September 2023

With the new academic year getting underway, our September edition is dedicated to supporting nurses in education and exploring the challenges that the sector faces.

The NHS workforce plan includes an ambitious pledge to increase the number of nursing training places by 80% by 2031-32. But the number of people in the UK applying for undergraduate nursing courses has dropped by 16% this year.

We have spoken to nurse educators and employers faced with massively boosting nursing numbers at a time when interest in the profession seems to be declining. The new leaders of the Council of Deans of Health have also shared their thoughts exclusively with Nursing Times on the problems facing universities and how change is needed.

Meanwhile, our clinical section looks at education from a career perspective, focusing on what it is like to transition from being a clinician to a lecturer, and explores placement opportunities in nursing homes.

We also discuss the learning experiences of those who were students during the pandemic and hear from one graduate who hopes she will not be labelled as one of the ‘Covid generation’.