‘The Emperor's new clothes?’ Healthcare professionals’ perceptions of the nursing associate role in two UK National Health Service hospitals: A qualitative interview study

The introduction of nursing associates in England in 2017 as a professional 'bridging' role aimed to mitigate chronic staffing shortages, enable career progression of healthcare assistants and release registered nurses to provide more complex care. Limited evidence exists about the alignment between the identity and purpose of nursing associate roles described by the UK independent regulator, the Nursing & Midwifery Council, and the expectations, obligations, and team dynamics encountered in practice.