If you're based elsewhere, you can contact us directly for advice and support by emailing our Scotland and Wales offices.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Email Address]

[Phone Number]

[Date]

To [Name of Trust/HSC or ICB Representative]

[Trust/HSC or ICB]

[Address]

[City, Postcode]

Dear [Enter name of Chief Nursing Officer],

Re: Urgent concerns regarding employment opportunities for Newly Registered or soon to be Newly Registered Nurses (NRNs)

I am writing as a final-year student nurse approaching qualification, on behalf of myself and fellow student nurses, to express deep concern about the critical shortage of employment opportunities for NRNs — including within (Insert name of Trust/HSC or ICB).

Across the UK, we are seeing a growing crisis. In some areas, hundreds of qualified nurse applicants are competing for just a handful of roles. We have all trained and worked in the health and social care sector throughout our placements, including during the pandemic; one of the most challenging periods in recent history, yet we now face the prospect of unemployment at the very start of our careers.

This issue is not new, but it is becoming more prevalent. Recruitment freezes, workforce planning gaps, and a lack of structured transition into Band 5 roles are leaving a generation of nurses without a clear path forward. This is happening despite us regularly hearing about and witnessing ongoing staffing shortages and high vacancies across publicly funded services.

We are ready to join the workforce and contribute our knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective nursing care.

We urge you to:

• Increase the number of registered nursing roles available to newly registered nurses. Collaborate with local universities to support students to access opportunities, apply and interview.
• Communicate transparently with students about job availability and recruitment timelines.

Many of us have already raised this issue with politicians, unions, and professional bodies. The Royal College of Nursing has also raised concerns with government and continues to collate evidence of NRN job shortages. While we seek national policy change and a sustainable strategy to address the shortage of roles for newly registered nurses, we believe local leadership is also essential to address this urgent need.

We are ready to work. Please ensure that there is a place for us within your workforce.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

Student Nurse, [Your University Name]