Acceptances onto nursing courses have declined by 11%, finds new UCAS data.
We also saw a fall in the number of students applying for nursing courses this year.
This has caused concerns for the NHS, which is already grappling with a severe shortage of workforce.
These figures varied by UK nation, with acceptances down 11% in England, 17% in Scotland and 11% in Wales.
RCN Deputy Director for Nursing Dr Nichola Ashby said: “Being a nurse is one of the greatest careers any student can choose. But during a cost-of-living crisis, they’re being put off by the prospect of debt, low salaries and poor working conditions.
“The UK government has stumbled at the first hurdle of its NHS workforce plan, with 13% fewer people expected to take up nursing courses this year. These numbers are not just a sad story for today, but a story for years to come of how ministers baked future nursing shortages into the NHS.
“If the NHS workforce plan is to succeed, the UK government must start providing details on how the plan will begin to deliver the students the NHS needs to see for the future workforce. It must fund more university places for nursing students and remove the burden of student debt and tuition fees from prospective nurses in England.”
How can we help?
Here at MCM Medical, we know one of the most rewarding careers in the world is nursing. However, we also appreciate that the nursing profession can be challenging - and that’s before we factor in the NHS crisis! That’s why we make sure we only place candidates in roles that are a perfect match for their requirements and where we know they will flourish as professionals.
To find out more about starting a career in nursing, give our friendly team a call on 0203 929 4010. Let us know what you’re after and we’ll find you a role that suits your unique preferences!
If you're still not sure whether nursing is the path for you, check out our blog on the benefits of agency nursing.
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