Student nurses left unsupervised in charge of patients, warns RCN

Published: 24 August 2007

Student nurses are being left in sole charge of patients during clinical placements, according to a survey by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The survey, which is launched on Student's Day at the RCN's annual Congress in Harrogate, also showed that most students failed to report their concerns about being left in charge, often because they worried it could affect their marks.

More than 1,500 student nurses from across the UK were asked about their experiences during their clinical placements. Forty-four percent said they had been left unattended with patients without any warning and without a registered nurse or doctor present. Of those 93 percent said it had happened more than once:

Eight out of ten (80.99%) reported being left unsupervised on three or more occasions
Of the 553 first year students surveyed, 42% said they had been left on their own
15% said they had witnessed adverse events while left unattended.

Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:

“This is yet another example of how deficits-driven cost cutting is compromising patient safety.

“Up and down the country, we are seeing nursing jobs being lost and posts being frozen and deleted to cut costs. That means those registered nurses left have to do ever more with even fewer resources. It also means they have even less time to devote to supporting the next generation of nurses during their clinical placements.

“Government guidelines state that students should spend 40 percent of their time with their mentors but it is clear that this important time is being squeezed because of time pressures. We know that having a good mentor can make a big difference to whether a student completes their training. Students must feel they are able to speak up if they are not getting the support and supervision they need, while trusts and universities have a duty to act on any complaints.”

The vast majority of students surveyed (84%) said they did not report the unsupervised period to their university or workplace. More than a third (35%) said they thought the complaint would not be taken seriously and another third (33%) were worried it might affect the mark they received for the placement.

The financial crisis in the health service also continues to hit newly-qualified nurses with a recent RCN poll revealing nearly three-quarters were searching for a permanent job months after qualifying.

In October 2006, the RCN surveyed 500 newly qualified nurses and more than 2,200 student nurses on their employment prospects. Of the newly qualified nurses questioned, 71% were still searching for aband 5 nursing job - the level at which all nurses begin their career – and the majority (86%) were not confident of finding a permanent position.

Dr Peter Carter added: “I am hearing worrying stories from nurses who qualified last September who are still unable to get jobs because trusts are freezing entry level posts to save money. Now these nurses face the prospect of competing with the next wave of graduates from this February.

“The longer newly-qualified nurses spend away from a clinical setting it makes it even harder for them to get their first job. Unless we welcome these newly qualified nurses into the profession now, we risk losing them forever.”

Hannah Harwood, a third year student in the East Midlands, is in the process of looking for a job for when she qualifies in August. She said: “I am really worried about finding a job when I finish my course. I really need to stay in the area because of my husband's job and because we have a house here. I've done all this is training and I'm desperate to work but if I can't find a job locally, I'll have no choice but to leave the health service completely.”

The RCN is calling for a year's guaranteed work for all newly qualified nurses, similar to a scheme that has already been put in place in Scotland.

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Notes to Editors

For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/news/mediacentre.php

1,507 student nurses from across the UK took part in an online survey conducted from March 2^nd-16^th, 2007.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) states all students must complete 2,300 hours in practice learning for their registration, and that 40 per cent of a student's placement time must be supervised by their mentor. Students should be supernumerary to the workforce, that is, they should be treated as additional to the existing staff.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.