“There are simply no jobs,” Alex told delegates at RCN Congress earlier this year when he spoke about the shortage of roles available to newly registered nurses, and how he and his peers can’t find nursing jobs.
In his resolution, he asked RCN Council to lobby UK governments, NHS and independent social care providers to develop a sustainable strategy to address the shortage of roles for newly registered nurses.
“Keir Starmer, Wes Streeting, I need you to listen and listen up good: use or lose us, because we can’t afford to wait forever,” he said to much applause.
Following his speech at Congress, Alex, who is studying in England, said: “I’m now in £60,000 worth of debt. I’m faced with having to pay that back and never use the qualification I’ve paid for.”
How widespread is the issue?
Many student members have told us that they are unable to secure a permanent job as a registered nurse after they graduate.
This is deeply worrying. Not only for those newly registered nurses, who have worked hard and invested heavily in their studies. But also, for those student nurses who are witnessing this crisis unfold and for the health system and patients.
We have heard some really powerful stories about the impact this is having and we now need your experiences to evidence the full extent of this crisis.
This will enable us to lobby politicians across the UK and work with employers to ensure that nursing students are able to find jobs after completing their pre-registration nursing education. We are continuing to call for guaranteed jobs for all nursing graduates.
If you’re a final year nursing student, we need you to tell us about your experiences of applying for newly registered nurse roles.
Please complete our survey today.
We are here to support our student members at this difficult time. Please visit our website to find resources to support you as you start your career in nursing.
Are you struggling to secure a permanent job after graduation? Do you want to take action on this? We are here to support you. Find resources to organise locally and build power in your cohort on our website.
What else is the RCN doing?
We are already lobbying UK governments to ensure there are enough jobs available for newly registered nurses this year and to identify sustainable long-term solutions for future years.
We also know that while the UK needs more nurses, the financial pressure on nursing students puts the future of the profession and safe patient care at risk. As Alex’s experience shows, many students are leaving their nursing courses with huge debts – and one of the biggest barriers for students completing their nursing education is affordability.
Governments across the UK need to act now, to review and make meaningful improvements to the financial support available for nursing students and ensure there are enough roles open to newly registered nurses so we have a sustainable workforce pipeline.
Find out more about how you can get involved as a student member.
Get involved
Together we are stronger. There are many ways to get involved with the RCN and get your voice heard on the issues that really matter.
- Get involved with the RCN through our Activism Academy. The Activism Academy is here to empower you to win meaningful improvements and positive change in your workplaces and the nursing profession.
- Find out about the RCN Students Committee which provides a voice for the thousands of student nurses who are members of the RCN.
- Consider becoming a student ambassador to support, influence, campaign and connect with student nurses in their regions and countries.
- You can make a difference by getting involved in the RCN locally. From becoming a rep and campaigning to attending a branch event, find out what is happening in your area.
