Will nursing associates shore up an overstretched workforce or put patient safety at risk?

When the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) became the regulator for nursing associates in July, the reaction was mixed. The new role, which sits between unregulated healthcare assistants (HCAs) and registered nurses, is welcomed by some as a way to diversify nursing teams and provide career opportunities for HCAs. Others argue it heralds a dilution of professional expertise, with potentially grave consequences for the registered nurse, patient safety, and nursing associates themselves.