LOW PAY and burnout are leading to almost half of nursing students in England to consider quitting before they graduate, a major survey has found.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) urged ministers to fund tuition fees for nursing students and reintroduce universal maintenance support after its report found that as many as 46 per cent of the 68,000 enrolled on nursing courses could walk away.

Seven in 10 students cited financial difficulties such as the cost of living as the reason for considering an early exit.

A third-year undergraduate in Lancashire told the RCN: “I had a realisation that when I qualify and get paid, after I pay off my percentage of tuition, I am left with the same pay I was earning at McDonald’s at age 18.

“I wasted so much time and put my sweat, blood and tears into something that is burning me out before I start and isn’t even paying enough. It makes me sad for myself that this is the profession I chose.”

Nearly six in 10 of those polled said witnessing low morale and burnout among qualified nurses had also prompted them to consider ditching their nursing degree.

RCN acting general secretary Professor Nicola Ranger warned that immediate action was necessary from the next government to prevent a mass exodus of nursing students.

“Government-funded nurse education, proper maintenance support and loan forgiveness for those working in the NHS would be money well spent,” she said.

“Building a nursing workforce fit for the future is the best investment a government can make, benefiting our vital services and wider society.

“For the long-term workforce plan to get back on track, we need urgent action. The retention and recruitment of nursing staff will be key to driving down NHS waiting times and getting health and care services back on their feet.”

In England, 3,420 people began nursing degree apprenticeships in 2021-22, falling to 2,720 in 2022-23, the latest figures show.

An RCN survey of nurse educators in England also found three in five reported being directly affected by redundancy, staffing restructure or a recruitment freeze.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “Nurses are the backbone of our NHS and it is worrying that nearly half of nursing students are considering quitting their degrees.

“Staffing levels are already in crisis and it is paramount that the next generation of nurses feel excited by joining the profession so they can help the patients of tomorrow.”