Jeremy Hunt launches the new nursing degree apprenticeship – opening up the nursing profession to people from all backgrounds.

Aspiring nurses can now complete on-the-job training to get a nursing degree apprenticeship – rather than go to university.

The new nursing apprenticeships were introduced as the Government plans to scrap funding for student nurses and introduce university fees to bring health staff in-line with other students. Nursing apprentices will earn while they learn, and receive some financial support from the NHS to cover travel costs.

The Government has predicted that up to 1,000 apprentice nurses could join the NHS every year, helping to ease the pressure on Trusts and fulfil the Government's ambitious apprenticeship targets.

The new nursing apprenticeship is designed to give more people the opportunity to become a nurse. UK Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said: 'Nurses are the lifeblood of our NHS, but the routes to a nursing degree currently shut out some of the most caring, compassionate staff in our country.'

The new apprenticeships will complement the Government's Nursing Associate role – also designed to open up a career in nursing to people from all backgrounds.

Who can apply for a nursing apprenticeship?

Anyone. You don't need any previous qualifications to apply. The course will cover all the skills required to do the job.

You can join the course at different stages depending on your experience and qualifications.

Thinking of applying? Download our 10 top tips for applying for an apprenticeship. 

What will the apprenticeship cover?

The new nursing apprenticeships will cover the same content as a traditional nursing degree – from assessing care to leadership training.

The course will usually last 5 years, and the apprentice will have a nursing degree when they complete their apprenticeship. Qualified nursing associates will still need more training before they become a registered nurse.

What will apprentices have to pay?

The new nursing apprentices will not have to pay for their training, they'll earn while they learn on the job. This could cause some controversy, as apprentices will receive the same qualification as those who previously have had to pay for university.

How do I apply?

The apprenticeships are already very popular. In fact, Health Education England has already doubled the number of training places available from 1,000 to 2,000.

The new apprenticeships are still in the planning stages, but the first apprentice nurses are expected to be working on wards from September 2017.

This announcement comes as the NHS faces huge changes in how they deliver training.  

In April, Trusts will have huge levy payments to spend on apprenticeships, so they'll have to decide how they are going to deliver training – and find an easy-to-use eportfolio system to manage the process.

Download our guide to find out how you can use OneFile to deliver nursing apprenticeship training – and find the best apprenticeship delivery option for your Trust.

 

Thinking of applying for a nursing degree apprenticeship, or want to give some guidance on how to write a tip-top application? Take a look at our top ten tips for applying for an apprenticeship.