Student Nursing Survey Reveals Significant Training Barriers

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi
Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) bi-annual National Nursing
Student Survey closed late in 2023.

Further details
and commentary will be released in 2024 once analysis is
complete. However, a preliminary analysis reveals student
nurses face a number of significant barriers to completing
their studies that must be removed if we are to attract and
retain students and grow our own nursing
workforce.

The 2023 survey was completed by more than
1400 student NZNO members up from 685 in 2021 and Co-chair
of the NZNO National Student Unit Shannyn Bristowe said
issues of hardship are particularly intense for Māori
tauira (students) who typically enter nursing at a later
stage in life, often having families and increased
responsibilities.

“There is a particularly important
need for appropriate cultural support and pastoral care
which was cited as integral to students feeling safe and
understood in both their study and clinical
placements.

“Māori and Pasifika tauira often face
unique practical and cultural barriers, including travel,
whānau obligations and language difficulties.

“But
these nurses are essential to the people of Aotearoa New
Zealand receiving the culturally appropriate care that will
improve health outcomes for Māori and Pasifika and save
health system resources. We need to find ways to support
Māori and Pasifika students in particular.”

She said
the survey is one way nursing students can express their
concerns and let the Government know what changes it could
make to attract and retain more of them.

“We’re
hoping the New Government will listen and adjust the way it
plans to support nursing students.”

“Fewer students
would drop out if they received financial assistance while
they completed their courses. Helping pay off graduates’
student loans is a nice gesture from Government, but it
doesn’t address the real hardship they face while they
study,” Ms Bristowe said.

“Many just can’t carry on
because of financial pressure added to other
stresses.

“We face an alarming nursing crisis long
into the future. If we’re serious about addressing that
crisis, why can’t we find a way to give nurses free
training as we do with many other essential trades and
professions? Most students would have no problem with some
form of bonding in return.”

Another predominant theme
was how hardship impacts on physical and mental wellbeing.
The cost of clinical placements during training (petrol,
parking, travel and accommodation were identified as a
particular pressure point and 84 percent of respondents said
students should receive some form of financial compensation
during clinical experience.

“Supporting nursing
students financially now, instead of helping pay off their
loans after they’ve graduated, could see us producing up
to a third more students and if the Government really has
the wellbeing of the health system to heart it needs to
reduce every single barrier it can. This is vital for the
future wellbeing of us all.”

Interestingly, 33 percent
of respondents had been impacted by extreme weather events,
with flooding, road closures, and the cancelling of clinical
placement days.

However, Ms Bristowe said the most
significant concern from the survey was that more than 30
percent of respondents said the barriers made them question
whether nursing was right for
them.

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