Our petition to support nursing students to thrive
The UK needs more nurses, but today the financial pressures on nursing students put the future of nursing at risk.
Year on year fewer students are choosing to study nursing and many that do are forced to withdraw from their programmes. One of the biggest barriers to nursing education is affordability.
Across the UK, UCAS data shows that applications to study nursing have fallen by 34% since 2021. With patient complexity increasing, and tens of thousands of nursing vacancies, the UK’s nursing workforce needs students to choose and stick with our profession.
Students need support to learn and thrive in university, with guaranteed jobs in health and care when they qualify. A strong start to nursing careers benefits health and care services and protects patients.
Student nurses don’t have a typical university experience. Programmes are demanding and include practical learning on placements alongside academic studies, leaving little time available for part time work.
To graduate and qualify, nursing students must complete 2,300 hours of practice hours as well as 2,300 hours of academic study over the course of their programme.
Many take on debt, skip meals or even turn to foodbanks to survive. Nursing students deserve better.
With the crisis in nurse recruitment and high drop-out rates due to the financial burden, the UK could miss out on generations of talented and dedicated nurses.
We call on governments across the UK to act now. Commit to review and make meaningful improvements to the financial support available for nursing students across the UK.
Protect the future of nursing, before it is too late.
