27E Keep student nurses nursing
Matter for discussion submitted by the Association of Nursing Students
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the causes of student nurse attrition and potential solutions to address this
Work led by the RCN Public Policy Committee.
Congress discussion centred around the high attrition levels and the reasons that students felt they had to leave their courses. Financial reasons were amongst the most common but support on placement and lack of available mentors were also mentioned.
The rates of attrition among nursing students regularly gives cause for concern; in 2008 attrition rates for England were 26.7%, Scotland 25.7%, Wales 24.7% and Northern Ireland 22.4% according to Nursing Standard magazine. In a UK-wide student survey, undertaken by the RCN in 2008, one in four students confirmed they had considered leaving their course, yet only 25% of these had informed their university of their thoughts. Unsurprisingly, 62% cited financial reasons and 39% clinical practice experiences.
When asked why they had remained on the course, 85% of respondents stated that it was because they were determined to finish, having given up significant salaries and jobs to do the course; 63% confirmed they were receiving assistance from families and friends, demonstrating their commitment to continue their nursing career despite financial and other problems. Over half of the 4,500 respondents were aged over 30, while 36% were over 35 years of age, indicating these students have made conscious and active decisions to come into nursing at this point in their lives.
The students also provided suggestions about what would help them throughout their courses, including more support from tutors, in the form of a surgery or online help that was easily accessible. Students also outlined the difficulties of trying to get in touch with tutors once they were out in placement. They felt a tutor led-helpline would give them immediate access to advice, rather than leaving messages which were often reported as being unanswered. Buddy counselling and finance services were also requested.
These cost effective resolutions were presented by the RCN at the Scottish Government conference on student recruitment and retention in November 2008, and also to the Darzi student support group in December 2008, and will continue to be pursued throughout the coming year.
Nursing lecturers want to see their contracts reflect the requirement for them to spend time in practice with students, and the issuing of honorary contracts by all placement providers would allow this to happen. Tight financial contracting also limits small group teaching and the support opportunities this gives to students. Students do feel that they would benefit from further contact, while on placement, with their lecturers to help consolidate the theory but lecturers are unable to meet that request as other students will then be in theory modules and they will be teaching.
The NMC review, now underway, will need to review and address student attrition.