What would you say to people wanting to start the trainee nursing associate (TNA) programme?
The first thing I would say to anybody wanting to start the TNA programme is they need to be organised. Use a diary or an app on your phone to put in all your assignment submission dates, exams and tripartite meetings and any meetings with your clinical educator.
Secondly, I would tell people interested in starting the course to familiarise themselves with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct, and the Nursing Associates Standards of Proficiency because these are the professional bodies and standards we must work within and are also excellent references to use in academic assignments.
Finally, I would advise anyone wanting to start the course to speak to TNA students who are already on the programme, and discuss any worries and ask any questions they may have regarding academic work and clinical placements. Other students are full of knowledge and have also been in their position before they commenced the TNA course.
What did you do before you started the TNA programme?
Before I started the TNA program, I was working as a healthcare assistant in the Minor Injury Unit at Solihull Hospital. Before applying for the course, I had to gain a qualification at a minimum of level 2 in mathematics. I studied for this qualification with support from my manager from March 2019 to August 2019. I then applied for the TNA course and was successful. I started the course in October 2019.
Where do you see yourself after finishing the programme? What are your career ambitions?
I complete the program in October 2021. I will then complete my preceptorship in my current work base area. I then have two things I would like to do to further my career. I would like to either work in education as a qualified nursing associate or complete the conversion course to staff nurse level and work clinically or in education if the opportunity becomes available.
How have you found balancing university and working at the same time?
Like many students I have worked through the COVID-19 pandemic. I have managed to balance both university studies and working clinically quite well. I have had excellent support from my management and fellow TNA students in my clinical area. I have had support from my clinical educators when I have needed guidance or help with anything that has been worrying me. University work can be challenging, but they provide excellent support. My personal tutor and academic assessor have supported me, and the module teams are a great source of support with assignments and exams. There is so much support and that is what has helped me thrive and complete the TNA program.
What do you enjoy about the programme?
I have really enjoyed my clinical placements. My first placement was working on a neonatal unit. If I am honest, at first I was worried as I had no clinical experience of working with children, let alone tiny babies. I had a 16-week placement and enjoyed every second of it. I had great support and feedback from the staff I worked alongside. I was able to work shifts with therapists and the breastfeeding nurse. I enjoyed helping care for the babies and am so grateful to the staff for making my placement so enjoyable. I have also had a community placement as well as a general medical ward and have enjoyed all of them in different ways. I like how being a TNA allows me to work in different fields of nursing, with different members of staff in all sorts of clinical areas I may have never experienced had I never embarked on the TNA programme.
Last reviewed: 17 June 2021