Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) Programme
More patients. More complexity. More than ever, nurses are at the heart of how we respond — and how we look after each other.
1 in 3
emergency admissions have 5+ long-term conditions
62%
reduction in staff stress through restorative supervision
43%
reduction in staff burnout with the A-EQUIP model
THE CHALLENGE
Care is getting more complex. Our role is expanding to match.
More people are living with multiple long-term conditions. Dementia and mental health challenges are rising. Patients and their families need us to show up — not just clinically, but holistically.
That means looking beyond a single diagnosis. It means collaborating, educating, and empowering people to understand and manage their own health.
Integrated, person-centred care is no longer the ideal — it’s the expectation.
“Nurses today must treat the whole person — their lifestyle, their mental health, their ability to self-manage.”
THE PNA PROGRAMME
A Level 7 qualification. A lasting impact.
The Professional Nurse Advocate programme equips nurses with the skills to facilitate restorative clinical supervision among their peers. It is built around the A-EQUIP model — four pillars that together support both nurses and the people they care for.
STAFF WELLBEING
Rewarding work deserves real support.
The King’s Fund’s Courage of Compassion report (West et al., 2020) is clear: we can’t just ask nurses to be more resilient. We have to tackle the conditions that erode resilience in the first place.
Resilience training, mindfulness, and — most importantly — structured peer support are proven ways to help nurses manage the emotional weight of the role.
That’s where the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) comes in. Available to nurses across England, this programme is specifically designed to address the wellbeing crisis at its root. PNAs lead and support their nursing colleagues — advocating for them, championing quality improvement, and creating the conditions for teams to thrive.
MONITORING & QUALITY CONTROL
Ongoing evaluation to ensure care standards are met and continuously improved.
RESTORATIVE SUPERVISION
A safe space for nurses to process the emotional demands of their role.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Personal action and team-led initiatives that drive better patient outcomes.
EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT
Formative learning that builds knowledge, confidence, and clinical capability.
RESTORATIVE CLINICAL SUPERVISION
The evidence is clear.
Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS) is a structured, safe space — one-to-one or in groups — where nurses can explore the emotional realities of their work. It’s not about performance. It’s about feelings, resilience, and being genuinely heard.
The research backs it up. RCS improves emotional wellbeing, builds a more self-aware workforce, and fosters emotionally intelligent leadership that benefits everyone — nurses and patients alike (Proctor, 1988; Wallbank and Hatton, 2011).
62%
reduction in staff stress — RCN Restorative Supervision Programme Review (2021)
43%
reduction in staff burnout using the A-EQUIP model — RCN (2021)
MODELS & FRAMEWORKS
The tools that guide us.
From the A-EQUIP model to quality improvement cycles, these are the frameworks that underpin how we work.
FURTHER READING & RESOURCES
Go deeper.
Everything you need to explore the PNA programme, access training, and stay connected with the latest updates.
The official home of the Professional Nurse Advocate programme. Start here.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/nursingmidwifery/delivering-the-nhs-ltp/professional-nurse-advocate/
A short, accessible introduction to the PNA role and what it means in practice.
Free online modules covering the A-EQUIP Model and Professional Clinical Nursing Leadership.
https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/professional-clinical-nursing-leadership/
The definitive guide to the A-EQUIP model and clinical supervision for nurses.
Regular updates and live sessions — register via NHS Events through the PNA latest news page.
The landmark report on supporting nurses and midwives through compassionate leadership.
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/courage-compassion-supporting-nurses-midwives
References
NHS England White Paper (NHSE, 2021) · West et al., King’s Fund (2020) · NHS Education for Scotland (2018) · Wallbank & Hatton (2011) · Royal College of Nursing (2021) · Proctor (1988)
