Stop Asking me to ‘Top Up’ or ‘Become a Proper Nurse’ – It’s Degrading and Demoralising

This presentation challenges the persistent and demoralising expectation that nursing associates should “top up” to become registered nurses. I argue that this narrative undermines the profession, damages morale, and contributes to workforce retention issues. Nursing associates are a stand-alone profession with their own scope of practice, regulated by the NMC, yet they are often undervalued and underutilised.

I emphasise the harm caused by the “top-up” expectation, and how this question makes nursing associates feel inadequate and incomplete.

Instead, I call for respect and recognition of nursing associates as essential professionals, advocating for investment in their development without the assumption that they must transition to a BSc Nurse.