The Royal College of Nursing Briefing Paper, Valuing Nursing – Why Scotland Urgently Needs a Nursing Retention Strategy

That the Parliament welcomes the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) briefing paper, Valuing Nursing – why Scotland urgently needs a Nursing Retention Strategy; understands that, in the 12 months to September 2022, 2,690 registered nurses left the profession in Scotland, which is a 13% increase compared with the previous year, and a significantly higher rise than in the other parts of the UK; further understands that the cost of hiring agency staff to fill nursing vacancies in 2021-22 was £88.8 million, which is more than double the cost in the previous year; believes that there is also a worrying lack of nurses in social care services, with over 1,300 fewer registered nurses in care homes for adults since 2014, which is a 25.7% decrease; understands that, as a result of workforce shortages, the RCN’s 2021 Employment Survey found that 73% of RCN Scotland members work overtime at least once per week, and that nearly 40% of them do so most shifts, many of them noting that this overtime is unpaid; recognises that, according to the briefing paper, the main reasons for nurses considering leaving their jobs are that they feel undervalued, are under too much pressure and are feeling concern over the ever-increasing low staffing levels; acknowledges that, according to UCAS data, applications to nursing courses starting later in 2023 have fallen by 24%; understands that less than a half of nurses would recommend nursing as a career; joins the RCN in urging the Scottish Government to develop a Scottish Nursing Retention Strategy, whereby it will outline actions to improve working conditions, ensure that nursing staff can develop and progress their careers, promote health at work, enable and promote flexible working, increase support for nurses in the early stages of their careers, improve staff engagement as well as recruitment, and increase student retention; commends the hard work of all registered nurses and nursing support workers, and thanks them for their work.