Why nobody wants to be a nurse.

[Fifi0000]

I just wanted to raise awareness of why we are struggling to train nurses. I'm a third year student and just completed a 8 week placement where I had to drive 1.5 hours each way driving on top of 12.5 hour shifts. I have a disability which long driving has a detrimental impact on my health. I also have caring responsibilities and limited financial support so we effectively pay to train. You also have to do assignments and exams on top.

I got a choice of defer the placement so lose hours (not get my pin on time) or get on with it. I enquired about funding for a hotel which was ignored. Non drivers are regularly being sent 2 hours each way on top of 12.5 hour placements which makes them drop out. When I enquired with this to the university they said nursing requires resilience. Many nursing roles allow you to go part time and I have found a job very close to my house which wouldn't require the insane commuting times. Just after I finished a 8 week placement , I received a snotty email on Sunday night saying an admin mistake made by my assessor could result in me having to redo all the competencies, I have already achieved so years of hard work. At the moment I wanted to scream and say fuck it.

The whole system needs reworking , nurse training is a punitive unrewarding experience and I can understand why so many don't want to go through it. I am already doubting whether I want to do it because I feel beaten down by the training already.

I agree with the bulk of this.
it’s tough but the unis don’t sugar coat anything-it’s clear what you sign up for.
Plus, this isn’t a new way of training-we’ve all been there and paid our dues.

I agree students know what they sign up to - to a certain extent.

Supernumerary is not respected or adhered to. Many students are used to fill HCA shortages. They arent given the learning opportunities they expect or should have. Learning the HCA role is fundamental. Especially in early placements. However alot of student have already been hcas, they know the role. And it so frustrating trying to develop your skills only to be told sorry not today, youre filling the role of a hca, which they could get paid for if they were doing as a bank shift instead. 12 hour shifts are fine unpaid of you are being treated as a student, there to learn, but unfortunately it doesnt always happen.

Being a student nurse is hard, you are on that placement for a few weeks, being used, spoken down to, and you cant speak up as the placement is responsible for your grade. Ive seen students try to speak up and been failed because of it. Its demoralising.

Student finance has also not been increased inline with cost of living rises. Working alongside placement is hard, esp for older students with families. Which a lot of student nurses are. Doing 37.5 hour weeks then having to do more for pay, plus assignments and family life. Its hard going. In the current climate it's understandable they are burned out disillusioned and applications are at an all time low.

I interview potential students to a good well respected for Nursing university. Applications are down nearly 50% on pre-covid figures.

TBH if you are calling nursing students "Cocky arrogant little shits" then i guess you fill the criteria of a pp who said that many nurses are bullies.

...and so what if a student tries to tell you something? do you know it all? you that arrogant that you can't learn anything new? then again, maybe not, "old dog and new tricks" i guess.

Nope, I said some students not all! You not wanting to accept the truth about how some students behave doesn’t make a someone a bully. And there’s a difference between a student telling you about new research or something like that and them trying to give you clinical advice based on their 0 years experience. Do we know it all? of course not but we know considerably more than you, and know many things you cannot learn from your books.

Massive leap from me agreeing with THE BULK (not all) of that post. You’ve really no idea.