Nearly half of nursing students in England consider quitting

Almost half of nursing students in England have considered quitting before they graduate, according to the largest survey of its kind, which lays bare the worst workforce crisis in the NHS's history.

- Andrew Gregory

Nursing students pay university fees of more than £9,000 a year, which has caused applicant numbers to fall significantly, following the ending in 2017 of the grant to support nursing students.

Now the results of a report by the Royal College of Nursing, seen by the Guardian, suggest as many as 46% of those already enrolled - about 32,000 students - could walk away, abandoning the prospect of a career in the NHS altogether.

The cost of living was the top reason for students considering an early exit, with seven in 10 (70%) citing "financial difficulties" as a factor.

"I had a realisation 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," said a thirdyear undergraduate nursing student in Lancashire.

"I wasted so much time and put my sweat, blood and tears into something that is burning me out before I start and isn't even paying enough.

It makes me sad for myself that this is the profession I chose." Six in 10 respondents (58%) said witnessing low morale and burnout among qualified nurses had also prompted them to consider ditching their nursing degree.

Prof Nicola Ranger, the acting general secretary and chief executive of the RCN, said: "Nursing is a highly skilled and amazing profession, but the next generation of nurses are considering walking away before they have graduated."