Call for more support for newly qualified nurses who feel ‘unprepared’ for first roles

New nurses and midwives feel “unprepared and unsupported in first roles”, a union has said.

Unison said that more must be done to support these newly qualified workers and students as they start their career after a small poll found that 70% believe they have missed out on important learning experiences during the coronavirus crisis.

Many newly qualified midwives, nurses and students worked on the front line of the pandemic.

And now more than half of final year students said they are worried they are not as prepared for qualification as they should be, according to a survey of 182 student and newly qualified nurses & midwives.

Unison’s national officer for nursing, Stuart Tuckwood (pictured), said: “Unprecedented demands have been placed on student nurses and midwives during Covid.

“Constructive and meaningful support in the workplace is vital for those newly qualified so they can fulfil their potential.

“Some may lack confidence because they’ve missed out on some training opportunities.

“Health service leaders promised no student would be disadvantaged by their experiences during the pandemic.

“They must now support students who came to the rescue of the NHS when asked. This is to ensure they not only stay in their new roles but also thrive.”

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