We are trained to care. But who is caring for us?

The Royal College of Nursing has launched a a national petition calling for urgent clarity on post-qualification employment in NHS Wales.

This petition is not a side issue. It is the issue – the focal point of a growing student-led movement demanding transparency, fairness, and a future in the country they trained to serve.

The petition is a collective response to a situation that has left students anxious, demotivated, and unsure how to plan their lives.

It calls for honest communication about job availability, a realistic timeline for the 2026 streamlining process, clarity on bursary implications, and a transparent national workforce plan for newly qualified nurses.

These are not radical demands. They are the bare minimum students need to make informed decisions about their futures.

Why this matters – and why now

Nursing students were encouraged to train in Wales on the understanding that NHS Wales would employ them after graduation. That expectation shaped where they studied, lived, and built their support networks.

But as graduation approaches, many final years still have no confirmed jobs – and no clear information about whether roles will exist, where they will be located, or how decisions will be made.

This uncertainty is already affecting student wellbeing. At Aberystwyth, our survey of Nursing students shows consistently high levels of anxiety, with around 80 per cent of students saying they are concerned or very concerned about finding a job post-qualification.

One student described the situation as simply “stressful not knowing where I’ll be living after I qualify“. Another highlighted the pressure on international students whose visas depend on securing employment.

These experiences are not unique to Aberystwyth – but they show how deeply the issue is felt here.

A workforce contradiction Wales cannot afford

The petition highlights a contradiction that students across Wales have noticed: NHS Wales spent £88.7 million on agency staff last year, yet newly qualified nurses are struggling to find Band 5 opportunities.

Students see job adverts requiring experience for entry-level roles. They see confusion around recruitment practices. And they see a system that appears unable to absorb the very workforce it trained.

This is not a pipeline problem. It is a planning problem. And it risks losing a generation of nurses Wales cannot afford to lose.

Why Students’ Unions must step up

This is a moment for collective action across the Welsh student movement.

Students’ Unions have the power to amplify student voice, coordinate pressure, and ensure that institutions and policymakers cannot ignore what is happening. Nursing students have done the work of organising, gathering evidence, and articulating their needs. Now they need SUs to stand beside them.

We are asking every SU in Wales to:

• Stand publicly with your nursing students
• Share the petition widely with students, staff, and your networks
• Sign the petition as an SU to demonstrate sector-wide solidarity
• Lobby your Senedd members, asking them to support the demands of the Royal College of Nursing petition

This is not about party politics. It is about student welfare, workforce sustainability, and the future of healthcare in Wales.

The message from students is clear

Nursing students want to stay. They want to work in Wales. They want to care for the communities they trained in.

But they need clarity, honesty, and a plan.

The petition is their collective voice – and it is the most important tool they have right now.

If you represent a Students’ Union in Wales, your support matters. Your signature matters. Your solidarity matters.

Because when students train to care for others, the least we can do is care about their future.