In the UK, general, integrated and specialist nursing services are provided across all healthcare settings, including primary care, secondary care, hospital, clinical and community settings. Nurses often provide frontline, patient-focused care, working directly with patients. They work autonomously, in nurse-led teams, and in multidisciplinary teams, working collaboratively with medical, allied health, health science and support staff.

Nursing continues to be a challenging and rewarding profession, offering ample opportunities for career development and specialisation in areas of interest. In the UK, nursing roles are divided into several bands or levels, providing many professional pathways and supported career progression opportunities.

Nursing Associates (Band 4) assist and report to registered Nurses and senior staff in delivering care to patients. They provide patients with personal care, mobility support, emotional support, and assistance with daily living. They monitor patients’ vital signs and undertake routine clinical tasks such as taking blood pressure, temperature, venepuncture and ECGs. They fill out paperwork and relay important information to the wider nursing team. To become a Nursing Associate, there are apprenticeship/traineeship opportunities, or foundation degrees, that lead to qualification and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Nursing Associates can undertake further training to become Registered Nurses and progress their career.