One in three UK nurses are being trained on the job in a bid to reduce staffing shortages.
It is hoped this move will help encourage aspiring nurses to take the apprenticeship route over going to university.
But why could the ‘earn while you learn’ initiative really help solve the NHS crisis?
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has suggested that the pivot away from the standard undergraduate or graduate university programmes could be “jeopardising” nursing as a graduate profession.
Up to one in ten doctors would also be affected by the new strategy, meaning they would train while on the ‘shop floor’.
School-leavers should also bear in mind that apprenticeships take longer to complete than the nursing degree option - however, it would come with the perks of no student loan and significant work experience.
NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard says:“This radical new approach could see tens of thousands of school-leavers becoming doctors and nurses, or other key healthcare roles, after being trained on the job over the next 25 years.
RCN Chief Nurse Professor Nicola Ranger adds: “When the formal workforce plan comes this summer, we expect to see a funded expansion of nursing’s place in university.
“Anything else will risk jeopardising the position of registered nursing as a graduate profession. All the research shows that patient outcomes greatly improve when in the care of the right number of degree-educated nurses.”
Here at MCM Medical, we would advise aspiring nurses to really think about their options and which would suit them best when it comes to routes to entry.
If you’re a recent nursing graduate looking for your first nursing role, our consultants would be more than happy to help!
Give us a call on 0203 929 4010 today to find out more about our current job vacancies.
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