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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Andrew Gregory Health editor

Half of nursing students in England have considered quitting, survey finds

Blurred motion in a hospital ward
Nearly six in 10 respondents said they were deterred by low morale and burnout among qualified nurses. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Almost half of nursing students in England have considered quitting before they graduate amid the worst workforce crisis in NHS history, according to the largest survey of its kind.

Applicant numbers have fallen significantly since the end of a grant to support nursing students in 2017. Now a report by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), seen by the Guardian, suggests that as many as 46% of those enrolled – about 32,000 students – could walk away.

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