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HCAs, APs and SNAs

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

Last updated: 09/10/2026

Key Resources

RCN: First steps for healthcare assistants
  • First Steps is the RCN鈥檚 most popular free e-learning tool for health care assistants. It鈥檚 a perfect resource to dip in and out of, whether you鈥檙e new to the post or looking to refresh your knowledge and skills.
    View page
RCN: Accountability and delegation
91桃色APP 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

England

Publication cover 91桃色APP (2025) Newly registered nursing associate guide (England only). London: RCN.
Publication cover 91桃色APP (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 鈥� 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

Maria Osman

Editor of this guide

RCN Library and Museum

Upcoming events relating to this subject guide

  • Nurssing Support Workers logo 23 Nov 2026 London

    RCN Nursing Support Workers' Day Conference 2026: Shining a light and celebrating 25 years

    Booking now open!

  • Record keeping scrabble letters 01 Dec 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!

  • 08 Dec 2026 Online

    RCN Wales Roundtable for the Independent Sector 鈥� hybrid (in-person in Cardiff or online)

    Join RCN Wales either in-person in Cardiff, or online, for our next roundtable event for nursing staff working in the independent health and social care sector - the topic this time will explore the potential for delivering intravenous fluids in nursing care homes in Wales. This event is open to both RCN members and non-members who work in Wales in the Independent Health and Social Care sector.

  • 26 Jan 2027 Online

    Introduction to Leadership webinar

    Join us for this CPD webinar which aims to raise understanding of what leadership means in healthcare, recognise how you already lead in your role, and explore different leadership styles. Suitable for all roles in the nursing team.

  • Compassionate Leadership programme graphic 04 Feb 2027 - 18 Feb 2027 Online

    Compassionate Leadership programme

    Study this online programme to understand how Compassionate leadership enables everyone to feel valued, included and encouraged, so they can reach their full potential and do their best at work. 2 days of taught sessions plus self-directed learning and an assessment. Successful completion of the unit will gain you 2 academic credits at Level 3, accredited by Agored Cymru.

  • 16 Feb 2027 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!

Page last updated - 09/10/2026

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