The Royal College of Nursing has issued an appeal to third-year students to join its campaign to help more graduating nurses secure proper employment, including with the hospital where they have done their training.
Job seekers: nearly 100 soon-to-qualify student nurses at Croydon University Hospital joined Friday’s protest against the job freeze
Inside Croydon reported last week of a protest outside Mayday Hospital by almost 100 trainee nurses, all close to qualifying, but who are being denied work in Croydon because of a freeze on recruitment by the local NHS Trust.
Around 100 student nurses staged a demonstration outside Mayday Hospital today, protesting at being abandoned by the local NHS Trust, which is refusing to offer jobs to any of them at the end of their three-year nursing degree course.
The student nurses said that they have been “neglected, undervalued, and overwhelmed after dedicating years to academic and clinical training”.
One of the nurses said: “We’ve been saddled with tens of thousands of pounds of student debt, and now the trust that runs the hospital where we’ve worked and studied for the past three years has just dumped us and told us we’re not wanted.”
In the past, all those in a year group of student nurses would be offered jobs by the Croydon NHS Trust. This year, there are 91 in the year group. Not one has been offered a job, as the Trust seeks to make drastic cuts to its spending.
The protest was organised by the Royal College of Nursing.
And the RCN has issued a call to all third-year nursing students.
“The RCN is running a survey to hear directly from student nurses like you about your experience applying for Band 5 roles.
“This is your chance to speak up about the challenges you’re facing when applying for jobs.”
The RCN is running a survey until July 20, “There’s not much time, so please take part and spread the word!”
We want to hear:
- What branch of nursing you’re studying (eg adult, child, mental health, learning disability)?
- Have you applied for Band 5 roles?
- Are you applying in your hometown, where you study or a new region?
- Which country are you applying in? England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or outside the UK?
- What region specifically? (eg North West England, South Wales)
- Are you applying through the All Wales Student Streamlining Scheme?
- How many jobs have you applied for?
- How many interviews have you been offered?
- How many job offers have you received?
- If unsuccessful, have you been given feedback?
“Whether you’re still applying or already secured a role – your experience matters.
“Let’s shine a light on the process and support each other. Please complete the survey and share this post with your fellow students.”
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