Health Care

Student nurses

UNISON has more than 25,000 student nurse members. We are dedicated to campaigning for a better deal for nursing and midwifery students and run several campaigns around areas such as the bursary and accommodation.

Nursing and midwifery students are in a unique position as they work on the wards but do not have employment rights, and are students but do not adhere to a typical student calendar. Many nursing students work additional hours as healthcare assistants to survive the financial hardship they face. This is often exhausting and potentially detrimental to their studies.

UNISON has vast experience in representing students while they work as healthcare assistants throughout their training. As the future of the NHS, student nurses often need guidance. UNISON provides assistance and advice for our members throughout their three-year training.

Latest news about student nurses

A course out of crisis

The attached report seeks to outline the information available on attrition rates for bursary and seconded students on nursing and midwifery courses.

UNISON student nursing newsletter: Spring 2008

The attached spring newsletter includes articles on UNISON's survey of healthcare students, discussions on changes to the bursary system, the student nurse national seminar and respondining to major consultations covering pre and post registration nursing education.

Jean Harrison Memorial Bursary

(23/01/08) The Service Group Executive (SGE) in conjunction with the Scottish Region is seeking a nomination from UNISON branches for the Jean Harrison Memorial Bursary.

A crash course in debt

(21/12/07) The attached report, entitled A Crash Course in Debt, sets out the findings of UNISON's 2007 survey of health students.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF (131017 bytes)

UNISON student nursing newsletter: Autumn 2007

(16/08/2007) The attached autumn newsletter includes articles on changes to the bursary that bring it in line with age discrimination legislation, a national seminar of student nurses and discounts available through the UNISON Book Club.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF

UNISON student nursing newsletter: Spring 2007

Learning the hard way - Nursing students handed in 10,000 Pay Not Poverty postcards to Downing St in Dec 2006, just as UNISON released the results of its 2006 national survey of health students. Autumn newsletter: A4625.pdf

Changes to the NHS Bursary System (England) from 1 September 2007 for new students

Over the last six months the NHS Bursary scheme has been reviewed by a joint group including UNISON, the Department of Health and higher education institutes to ensure that the scheme complies with new age discrimination legislation.

UNISON student nursing newsletter: Autumn 2006

(5/1/07) The attached autumn newsletter includes articles on the landmark legal victory for students' maternity rights, the review of the bursary system and agreement from the Health Secretary on free Hep injections.

Learning the Hard Way

(14/12/06) The attached Learning the Hard Way report on the outcome of the 2006 National Health Student Survey shows the spiralling debt and exhausting extra hours facing nursing and other healthcare students.

Considering nursing or midwifery?

(8/1/06) It has never been a more exciting time to enter nursing or midwifery. Nursing is not just about working in hospitals: today's nurses are employed in schools, clinics, voluntary organisations, prisons, and nursing and residential homes.

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Contacts

Unison nursing

CONTACT DETAILS
Gail Adams is the head of nursing:
UNISON Healthcare
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Email: gail.adams@unison.co.uk
E-mail: k.russell@unison.co.uk

MINUTES AND CONSULTATIONS
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UNISON LINKS
Cleaner Hospitals campaign
Primary Care
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Professional Services
UNISON Scotland
UNISON Cymru Wales
UNISON Northern Ireland

EXTERNAL LINKS
Nursing & Midwifery Council
Nursing Times
Parliamentary Bills
Working in Partnership Programme
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