Nursing Student Survey Report Shows Training System Costing Us Nurses

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi
Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) has released a report on its 2023
Student Survey showing that nursing students face
significant barriers to completing their studies,
particularly around finances, stress and cultural support –
and it’s costing us nearly a third of our new
nurses.

The survey was completed by 1406 NZNO student
members, and NZNO National Student Unit Co-chair Shannyn
Bristowe said the results were really clear.

“At a
time of health system crisis, when we desperately need more
homegrown nurses, the Government and nursing schools really
need to pay attention to what they can do to encourage
students to stay in their studies and come out well and
ready to nurse.

“Nearly a third (30 percent) of
students do not complete their studies and fixing these
issues would significantly increase the number of nursing
graduates each year.”

Many respondents said they felt
moderately or excessively stressed; and they believed
students should be given financial help during clinical
placements which sees them working full time without pay for
up to nine weeks – and often out of town.

Ms Bristowe
said paying students the minimum or living wage while on
placements would make a massive difference to graduate
numbers.

“Nursing students need assistance while they
study. Help with paying off student loans after graduation,
as the Government proposes, is appreciated but it really
misses the point and comes too late to make a
difference.”

A second major barrier emerging from the
results is institutional racism and a lack of cultural
support for Māori and Pacific students.

NZNO National
Student Unit Co-chair Stacey Wharewera said Māori and
Pacific students are essential and that better cultural
support in nurse training would result in a health system
that better meets the needs of Māori and Pacific
peoples.

“The lack of appropriate cultural support in
nursing studies is an issue the Government and training
providers need to urgently address.”

The survey is
conducted every two years to identify issues student nurses
are facing in their studies and to understand how they could
be better supported.

The
survey report is available on the NZNO
website.

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