Assistant Practitioners (APs) are a growing part of the health care workforce. Sometimes known as associate practitioners, they take on more responsibilities than health care assistants, under the delegation of registered colleagues in a range of different settings.
With the introduction of the nursing associate role, we wanted to outline the role of the AP and dispel some of the myths and misinformation. This page provides information and guidance to anyone wishing to become an AP or employ an AP. We include links to APs who are happy to share their role.
Assistant Practitioners:
- have been in practice since 2002
- are a highly valued and skilled support role that 'bridges the gap' in many different specialties.
- follow a nursing or a therapy pathway
- work within defined local policies and parameters and are accountable for their practice, to their employer, patients and the law.