Nursing students at Swansea University faced significant anxiety regarding their future employment after the Swansea Bay University Health Board announced in October 2025 that there would be no available positions for the graduating cohort. This decision left the 65-student group grappling with feelings of “unemployment, uncertainty and fear,” as they had been led to believe they would enter a profession in high demand.
The cohort, known as the M23 nursing cohort, was disheartened to learn that despite the ongoing staffing shortages in the healthcare sector, there were no posts available for adult branch nurses. The health board initially cited a lack of vacancies in adult nursing roles, although they did mention some openings in mental health and learning disability services. In response to this news, students expressed their frustrations through an open letter to the health board, detailing their commitment and sacrifices during their training, which included working long, unsociable hours and providing compassionate care to patients.
In the wake of this backlash, the Royal College of Nursing criticized the health board’s handling of the situation, calling the lack of job opportunities a “slap in the face” to students who had been assured that their skills would be needed. One student referred to the situation as a “fraud,” emphasizing that they had been sold the promise of secure employment in a field known for its shortages.
Health Board Adjusts to Student Concerns
Following the uproar from students and the community, the health board announced it would now be offering “substantive posts and fixed term rotational posts” for the affected nursing students. A spokesperson for Swansea Bay University Health Board explained that while there had been no permanent inpatient ward nursing vacancies, they were able to adjust their staffing model to create additional employment opportunities.
“We constantly juggle a mixed staffing model involving different bands of staff and a blend of permanent staff, agency staff, bank staff and overtime,” the spokesperson stated. This flexibility allowed them to open new positions for the graduating students, which they hope will alleviate some of the anxiety surrounding their job prospects.
Professor Sandy Harding, associate director of nursing at RCN Wales, expressed relief at the health board’s response. “RCN Wales is pleased to hear that Swansea Bay University Health Board has worked closely with HEIW to develop streaming pathways for nursing students to provide adequate jobs in the area, including substantive and rotational posts,” she said.
Harding emphasized the importance of providing job security for students who have dedicated their studies to nursing in Wales, ensuring they can contribute to the future workforce in the region. The collaboration between the health board, students, and educational institutions aims to secure a positive outcome for the nursing profession in Wales.
As these nursing students prepare to graduate, the recent developments provide a renewed sense of hope, demonstrating that their hard work and dedication may indeed lead to fulfilling careers in a field where their skills are greatly needed.
