Our stark warning on the future supply of nurses for the NHS and social care comes as Scotland is now missing the equivalent of a full year’s cohort of nursing students.

New RCN Scotland analysis shows that more than 3,500 fewer students have started nursing degrees over the last four years than the Scottish government said were needed, leaving a gap that equals an entire annual intake. This missing cohort will be felt across hospitals, community services and care settings for years to come.

Since 2019, the number of students accepted onto undergraduate nursing courses has fallen by 11%. In addition, over 1,000 fewer people applied to study nursing in 2025 compared to 2019. Despite long standing nursing workforce shortages across the NHS and social care, student recruitment has consistently fallen short of government targets.

Ahead of the Scottish Parliament election, we are warning that failure to act now on nurse education risks locking today’s crisis into the next decade.

Nursing remains a highly skilled and rewarding profession, but political decisions have made it harder for people to enter and stay on courses. Almost one in five students due to qualify in 2024 did not complete their degree, with students citing financial hardship and poor learning experiences on placement as the main reasons for leaving.

While the Scottish government’s ongoing commitment to the nursing bursary is welcome it has not kept pace with the cost of living. In real terms, its value has fallen significantly, meaning many students cannot meet basic living costs. This is deterring potential applicants and forcing existing students to consider stepping away from their education.

At the same time, persistent staffing pressures are undermining student learning. Nursing students should be supernumerary while on placement, but many report being treated as part of core staffing, with overstretched registered nurses unable to provide proper supervision and support.

Colin Poolman, Executive Director, RCN Scotland said: “Nursing is a wonderful and deeply rewarding career, offering a wealth of opportunities. The worrying decline in people choosing the profession makes it clear that the next Scottish government must do more to promote nursing careers and support the individuals who do decide to study nursing. This must include a clear pathway for career progression, safe staffing and stronger financial support for students. Implementation of the recommendations from the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce will be key to turning things around. 

“Unless decisive action is taken, the loss of this cohort will translate into fewer nurses on wards, in communities and in vital public services across Scotland.”

We are calling on all political parties to set out how they will:

• Restore nursing student numbers and reverse declining applications
• Increase financial support in line with the cost of living
• Protect nursing courses and educator capacity at universities
• Improve the quality and safety of clinical placements
• Deliver the recommendations from the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce to attract people into the profession.