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HCAs, APs and SNAs

Find information resources about healthcare assistants, nursing support workers, assistant practitioners and student nursing associates including key resources, books, and journal articles. This guide is for RCN members including nursing students, nursing support workers, and registered nurses.

Last updated: 15/05/2026

Key Resources

RCN: First steps for healthcare assistants
  • First Steps is the RCN’s most popular free e-learning tool for health care assistants. It’s a perfect resource to dip in and out of, whether you’re new to the post or looking to refresh your knowledge and skills.
    View page
RCN: Accountability and delegation
Royal College of Nursing and Health Education England: Careers resource for nursing support workers.
  • This resource aims to help you to understand the development and career opportunities available for the nursing support workforce across health and social care.
    View page
Royal College of Nursing (2019) Health care support workers administering inactivated influenza, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines, for adults and live attenuated influenza vaccine (laiv) for children. RCN guidance. London: RCN.

England

Publication cover Royal College of Nursing (2025) Newly registered nursing associate guide (England only). London: RCN.
Publication cover Royal College of Nursing (2024) RCN position statement on nursing associates (NAs) training in cervical screening (England only). London: RCN.
Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) Standards of proficiency for nursing associates. London: NMC.
Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) The Code: professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. London: NMC.
Skills for Health: The Care Certificate

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (2019) deciding to delegate: a decision support framework for nursing and midwifery.

Scotland

NHS Education for Scotland (2023) Framework for the administration of medicines by level 3 and level 4 healthcare support workers in Scotland.
NHS Education for Scotland (2024) Making delegation safe and effective: a learning resource for nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and health care support workers.
NHS Education for Scotland (no date) Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Development Framework.
NHS Education for Scotland: Healthcare support workers (HCSWS)

Social care (Scotland)

Scottish Government (2015) Clinical and care governance framework: guidance.
Scottish Social Services Council (2024) Codes of practice.

Wales

Health Education and Improvement Wales (no date) All Wales guidelines for delegation.

Books

Book cover Aldred K (2025) Personal and professional development for nursing associates. London: Learning Matters.
Book cover Coulson A (eds.) (2025) The nursing associate: stepping into practice. Bognor Regis: Wiley.
Book cover Cowls H and Tobin S (2025) Assessing, planning and monitoring care for nursing associates. London: Learning Matters.
Book cover Flaherty C (2022) Practice-based learning for nursing associates. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Book Cover Flaherty C and Taylor M (2024) Developing academic skills for nursing associates. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters.
Book cover Griffin R (2023) Healthcare support workers: a practical guide for training and development. London: Routledge.
Book cover Harris M (2025) Understanding person-centred care for nursing associates. 2nd edn. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters.
Book cover Peate I (2021) The nursing associate at a glance. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell.
Book Cover Peate I (eds.)  (2021) The nursing associate's handbook of clinical skills. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell.
Book Cover Peate I (2025) Learning to care: the nursing associate. 2nd edn. Edinburgh: Elsevier.
Book Cover Peate I (2017) Fundamentals of care: a textbook for health and social care assistants. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
Book Cover Rawles Z (2026) Essential knowledge and skills for healthcare assistants. 3rd edn. Abingdon: Routledge.
Book Cover Roulston C and Davies M (2024) Medicines management for nursing associates. 2nd edn. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters.
Book cover Rowe G (2025) Health promotion for nursing associates. 2nd edn. Thousand Oaks: Learning Matters.
Book Cover Rowe G, and others (2023) The handbook for nursing associates and assistant practitioners. 3rd edn. Los Angeles: Sage.
Book Cover Whelan A and Hughes E (2016) Clinical skills for healthcare assistants and assistant practitioners. 2nd edn. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Book subject searches

Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.

Journal articles

Use these links for details of journal articles on each topic.

Journals

Journals of interest for healthcare assistants and assistant practitioners.

Exhibitions

Several health care support workers Shining a Light: A history of nursing support work
  • This exhibition uncovers the long history of nursing support workers and celebrates the contribution that they continue to make today – in hospital wards, care homes, clinics and communities.
    View online exhibition

This subject guide relates to:

Learning resources for healthcare assistants and assistant practitioners
Become a nursing associate
RCN library staff

John Stammers

Editor of this guide

RCN Library and Museum

Upcoming events relating to this subject guide

  • Education event for NSWs 28 May 2026 Kilmarnock

    Ayrshire nursing support worker education event (University Hospital Crosshouse)

    RCN Scotland is delivering free education sessions for all those working in support roles in nursingin Ayrshire.

  • Education event for NSWs 28 May 2026 Irvine

    Ayrshire nursing support worker education event (Ayrshire Central Hospital)

    RCN Scotland is a delivering free education session for all those working in support roles in nursing in Ayrshire.

  • Education event for NSWs 03 Jun 2026 Wishaw

    Lanarkshire nursing support worker education event (University Hospital Wishaw)

    RCN Scotland is a delivering free education session for all those working in support roles in nursing in Lanarkshire.

  • Record keeping scrabble letters 09 Jun 2026 Online

    Record Keeping webinar

    This online webinar aims to reflect on how good record keeping supports health care practice and quality of care, describe expectations and standards for record keeping, and highlight resources to support good record keeping practice. This event is suitable for all members of the nursing team: registered nurses, Health Care Support Workers/ Health Care Assistants, and nursing students working in the NHS or Independent Health & Social Care Sector. Organised by RCN Wales, but you don't have to be based in Wales to join us!

  • nurse inspecting a lower leg of a patient 11 Jun 2026 Online

    Lunch and learn webinar: Peripheral arterial disease and management of the lower limb

    Join us for an engaging and informative 1-hour session, focussing on Peripheral arterial disease and management of the lower limb, aiming to raise awareness of this condition during Legs Matter Awareness Week (8-12 June 2026).

  • Education event for NSWs 23 Jun 2026 East Kilbride

    Lanarkshire nursing support worker education event (University Hospital Hairmyres)

    RCN Scotland is a delivering free education session for all those working in support roles in nursing in Lanarkshire.

  • Education event for NSWs 29 Jun 2026 Lanark

    The State Hospital nursing support worker education event

    RCN Scotland is a delivering free education session in the State Hospital, for all those working in support roles in nursing.

  • 08 Jul 2026 Online

    Leadership in Action webinar

    This interactive webinar focuses on the real‑world skills needed to lead with integrity, support colleagues and contribute to safe, high‑quality care. Whether you’re new to leadership or looking to strengthen your professional voice, this session provides practical tools you can use immediately in your daily practice. Suitable for all roles in the nursing team.

  • Education event for NSWs 21 Jul 2026 Dumfries

    Dumfries and Galloway nursing support worker education event

    RCN Scotland is a delivering free education session for all those working in support roles in nursing in Dumfries and Galloway

  • 11 Aug 2026 Online

    Accountability and Delegation webinar

    This online webinar aims to highlight the general principles of accountability and delegation of duties. This webinar is suitable for all members of the nursing team: registered nurses, Health Care Support Workers/ Health Care Assistants, and pre-reg. nursing students working in the NHS or Independent Health & Social Care Sector. The event is organised by RCN Wales, but you do not need to be based in Wales to join us!

    • Show more

Page last updated - 15/05/2026

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