Nurse Applications in Scotland Fall for Third Consecutive Year

By Iain Roy

Figures show that nurse applications dropped by 8.3% this year as just 4, 650 students applied for a nursing course in Scotland compared to 5, 070 in 2023. 

This follows a decrease from the previous year where there were 6, 690 applications in 2022, yet another decrease when 2021 saw 7, 920 applicants.  

Although the drop in people wanting to become nurses is a reason for concern, current students contemplating dropping out is also an issue. In a survey of more than 1, 000 nurses training in Scotland, two thirds (66%) have considered dropping out of their course due to financial concerns.  

Eileen McKenna, RCN Scotland associate director, said: “Scotland does not have the number of nurses now that it needs to meet the demand for care in health and social care services.” The situation in Scotland is becoming desperate and leaves current nurses with heavier workloads. 

Last Christmas an Ayrshire nurse worked an 18-hour shift, unhealthy for not only the nurse, but potentially puts patients in danger. 

The recognised issues making students reluctant to apply for nursing course is the challenge of maintaining a work-life balance and a perception of low pay. Scottish Labour health spokesperson Dame Jackie Baillie, said: “These figures are a damning reminder of how damaged the perception of nursing in Scotland has become.” Student nurses don’t feel supported or protected by the government and this is shown by the consistent decrease of applicants. 

The Royal College of Nursing Scotland (RCNS) has repeated its calls for the government to establish a review of support given to nurses in response to the rising cost-of-living. Dame Baillie said: “Years of seeing our NHS with an understaffed, overstretched nursing workforce has put a generation of young people off entering this fantastic profession.”  

The RCN union has urged the government to create clearer investment in fair play for nurses and says Scotland is failing its target for a second year. This shows the need for a financial boost to support student nurses.  

Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Director, said: “We’re calling on the Scottish government to improve financial support to show that nursing is truly a valued profession.”