Nursing student in tears as university error blocks registration
Posted 16 August 2023 - 13:37
Some 200 nursing students told they will be compensated after mixup over practice hours prevents them from taking up job offers
A final year nursing student was left devastated after she was told she would need to complete eight more weeks on placement because of an error by her university.
Adult nursing student Louise was among some 200 nursing students at Canterbury Christ Church University who were told of the university’s mistake via an email, seen by Nursing Standard.
Students had been undertaking written reflection for hours every week on placement, which they were told would be included in their 2,300 practice hours needed to qualify.
This measure was brought in by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) during the COVID-19 pandemic to help ease placement pressures on trusts. But in error the university had continued to include it as part of students’ placement, resulting in their registrations being delayed.
The university apologised to students, many of whom had jobs lined up
Dean of the university’s Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care Paula Kersten said in an email on 9 August: ‘Regrettably, it appears the course should have reverted back and removed the allowance of reflection hours, but this hasn’t happened.’
Louise said told Nursing Standard: ‘I was absolutely devastated. I couldn’t stop crying, it was awful. We were supposed to start our careers in September, get our PINs and become nurses, which we’ve all wanted to do forever. Now that won’t happen.’
The university apologised to students, many of whom had jobs lined up, and reassured them they would be compensated for potential loss of earnings.
But in a virtual meeting on 15 August, Louise said students were told they would only be compensated at band 3 pay level rather than band 5 while they were redoing their placement hours.
Plight of those offered jobs outside the area still unclear
She claimed the reason for this was that employers would initially only pay them at band 3 level while they were waiting for their PINs, although trusts usually backdate band 5 pay to start dates when PINs are received.
Louise said: ‘Many of us have bills to pay, we were expecting to be on band 5 pay from September. This is going to have a big impact on our income.’
Students have been told the error in practice hours will not affect their employment if they have secured a job within the Kent and Medway area. They will also be able to complete their outstanding practice hours at their future place of employment, the university confirmed.
But it is unclear whether those who have secured jobs outside the area will be able to continue with their employment without the additional hours, or undertake their practice hours where they have been offered jobs. Nursing Standard has asked the university for clarification.
Petition urges NMC to reconsider the need for students to redo the hours
An online petition calling on the university and the NMC to reconsider the need for students to redo the hours has been signed by more than 1,600 people.
A spokesperson for the university said: ‘We have apologised unreservedly to our students.’
They confirmed that the university will give updates shortly to plans to provide financial support.
The NMC has been contacted for comment.
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