Nursing workforce expansion
COVID-19
Employment advice
- COVID-19 FAQs
- COVID-19 and vaccination
- COVID-19 and staffing levels
- Long COVID
- Employment guidance for NHS staff
- Individual risk assessments
- Nursing students & trainee nursing associates advice
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) advice
- Redeployment guidance
Clinical guidance
- Managing COVID-19
- COVID-19 vaccination
- Prescribing safely under COVID-19
- DNACPR & verification of death
- Mental health care delivery
Our work
- COVID-19 inquiry
- Our COVID-19 position statements
- Open letters
- Media statements
- Campaigning during COVID-19
Supporting you
The RCN, UNISON and Unite – trade unions representing nursing students – have reached agreement with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Chief Nursing Officers across the UK to enable nursing students like you to help your NHS colleagues deal with the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19.
You will be getting advice and guidance from your own union, but together we wanted to outline the major principles of these agreements.
These are that:
- Nursing students can choose whether or not to go onto clinical placements under these conditions – and you should not feel pressured to do so.
- Student safety is the priority and that means you are entitled to the same support and protection as all NHS staff. You can expect to be supervised and work within your level of competency.
- Your education and career are important. You will be supported in your learning and will not be pushed into joining the full register until you are ready.
- You should not lose out financially. Chief Nursing Officers have committed to ensuring that you will not be disadvantaged whichever choice you make.
Your unions stand behind you because we value your contribution to the NHS. We are there for you and will offer you support and guidance every step of the way.
