Fund pay for student nurses and midwives for placement hours

Student nurses and midwives are the heart of our NHS doing work for free. Many of us are unable to financially support ourselves.

When on placement, we are limited to just 8 paid hours a week. The NMC says we can work a paid job only 8 hours a week. Anything over, this we can be asked to leave our course. This is because we are working 40 hours a week unpaid. Anything over the 48 hours, we can be seen to be endangering patients.

We work so hard and do so many hours to obtain our PIN and registration.

The Government recognises the unique nature of nursing and midwifery degrees and the financial pressures that students may face in undertaking one.

Nursing and midwifery degree education standards, including standards for practice learning, are set by the independent regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Students on clinical placements are treated as ‘supernumerary’ to ensure that there are protections in place so that, while student nurses and midwives are in training, they are not replacing trained professionals required for safe and effective care. These placement protections are also necessary to allow students to gain the skills and experience required to graduate and join the professional register. To safely and effectively practise as a registered nurse or midwife once qualified, it is essential that most practice learning is undertaken in direct care of clients, within a framework of supervision by registered nurses, midwives and other registered healthcare professionals.

We recognise students’ concerns about limits on paid work to eight hours per week during placements; however, these are not set by the NMC. Restrictions commonly reflect the UK Working Time Regulations (Working Time Regulations 1998), under which placement hours will usually count as working time and total weekly working time should remain within the 48-hour average weekly limit (unless the worker has opted out), alongside the usual rest break requirements. Universities may apply local limits on additional paid work to support compliance and patient safety.

To support students with their finances while studying, eligible pre-registration nursing and midwifery students can receive supplementary financial support in the form of non-repayable grants via the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF), in addition to their student loans. Students receive a minimum of £5,000 in each academic year, with further financial support available for childcare, placement travel and dual accommodation costs. Students experiencing financial challenges can access an additional non-repayable grant of up to £3,000 per academic year. Additional funding is also available for studying certain courses, for example, Mental Health Nursing and Learning Disabilities Nursing.

Alternative routes into nursing and midwifery professions are available, such as the apprenticeship route, which provides the opportunity for people to earn as they learn. The registered degree apprenticeship route differs from the undergraduate nursing or midwifery degree route; an apprenticeship is a job, in which the apprentice is employed by, and therefore paid by, the NHS trust. In addition to their studies, they provide services to their employer as a Healthcare Support Worker, Nursing Associate, or other role. Degree apprentices must achieve the same standards as students taking the traditional undergraduate nursing or midwifery degree route, but, given the unique combination of paid employment and study, this is achieved over a four-year, rather than three-year, period.

The Government has no plans to pay student nurses while on placement.

Department of Health and Social Care