Healthcare professionals' views of a new second-level nursing associate role: A qualitative study exploring early implementation in an acute setting.

Aim: The study aimed to establish the views of a range of stakeholders about their experiences of the newly implemented nursing associate role in England and its potential to contribute to patient care.

Background: Second-level nursing roles are increasingly used internationally within the healthcare workforce. In response to registered nurse workforce deficits, a new nursing associate role has been introduced in England to augment care provided by registered nurses and enable career progression of support workers.