title: Supporting assistant practitioners during their training.
abstract: Assistant practitioners, also known as associate practitioners, provide support to the registered healthcare workforce, practising with advanced knowledge and skills. Assistant practitioners require substantial training to obtain the skills and knowledge required for the role. This article identifies the challenges trainee assistant practitioners may encounter, and makes recommendations for how they can be best supported. The core areas where trainee assistant practitioners require support from their colleagues and mentors are workload, role clarity, mentoring, academic challenge and recognition as learners.
authors.affiliation: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, Lincolnshire, England.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ripley
authors.affiliation: Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Gervas House, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoad
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D000071252:Mentoring / Q000379:methods*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education*; D013222:State Medicine; D014146:Training Support / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom; D000072358:Work-Life Balance
keywords: assistant practitioner; associate practitioner; mentorship; professional development; support; training