Posted 17 May 2023 - 09:00
Posted 17 May 2023 - 09:00
News
Calls to condemn unsafe rostering where students ‘learn in fear’
RCN congress hears from nursing students who say they are ‘excessively’ used to fill staffing gaps and feel unable to speak out against unsafe rostering
RCN congress hears from nursing students who say they are ‘excessively’ used to fill staffing gaps and feel unable to speak out against unsafe rostering
Nursing students have shared how they are ‘learning in fear’ as they plug nursing rota gaps, with many branded ‘troublemakers’ if they speak up.
Nursing students lack supervision and support on shifts, and fear failing placements
During a debate on combating unsafe student rostering at the RCN congress in Brighton on Tuesday 16 May, children’s nursing student Jessica Pidcock explained how she and her peers were constantly ‘in fear of failing our placement’ due to the lack of supervision and support on shifts.
Ms Pidcock told members: ‘Despite the fact I have my own health needs, childcare needs and a child with disabilities, I am still given a roster based on what other people are working and told there is no leniency.
‘Equally, if we stand up to this we are called “a nuisance”, “we are not making our Nursing and Midwifery Council values’”, “we have a bad attitude” and consequently we are in fear of failing our placements because the people we are trying to tell this to are the people that are signing us off.
‘So what are we to do? There is no safe anonymous reporting service. This needs to change. I have been scared too many times looking around thinking there are not enough registered staff here.’
Members support motion for RCN to develop guidance supporting students on clinical placements
The motion proposed by Glasgow nurse Greg Ursey asked the RCN to condemn the unsafe rostering of nursing students, explaining they are ‘excessively used’ to fill gaps particularly on weekends and bank holidays.
He proposed the RCN develops specific guidance to support nursing students on clinical placements and promote their learning and well-being. Members voted overwhelmingly to support the motion.
He added shifts should be agreed for ‘the learning needs of the student not for the needs of that workplace’.
‘If patients are our first priority, then students must absolutely be our second priority.’
Seconding the motion RCN student committee member Chloe Jackson said: ‘The registered nurse has the power to speak up and challenge their roster, unlike the student nurse who is deemed a troublemaker if they dare speak up.'
University of Brighton nursing lecturer Joanna Holland said: ‘I regularly hear from students who talk about the frustrations they have about the level of support they receive whether from practice supervisors and practice assessors who are incredibly stressed in the workplace.'
Stress and financial pressures affect student dropout rate
Latest analysis by Nursing Standard shows that 33% of nursing students who began university courses in 2018 did not complete their courses, with many citing stress and financial pressures as reasons for dropping out.
Queen’s University Belfast nursing student Nuala McLaughlin called plugging the rota gaps with students ‘completely unacceptable’ and an ‘unsafe practice.’
While Colleen White called the situation ‘disgusting’ as she referred to an announcement by Stormont that 300 nursing student places are to be cut in Northern Ireland.
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