Nursing Apprenticeships: How To Begin Your Nursing Career

"Studying Nursing through an Apprenticeship enables you to actively put your learning into practice and allows you to develop essential clinical skills."

HCA & Current Nursing Apprentice, Aneesah, gives an overview of Nursing Apprenticeships including, what they entail, how to apply & how they compare to the degree route.

Topics covered in this article

What Is A Nursing Apprenticeship?

Why Do A Nursing Apprenticeship Over A Degree?

How Long Is A Nursing Apprenticeship?

What Are The Levels Of Nursing Apprenticeships?

What Do You Do During A Nursing Apprenticeship?

How To Apply For A Nursing Apprenticeship?

What Are The Entry Requirements To Apply For A Nursing Apprenticeship?

What Are The Next Steps After Completing A Nursing Apprenticeship?

What Is A Nursing Apprenticeship?

A Nursing Degree Apprenticeship enables you to train to become a Registered Nurse through an Apprenticeship route.

The Apprenticeship programme is approved by the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) and upon successful completion of your degree you obtain a registration with the NMC to enable you to work as a Registered Nurse.

Why Do A Nursing Apprenticeship Over A Degree?

Studying Nursing through an Apprenticeship enables you to actively put your learning into practice and allows you to develop essential clinical skills.

One of the benefits of doing a Nursing Apprenticeship is that it allows you to enhance your academic and practical skills both at the same time.

One of the key differences between a Nursing Apprenticeship and a Degree is that by doing an Apprenticeship you have the opportunity to earn as you learn.

Many people are passionate about studying Nursing and are unable to work towards pursing their career as a Nurse due to university finances.

The benefit of the Apprenticeship route is that the finances for the Degree Programme are funded by the NHS Trust.

How Long Is A Nursing Apprenticeship?

The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship is a 4 year programme and the Nursing Associate Degree Apprenticeship is a 2 year programme.

What Are The Levels Of Nursing Apprenticeships?

There are two levels of Nursing Apprenticeships available.

You choose to undertake the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship in which you obtain a Level 6 Qualification upon successful completion and you register with the NMC as a Band 5 Registered Nurse.

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There is also the Nursing Associate Degree Apprenticeship which you can also choose to undertaken in which you obtain a Level 5 Qualification upon successful completion and register as a Band 4 Nursing Associate.

The entry criteria is the same for both Levels of Nursing Apprenticeships.

What Do You Do During A Nursing Apprenticeship?

A Nursing Apprenticeship is 50:50 which means that it is combined of 50% Academic Theory Work and 50% undertaking Practical Placements.

Whilst undertaking a Nursing Apprenticeship you usually have one face-to-face study session which you are expected to attend.

The other two study days are independent study days which means you study at home and complete assignments and any additional work that has been assigned to you.

The contents of the course are structured around the standards of nursing highlighted in the NMC Code.

Throughout the 4 year programme you are expected to complete a total of 8 Placements.

The Placements are allocated by the Apprenticeship Co-ordinator of the NHS Trust and they can be undertaken in a range of different health care settings such as a GP Practice, Hospital Ward and in the Community.

The placements are an excellent opportunity for you to put your learning into practice and develop your skills and knowledge.

The placements are a mandatory requirement of the course and a set number of placement hours must be completed during the 4 year programme to be able to successfully register with the NMC.

How To Apply For A Nursing Apprenticeship?

According to Prospects “nursing apprenticeships have been developed to boost existing healthcare support workers (HCSWs) and Assistant Practitioners into nursing roles”.

To apply for a Nursing Apprenticeship you will ideally need to gain employment as an HCA and apply for the Apprenticeship through the NHS Trust you are working for.

If you are interested in applying for a Nursing Apprenticeship and you work as an HCA it is definitely worth speaking to your line manager about your interest in undertaking a Nursing Apprenticeship.

What Are The Entry Requirements To Apply For A Nursing Apprenticeship?

The Entry Criteria to Apply for a Nursing Apprenticeship is:

• Numeracy and Literacy at Level 2 which can be GCSE Grade C/4 or above or a Functional Skills

• A Level 3 Qualification which can be an A Level, BTEC, NVQ3

What Are The Next Steps After Completing A Nursing Apprenticeship?

After completing the Nursing Apprenticeship you are required to register with the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) and you are given a Pin which allows you to practice as a Registered Nurse.

You can apply to work as a Nurse in any care setting such as care home, nursing home, hospital, community or GP Practice.

You can also apply for a permanent job at the hospital trust where you completed your Nursing Apprenticeship.

Let me know in the comments your thoughts on Nursing Apprenticeships and what I've said about above - let's chat there!

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