ProNurse

What's an Assistant Practitioner?

It is an extended healthcare assistant role. They are not qualified nurses at the end of training.

Absolutely right. The government got rid of one "two tier" system only to replace it with another via the back door.

Well its cheaper to hire a band 3 or band 4 than a qualified nurse so, thats the way we're headed. HCA's with extended roles but less qualifications than a staff nurse hence all the redundancies. Is not right is it?

Like said above we're not going to be qualified so will still need Nurses, why is everyone so frightened of change and the chance for others to develop their role? its simply a new role in the NHS. Yes i agree its going to be cheaper, but thats the way the NHS is going. We arent trying to take over the qualaified nurses role, just taking an opportunity to develop ourselves like anyone else would!

The other issue is the title of the job. Practitioner is not a suitable name for a HCA is it? You have to work hard to get to a practitioner level.

why do nurses call themselves practitioners when they clearly are not?

I don't think this is an attack on assistant practitioners. People are expressing their opinions on the changes in the nhs which seem to be going round in circles, chasing tails all the time. It's not being afraid of change, it's just wondering what is the point of having this? If you are doing the job of a qualified then you should be recognised for that but clearly the assistant practitioner role is still that of a hca. Qualified nurses will never be taken over by these new roles but in the current state of the nhs who knows. Qualified nurses roles are being taken away from them so, what's next? What will there be left to seperate them from hca's?

I dont think many people really undersatand what an Assistant Practitioner is. We are not HCA's, SEN's or trying to be nurses or Nurse Practitioners. It's hardly our fault that the NHS chose to call it Assistant Practitioner.  It's very easy for people to say that if we want to be nurses then why not train properly and  be recognised for what we do, we are NOT trying to be nurses. Many AP's are mature HCA's who cant afford to take time out and do nurse training, this course is on the job with one day a week at University and its hard work!! Secondments arent as easy, if at all, to access.  I personally feel disapointed that people are so arrogant that they feel being a qualified Nurse is the only role allowed in the NHS. Yes, i can undertand the point about the NHS using the AP's because its cheaper but, again, is that our fault? If some of you qualified nurses were offered the chance to take on more skills for extra money woud you refuse? I think not. And you certainly wouldnt allow others to try and make you feel like a criminal for enjoying your jobs and trying to improve your prospects.

Perhaps some of you should do your research before coming on here and slagging us off.

This is a tricky one

But if APs teake away some of the task orientated stuff such as ECGS and venupuncture and leave nurses to the skill of caring then I am all for it..

Room for both - they can do the stuff that the junior doctors used to. No disrepect but it is just mechanical - nurses are far more valuable than taking up time with such nonsensical tasks... this mean they can actually TALK to the patients again.

AP's are not nurses and therefore should not be treated as such. They have different skills in their own rights.

All I am saying Stuart is that AP's are not nurses and yes I agree they should be allowed to progress BUT not within the nursing model - let them be in their own right!

I am a Project 2000 nurse - one of the first too actually and I am not slagging off the practitioners! The points raised are valid and regardless these are still HCA's with extended roles. As already said above practitioners work really hard to earn that title and as these are not qualified, I agree with the others that they should not be called so. Also, what is the point in having these if they are not qualified and getting the recognition they deserve?

Anonymous says ...

Its a foundation degree. I was a healthcare Assistant, this course allows you to develop your role and take on new skills outside your scope of practice. I will become a band 4 when i complete (pay rise) and be able to take on skills which previously were out of bounds for me. The course allows you to make the role what you want it to be. I discussed competencies with my manager and am working towards these. I work on a Neonatal Unit and things like venepuncture were out of bounds for me as a Healthcare, but as an AP i can take this on. Also things like assisting with admissions etc. Its something that will be well heard of in a few years but at the mo is still fairly new.

Right - so it is a foundation degree therefore there is a fair amount of study..

They are not nurses - they are doing the jobs that junior doctors don't want to do, What exactly is the problem. If these APs are doing venupuncture and ECGS and all these routine and mundane but necessary tasks then what is the issue.

Whats the matter colleagues - scared that you might have to actually stop running around  looking highly skilled with bits of tubing. The art of nursing is being lost - we need highly trained people to look after the truly sick people we have.

How many of you can see the signs of malnutrition..

How many of you can see the signs of skin breaking down

How many of you can see the signs of dehydration...

I can tell you, from my experience not many as nurses want to do all this sexy stuff and are forgetting what  one of the main skills of nursing are and that is one of early detecttion and prevention of complications.

If these APs means patients get fed and cared for by trained nurses then I am all for them.

STOP thinking of them as glorified HCAs - that isn't fai.

TRY thinking of them as similar people to Operating Department Assistants ( I don't know if they are still around now). Crucial people to theatres but NO threat to nursing.

Good luck to you trainee AP but no disrespect you are NOT a nurse - still crucial and will help the NHS but no threat to us!

So YOU will be in a position to " create a role as you want it "? Mmmmm. You cannot be an HCA as well as a A.P surely. How will your fellow HCAs feel ? Sorry but I think it is wrong and we should poll this topic.

Hear Hear !