Figures suggest that 32,000 students may drop out, primarily over costs and fears of burnout.
Amid the worst workforce crisis in the National Health Service history, nearly half of the nursing students in England have thought of leaving before they graduate, according to the largest survey of its type.
The number of applicants has fallen drastically since a grant supporting nursing students was ended in 2017. According to a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) report, as many as 46% of those enrolled, over 32,000, may withdraw.
The cost of living was the main barrier for students considering an early exit, with seven out of ten citing “financial difficulties” as a factor. Higher education costs for nursing students exceed £9,000 annually.
A third-year undergraduate in Lancashire stated, “I realized that when I qualify and get paid after I pay off my percentage of tuition, I am left with the same pay I was earning at McDonald’s at age 18.” “I’m burning out before I start, and I wasted so much time and blood, sweat, and tears into something that isn’t even paying enough.” I feel sorry for myself since I selected this profession.
Approximately half of the participants, six out of ten (58%), stated that they had contemplated giving up their nursing degrees due to witnessing low morale and burnout among qualified nurses.
According to Prof Nicola Ranger, the RCN’s acting general secretary and chief executive, “Nursing is a highly skilled and amazing profession, but the next generation of nurses is considering walking before they graduate.” She also stated that the incoming government needs to act immediately to stop the massive departure of nursing students.
The goal of the National Health Service long-term workforce plan, released a year ago, is to raise the nursing workforce in England from 350,000 to 550,000 by 2036-2037. However, fewer students are enrolling in nursing programs. If a significant portion of those already enrolled in schools drop out, the NHS may be shorthanded by tens of thousands of nurses.
According to Ranger, the next government should fund tuition fees for nursing students and reintroduce universal maintenance support. “Money well spent would be on government-funded nursing education, adequate maintenance support, and loan forgiveness for NHS workers. The best investment a government can make in the interest of both our essential service and larger society, is to develop a nursing workforce that is ready for the future,” she added.
We must move quickly to restore the long-term workforce strategy to its original course. Retaining and hiring nursing staff will be the key to reducing NHS waiting time and reviving health and care services.
According to Saffron Cordery, the deputy chief executive of NHS providers, which presents NHS trusts in England, the NHS staffing crisis needs to reduce waiting times.
In the current economic environment, finding and keeping the required employees is challenging. People who are preparing to become nurses of the future cannot afford to lose the training. “A vibrant health workforce with more significant investment in nursing education is necessary for an NHS fit for the future. According to Cordery, action on NHS pay was also needed to recruit and retain nurses.
“Nurses are the back bone of our NHS and it is worrying nearly a half of nursing students are considering quitting their degrees,” according to Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary. Because staffing levels are already in crisis, it is paramount that the next generation of nurses be inspired to pursue a nursing career to serve tomorrow’s patients better.
