees eventually returning to their original wards. Secondees, their ward managers, percerptors and clinical practice facilitators were interviewed and the data were analysed employing the sequence for qualitative data analysis described by Miles and Huberman (1994). Findings suggest that healthcareassistant secondment may not offer a ready solution to increasing the qualified nursing workforce. Contributory factors include: the length of time required for each newly qualified practitioner to qualify via the secondment route; the degree of commitment required on the part of secondees and university staff; the apparently limited benefits of previous healthcare-assistant experience; and personal costs to the secondees. Secondees described how they had been afraid of not completing the course successfully because of the public nature of failure if they were obliged to 561 Downloaded from return to their original workplaces in the same role as before. This additional pressure has not been anticipated by proponents of secondment schemes and may help to explain why so few eligible candidates applied for secondment.

‘Doing it for real now’ – The transition from healthcare assistant to newly qualified nurse: A qualitative study

“…Those making the transition report feeling unprepared for the role (Thomas et al 2012) likening it to being thrown in at the deep end (Feng andTsai 2012, Duchscher 2009). Increased responsibility and accountability (Banks et al 2011, Higgins et al 2010, fear of failure (Gould et al 2006), a perceived lack of clinical skills ), feelings of vulnerability and inadequacy (Banks et al 2011) together with the unrealistic expectations of other staff have been reported as the greatest sources of stress.…”

Meeting the education needs of the non-nurse registered workforce within the neonatal unit

“…The need for the development of the unqualified worker role within the NHS generally is discussed and proposed by the RCN (2009) and as well in papers by Fowler (2003), Gould et al (2006) and Castledine (2004). These latter three authors also argue strongly for a programme of CPD and training for nursing aides since the nursing profession over the years has been dependent on them to complete the workforce quota and carry out essential patient care.…”

“…Once at the top of band 5, options are limited to remain on this band and receiving the standard yearly incremental pay rises if applicable OR they can look to enter nurse training given available funding and support. This may certainly suit many HCAs or Nursery Nurses but Gould et al (2006) acknowledges that this option is not for everyone. In their qualitative research examining the role transition of newly qualified staff nurses who had previously been employed as health care assistants and then seconded to a preregistration nursing course, uptake was low.…”

The role of student ambassadors in university recruitment

“…Answering questions All recruitment activities involving student ambassadors include time spent alone with prospective students to give honest and candid answers to questions. Gould et al (2004), in an evaluation of a scheme to second healthcare assistants (HCAs) to pre-registration nursing, reported that, despite HCAs being challenged by the theoretical aspects of the course, especially science, overall they were satisfied with the course and performed well. Placements, as well as the competing demands of home, family and academic study, are always a source of interest for would-be applicants.…”

“…Lindop (1991) suggested that stress associated with practice and placements is often a reason for leaving nursing. Gould et al (2004) concluded that secondments represented value for money because wastage rates were low and a high proportion of staff readily returned to work in these areas. The student ambassadors try to create a realistic picture -without being too negative -and, at the same time, share their own coping strategies.…”