Across hospitals in the UK, wards are understaffed and patients’ needs are growing, yet newly qualified nurses are finding it increasingly hard to secure a job.
Many are being forced to consider temporary work in hospitality or other sectors just to make ends meet.
This comes amid warnings from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) that the shortage of nurses nationwide is far from resolved.
Alarming Vacancy Numbers
Recent analysis by the RCN reveals that around 81 percent of nurses agree the system is struggling to meet patients’ needs.
There are currently roughly 34,000 vacancies across the country, with shortages affecting nearly every healthcare setting.
“We’ve all experienced working with short staffing. It’s almost become ubiquitous in working with the NHS,” one nurse commented.
Despite these shortages, many new graduates are struggling to land their first positions.
Rachel White, 21, told the Daily Mail she has applied for nursing jobs in at least four cities, but the lack of available positions has forced her to think about temporary hospitality work just to cover rent.
Facing the “Newly Registered Nurse Jobs Crisis”
As of last month, there were 4,000 more nursing and midwife graduates than there were available jobs—a situation being described as a “newly registered nurse jobs crisis.”
University lecturers have warned students that they might face more than a year of job hunting after graduation.
In some regions, the Government admits that there are up to three times as many graduates as vacancies.
Rachel recalls her final day at university, when her seminar leader warned that up to 50 percent of her cohort might still be unemployed a year after qualifying.
“I started looking in March, and there weren’t many jobs going,” she said.
“Most said you needed at least six months of experience. It’s disheartening.”
Hardships During Training
Nursing students invest thousands of hours into placements and pay significant fees to complete their training—often working 48-hour weeks during placements. Rachel described how a broken arm during one placement forced her to catch up on her hours, making the grind even more intense.
“I worked four days or nights in a row and put in 48-hour weeks,” she said. “
All that effort makes you question whether you’ll even get a job after this.” Another newly qualified nurse echoed these frustrations, explaining that she is now considering nannying or bar work while searching for nursing roles.
Wards Are Understaffed, Yet Jobs Are Scarce
The paradox of empty wards and unfilled graduate positions is frustrating for new nurses.
Many find themselves performing tasks they shouldn’t or being used merely as extra pairs of hands instead of being given meaningful clinical experience.
“When I applied to nursing school, I was told there was a 99 percent chance of getting a job,” one graduate said.
“You go in thinking you’re stepping into a vocation, and then there’s nothing waiting for you.
It makes some people think about moving abroad, like to Australia, where there are more opportunities.”
RCN Calls for Action
Patricia Marquis, Executive Director of the RCN, highlighted the urgency of the situation: “Patients cannot afford for newly qualified nursing staff, after years of hard work and dedication, to be struggling to find jobs.
All graduate nurses want is the chance to care for patients, and those opportunities must be delivered.”
A shortage of positions has been linked to bureaucracy, underfunding, and the requirement for prior experience, even for entry-level roles.
Government Response and the Graduate Guarantee
Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the problem last month, calling it “absurd” that thousands of trained nurses are left without work.
He announced a “job boost” to tackle graduate concerns and ensure a smoother transition into employment.
The Department of Health has introduced a Graduate Guarantee to make thousands of posts easier to access.
NHS providers will now recruit newly qualified nurses based on projected staffing needs rather than current headcount, aiming to give graduates the opportunity to immediately apply their skills where they are most needed.
“By removing barriers and creating a wealth of opportunities for graduates, we hope to ensure the NHS has the right number of staff to provide the best care possible to patients everywhere,” the Department said.