Find your tribe, find your voice.

Being a student nurse is exciting, challenging and rewarding. As an RCN student member, you can take an active role in the student nursing community and use your voice to improve the student experience.

Support our campaigns

The UK needs more nurses and every nursing student deserves a solid start in our profession. If you agree, get involved in our campaigns.

You spoke and the government listened. A new Graduate Guarantee scheme will: 

• Ensure NHS providers begin recruiting newly registered nurses and midwives before vacancies formally arise. Trusts will be supported to employ staff based on projected need rather than headcount  
• Ensure thousands of new posts are easier to access by removing barriers for trusts  
• Create opportunities for graduates and ensure a seamless transition from training to employment  

These new measures are a testament to the tireless campaigning and determination of you and your peers - lobbying UK governments to ensure there are enough jobs available for newly registered nurses now and in future.

But we're still fighting. Student nurses studying in England often report financial hardship when completing their degrees. This sadly means that many nursing students choose not to complete their degrees.  

According to research we conducted, nurses would stay in the NHS up to 10 years longer if their student loans were forgiven. That's why we're also calling on the UK government to introduce a loan forgiveness model for nursing staff in return for working in the NHS and wider public services for a set period of time.

Student nurses studying in Northern Ireland often report financial hardship when completing their degrees. This sadly means that many nursing students choose not to complete their degrees. And despite there being a nursing workforce shortage, many final year students and newly registered nurses report difficulties finding permanent nursing roles. We're calling for guaranteed jobs for all nursing graduates.

We know that from year-to-year some final year students in Scotland face problems finding their first job. To be told there are no posts available is directly at odds with their personal experience. During placements you've experienced the pressures on nursing teams and witnessed the significant gaps in the workforce.

We continually lobby the Scottish government on this issue, directly and through the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce. We want to see better support for final year students in their search for a job. We’re also calling for significant improvements in workforce planning processes. We want planning to be driven by service and patient need, not by finances.

If you’re having a problem finding your first job you can also contact us directly for advice and support.

Student nurses studying in Wales often experience financial hardship when completing their degrees. This inevitably means that some are put off a choosing a nursing career and some students are forced to drop out early from their course. We urgently need the Welsh Government to reform the financial support system for nursing students in Wales so it genuinely support the future of nursing in Wales.

Nursing students in Wales can opt-in to a 'streaming system' that should guarantee them a job in NHS Wales. This year some students in Wales have reported delays and difficulties in this process. We're closely monitoring this situation and we hope it will be resolved for all students by the end of July. If you're experiencing such difficulties please contact us directly for advice and support.

Represent the nursing student community

From putting yourself out there for a student role to speaking up about the things that matters most – your fellow students are counting on you.

What it means to be a Student Ambassador

There's so much to get stuck into as a student ambassador. Here are just a few ways you could help to create positive, inclusive change for student nurses in your region and beyond.

• Direct students to RCN clinical and wellbeing resources and services
• Help members develop networks to share experiences and encourage peer support
• Act as a role model for fellow student members

• Organise opportunities to be visible to members
• Encourage members to get involved with RCN campaigns, events and Congress
• Promote the professional services of the RCN Libraries
• Develop connections with members to share their experiences and to work collectively

• Promote the RCN and recruit members and RCN student ambassadors
• Share examples of good and poor practice and organisational culture
• Encourage members to question and influence on student issues
• Create a link between universities, the RCN and members to promote partnership working

More student events

Share your story with a short video

Real-life stories are one of the most powerful tools we can use to fight for change. Send us a short selfie video describing your experiences and we may share it on social media to support our campaigns.

Hear from your fellow students