The questions and answers below provide information for nursing students in Scotland. With feedback on nursing student members’ experiences of studying during the pandemic, RCN Scotland has raised key issues with the Scottish Government and responses are included in these FAQs. We will continue to update our student members as further information becomes available.
Your views and experiences are a powerful tool in helping us to influence on your behalf to support nursing students. Please take a few minutes to share your experience of studying including clinical placements during the pandemic with the RCN Scotland easy to use SenseMaker tool to share your story. The process is quick and easy to use. Please be assured that your input is totally anonymous.
The Scottish Government has committed to students retaining their supernumerary status and their position in the clinical area as learners, stating that priority will be given to ensuring the timely graduation of final year students.
The Scottish government have shared a national offer via an open letter to healthcare students – including nursing and midwifery students – to apply to register with their local NHS Board Bank and availability of three or six-month part-time paid employment with NHS Boards. This is separate from programmes of study or placement. An open letter to students was distributed via universities and colleges in October 2021.
The RCN remains clear that during the COVID-19 pandemic no student must be disadvantaged financially or suffer delays to their continuing education. All students must be adequately supported to complete academic studies and meet the NMC requirements relating to clinical practice hours taking cognisance of their individual circumstances.
Keep in touch via our RCN Scotland Student Facebook group for student members – search 'RCN Scotland Students' on Facebook and request to join.
You can also find more information about studying and working during the pandemic on our separate COVID-19 advice for students and our COVID-19 advice pages.
We are working hard in these challenging times to keep you updated and if you can't find what you are looking for please see our get help page or contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.