It comes as unfilled nurse vacancies across the NHS in England hits a record high of nearly 50,000.
According to new data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), the number of student nurses has fallen by a massive 10%.
It comes as unfilled nurse vacancies across the NHS in England hits a record high of nearly 50,000.
Just 29,440 student nurses were accepted onto pre-registration programmes this year, down from 32,705 (-10%) in 2021.
The most significant decline was seen in Wales, with just 1,315 students accepted onto courses. The only country without a decline was Northern Ireland, with a 3% increase on previous years.
Earlier this month, NursingNotes revealed that the recruitment of internationally trained nurses was nearly on parr with those being trained in the UK.
Deeply troubling.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) says the data is “deeply troubling” and warns many are being “put off” by “the poor and unfair treatment this fantastic profession gets, often at the hands of politicians.”
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, explains, “With record waiting lists, we need the pipeline of the nurses of the future to be expanding, not contracting.
“That acceptances on to nursing-degree courses, and applications to them, is falling does not bode well for our profession – or for the safety of patients.
“Tomorrow’s staff need to know that a career in nursing shouldn’t come with a personal financial sacrifice. A lifetime of service must not mean a lifetime of poverty.
“In a week’s time up to 100,000 nursing staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be striking because they lack that assurance and because staff shortages are putting patients at risk.
