How to Go from an HCA to a Registered Nurse (RN)
Healthcare assistants are integral to the sector's workforce, providing crucial care to patients nationwide. From washing and dressing patients to helping them move around, our health service only functions the way it does, thanks to our HCAs.
However, some HCAs see becoming a registered nurse as the natural progression from their role, thanks to several factors we'll come onto in this article. But how easy is it to go from one position to the other? That's precisely what we're going to answer in today's post.
First, though, let's look at both roles in more detail.
What is a Healthcare Assistant?
Healthcare assistants help in hospitals, medical centres, GP surgeries and community settings with various health-related activities; these include changing patients' beds, taking patient observations (like their temperature), and even providing patients with company and emotional support.
It is a broad, all-encompassing and gratifying role, with an estimated 150,000 HCAs thought to be working in the UK (as of April 2021).
What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
Registered nurses work in many different healthcare settings. Their roles include monitoring patients' conditions, administering medications and treatments, working collaboratively with doctors to deliver care plans, taking blood, addressing wounds and setting up drips. Their scope of practice is broader and more complex than that of HCAs.
There are over 730,000 registered nurses in the UK on the permanent Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register. So, what's the difference between the two professions?
What's the Difference Between an HCA and a Nurse?
The significant differences between the two roles are as follows:
Qualifications. Becoming an HCA doesn't require any formal qualifications – though certain GCSEs can help – whilst a career in nursing requires either a degree or an on-the-job degree apprenticeship.
Career progression. There are limited opportunities for career growth as an HCA, while there are significant opportunities for nurses to progress to roles with greater responsibilities and positions in non-clinical settings.
Pay. The difference in pay between the two professions is typically significant. HCAs earn less than nurses, and it'snot uncommon to see a difference in income of roughly £10,000 between salaries. Whereas HCAs are typically employed at Band 2 (or Band 3 for more senior HCAs), RNs typically start at Band 5.
Transitioning from an HCA to a Registered Nursing Position – The Options
The greater responsibility and clinical scope, the option to progress more from a career perspective, and the elevated pay are all driving factors behind why some HCAs decide to become registered nurses.
There are three routes that an HCA can take on their journey toward becoming a registered nurse.
1) A Traditional Nursing Degree
This is usually three years if completed full-time; however, some universities like the Open University offer part-time study so that working HCAs can continue to whilst they study.
Funding for a university degree can be secured through a government-provided student loan from the Student Loans Company (of up to £9,250 per year) or with the help of an NHS training grant of up to £5,000 per academic year (NHS Learning Support Fund).
2) A Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship
These qualifications (which take three to four years, depending on the provider's program) combine academic learning with on-the-job training.
Entry requirements vary from provider to provider, but as a minimum will require grade C/4 GCSEs in Maths and English and an enhanced DBS check, and many will also require a minimum number of UCAS tariff points, and qualifications from higher levels in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (e.g. Relevant A-levels or a BTEC in Health and Social Care). It all depends on the education provider, in question.
Upon completion, HCAs will receive a BSc (Hons) degree in Nursing and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Whilst training, apprentices are paid the National Minimum Wage for apprentices in their first year (which is £5.28 per hour) and then the National Minimum Wage from the second year through to the completion of their apprenticeship (which is currently £10.42 per hour for those aged 23 and over).
3) Nursing Associate
Training to become a registered nursing associate is somewhat like the training for a nursing degree apprenticeship. It can be thought of as the halfway house between being an HCA and a fully registered nurse. Becoming a nursing associate takes two years and leads to a foundation degree qualification once finished.
Qualified registered nursing associates (RNAs) are typically employed at Band 4, reflecting their midway position between HCAs and RNs. The average pay for an RNA sits around the £25,000 to £27,500 mark. For context, the starting salary for Band 5 is almost £28,500.
Other Things to Consider
A Big Commitment
Enrolling in a university degree or degree apprenticeship is a significant undertaking. You'll already have good organisational skills being an HCA. However, strong time management is critical to sustainably balance work, studies and your personal life on top of that.
Funding Options
Suppose you're ineligible for funding from the Student Loans Company or the NHS. In that case, it's worth looking into bursaries and scholarships offered by other parties, like the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). It's also worth exploring whether the university you're studying with provides any additional financial support.
Additional Responsibilities
Becoming an RN brings with it added responsibilities that HCAs don't have. This is one of the reasons many HCAs want to progress in the first place, however, it's worth remembering some of those extra duties here:
Clinical decision-making
Crafting care plans
More advanced procedures
Greater ethical responsibilities
Detailed patient record-keeping
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can a Registered Nurse Work as a Healthcare Assistant?
Nothing stops RNs from working as HCAs should they wish, provided they only take on the duties explicitly specified in the job description. Registered nurses most commonly take on HCA work as supplemental part-time work for some extra money.
What is the Career Progression for a Health Care Assistant?
If an HCA stays down the healthcare assistant pathway, they can advance to become senior healthcare assistants or assistant practitioners. If HCAs want to go the nursing route, they can study to become a registered nursing associate (RNA) or registered nurse (RN).
What Band are HCAs?
Typically, HCAs are employed in Band 2, though more senior HCAs can progress up to Band 3.
Browse Our HCA and Nursing Roles, Today!
So, can a healthcare assistant become a nurse? Absolutely, they can! In fact, their experience in healthcare settings can give them a significant advantage over those going into the sector completely fresh because they already have a good understanding of everything.
If you're after an HCA or nursing role, don't hesitate to contact us – we'd love to hear from you!
