Nursing degree applications suffer further collapse

New figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) reveal a further decline in the number of students applying to study nursing in England.

Figures released by UCAS show the numbers applying to study nursing are down 8% on last year. Over the last three years, this means applications have fallen by 27%.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) says that without an urgent and significant intervention from the new government, including the introduction of financial incentives for students, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which is only one year old, will fall ‘further and irredeemably off target’.

At the January application deadline, the Plan was more than 10,000 behind the 40,586 applicants target according to RCN analysis. Since then, and with seven months of additional time to make up the shortfall, the Plan is still way off target, now 7,000 nursing students short for the upcoming academic year, currently standing at 33,560 applicants. While there is still a further window in which applications can be made post-exam results, it looks almost impossible that the target will be reached.

The RCN is reiterating its calls for the return of government-funded nursing degrees and the introduction of maintenance grants. For those already working in publicly funded services, a loan forgiveness system should be put in place.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: ‘Nursing is a wonderful and rewarding profession, but huge debt and financial insecurity are putting off the next generation. Patients and nursing staff alike need the new government to come good on their promises to deliver the workforce plan – after its first full year things have headed in the wrong direction at the very time we know the NHS is struggling to retain current staff.

‘Investment in nursing education means more nurses in our health and care settings. This is key to making the nation healthier and getting people back into the economy. Government-funded degrees and financial support for students will more than pay for themselves.’