Government must do more to secure nursing graduate jobs

New figures from UCAS show a slight increase in people applying to study nursing in England. The RCN says this is a “step in the right direction” but is “overshadowed by skyrocketing demand for the NHS”.

We believe that the Westminster government must do more to ensure people choosing nursing can have a good start to their career and progress into secure employment after graduating. “The investment must be there to make sure these students graduate and that there are jobs for them when they do,” says Patricia Marquis, Executive Director for RCN England. 

The UCAS data comes as NHS services continue to face significant workforce shortages, growing patient demand, and complex patient needs. Nursing remains the largest workforce in the health service, reflecting the scale of care required across hospitals, community services, social care and primary care settings. 

The publication of the UCAS figures also comes amid wider calls from the RCN for greater investment in nursing students and early career nurses, and nursing education.

“Nursing is an incredible career, but students are facing grim poverty during their studies, and on average, 21% drop out every year. After they graduate, they are left to service unsustainable debts that only ever grow no matter how much they pay back.  

“Better financial support for current students is desperately needed, and the failed student debt system must be replaced with loan forgiveness for all those who go on to staff our health and care services,” says Patricia. 

This is coupled with a crisis in education that is seeing courses threatened with closure and nurse educators facing redundancy.  

“Just last week, we heard that public funding for nursing courses in England, already one of the lowest funded of any health subject, is being cut even further. Nursing is an outstanding profession that can provide a lifelong career with so many exciting and varied paths, but the prime minister must make resolving this crisis a priority or risk the number of nursing staff joining the profession falling short of the demands of patient care and services for years to come,” Patricia continued. 

Speaking at RCN Congress earlier this year, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger set out five priorities for the profession, including stronger financial support for students and investment in universities and nurse educators.

In the same week, we also said that nursing students across the UK need an additional £5,000 per calendar year. This amount should not be a loan, must be available universally, and should rise each year in line with inflation.

We believe that workforce planning must be based on patient need and designed to support both current students and the next generation of nurses entering the profession.