NEWS
Failed applications to nursing soar while staff face burnout, says RCN @JenniferSprinks
An increasing number of applicants are being turned away from nursing degree programmes yet the nursing profession is over-stretched, with fewer nurses providing more care, says the RCN. In the latest report from its Frontline First campaign, which has analysed the effects of financial pressures on the workforce since 2010, the college says there are 1,845 fewer nurses now in England than there were five years ago. The Fragile Frontline report suggests that the shortage of NHS nurses is being masked by the fact that the number of posts has increased since 2010. In the wake of the Francis report into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, hospitals in England have been increasing nurse numbers on acute wards to ensure safety. While overall, the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) posts has increased by 6,434 since 2010, the RCN says the ‘true picture’ is less positive. When excluding midwives, health visitors and school nurses from the total figure, the number of WTE posts has only increased by 1,470.
The report welcomes the fact that Health Education England increased training commissions last year and recommended a further increase of 4.5% this year. However, it says the number of places remain lower than in 2009. Mr Catton said urgent action is needed to address the shortfall while nurses are being forced to work longer hours and face burnout. ‘The problem we have is that there is a limited supply of nurses so we are trying to get more out of the people we have,’ he said. ‘But we have the supply there in the number of applications we have for nursing programmes.’
The report also highlights the fact that while the government has increased the health visiting workforce, the community nursing workforce is down by more than 3,000 nurses. Of those, 2,000 are district nurses providing specialist care. Queen’s Nursing Institute chief executive Crystal Oldman said there are shortages of staff at all levels of district nursing teams, adding: ‘The shortage of nurses working in the community is a multi-faceted and a locally nuanced issue that includes challenges in recruitment to high numbers of vacancies in many places.’
GEORGE VASILOPOULOS
By Jennifer Sprinks
Longer hours
Furthermore, while WTE posts have increased, the number of nurses filling these positions has fallen by 1,845. RCN head of policy Howard Catton said this suggests nurses are working longer hours or in more than one role. The college conducted a survey with the university admissions service UCAS that revealed there is no shortage of potential nurses. In 2014, more than 30,000 potential nursing students were turned away because there were 52,530 applications for just 21,205 places. This is a significant increase on the 47,930 applications for the 18,955 places in 2012.
‘TRIXIE’ TAKES A TRIP TO BIRTHING UNIT Actor Helen George – Trixie in the BBC’s Call the Midwife – joined staff for the official opening of a birth centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The centre is for women assessed as likely to have low-risk deliveries. More than 950 babies have already been born there and it has proved to be popular with mothers and midwives. The centre has seven rooms with adjustable lighting and music players
to help create a relaxing environment. Four of the rooms have pools as well as other birthing aids. Head of midwifery at the hospital Vivien Bell said: ‘We are delighted to be welcoming Helen and having the opportunity to show her our centre.’ Ms George (pictured centre) is flanked by (from left): Louisa Windus, Andrea Bradley, Ellie Plummer-Kent, Emily Stormonth-Darling.
NURSING aprilNo15other :: voluses 29without no 33 ::permission. 2015 9 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 24, 2015. For personal use only. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
Failed applications to nursing soar while staff face burnout, says RCN @JenniferSprinks
An increasing number of applicants are being turned away from nursing degree programmes yet the nursing profession is over-stretched, with fewer nurses providing more care, says the RCN. In the latest report from its Frontline First campaign, which has analysed the effects of financial pressures on the workforce since 2010, the college says there are 1,845 fewer nurses now in England than there were five years ago. The Fragile Frontline report suggests that the shortage of NHS nurses is being masked by the fact that the number of posts has increased since 2010. In the wake of the Francis report into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, hospitals in England have been increasing nurse numbers on acute wards to ensure safety. While overall, the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) posts has increased by 6,434 since 2010, the RCN says the ‘true picture’ is less positive. When excluding midwives, health visitors and school nurses from the total figure, the number of WTE posts has only increased by 1,470.
The report welcomes the fact that Health Education England increased training commissions last year and recommended a further increase of 4.5% this year. However, it says the number of places remain lower than in 2009. Mr Catton said urgent action is needed to address the shortfall while nurses are being forced to work longer hours and face burnout. ‘The problem we have is that there is a limited supply of nurses so we are trying to get more out of the people we have,’ he said. ‘But we have the supply there in the number of applications we have for nursing programmes.’
The report also highlights the fact that while the government has increased the health visiting workforce, the community nursing workforce is down by more than 3,000 nurses. Of those, 2,000 are district nurses providing specialist care. Queen’s Nursing Institute chief executive Crystal Oldman said there are shortages of staff at all levels of district nursing teams, adding: ‘The shortage of nurses working in the community is a multi-faceted and a locally nuanced issue that includes challenges in recruitment to high numbers of vacancies in many places.’
GEORGE VASILOPOULOS
By Jennifer Sprinks
Longer hours
Furthermore, while WTE posts have increased, the number of nurses filling these positions has fallen by 1,845. RCN head of policy Howard Catton said this suggests nurses are working longer hours or in more than one role. The college conducted a survey with the university admissions service UCAS that revealed there is no shortage of potential nurses. In 2014, more than 30,000 potential nursing students were turned away because there were 52,530 applications for just 21,205 places. This is a significant increase on the 47,930 applications for the 18,955 places in 2012.
‘TRIXIE’ TAKES A TRIP TO BIRTHING UNIT Actor Helen George – Trixie in the BBC’s Call the Midwife – joined staff for the official opening of a birth centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The centre is for women assessed as likely to have low-risk deliveries. More than 950 babies have already been born there and it has proved to be popular with mothers and midwives. The centre has seven rooms with adjustable lighting and music players
to help create a relaxing environment. Four of the rooms have pools as well as other birthing aids. Head of midwifery at the hospital Vivien Bell said: ‘We are delighted to be welcoming Helen and having the opportunity to show her our centre.’ Ms George (pictured centre) is flanked by (from left): Louisa Windus, Andrea Bradley, Ellie Plummer-Kent, Emily Stormonth-Darling.
NURSING aprilNo15other :: voluses 29without no 33 ::permission. 2015 9 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 24, 2015. For personal use only. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
