Resolution: Supernumerary status

This resolution passed.

Members can view a recording of the debate here.

Nursing students are preparing to join a safety critical profession. The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s education standards state that students on placement must be supported to learn, which includes supernumerary status, so that they are not counted as part of the staffing numbers (NMC, 2018).

RCN Nursing Workforce Standards state that all nursing students must be supernumerary when in training and not included in the nursing workforce establishment (RCN, 2021). It is essential that students learn, practice, and develop practice competence and confidence without the pressure of operational demands. Evidence demonstrates that protected time for reflection and clinical supervision is critical for safe practice and professional development (Florence Nightingale Foundation et al, 2022).

In addition, students on placement will need to be offered sufficient practice supervision and assessment from staff who have suitable knowledge and skill, and with dedicated time to undertake the role (Borwell, 2021).

The nursing workforce crisis places significant pressure on clinical staff and students alike, compromising a student’s ability to insist on supported and protected learning time, as they feel morally compelled to support their colleagues and contribute to the workforce.

Clinical staff equally experience the pressure and struggle to find time to provide clinical supervision and assessment for students. In some cases, placement providers explicitly ask, or even expect students to fill gaps on the staffing rota.

Studies prior to the pandemic identified the perceived unfairness experienced by students on placement. These have included experiences of being used as a free pair of hands and expected to perform tasks that do not relate to learning outcomes and competencies (Jack et al, 2018).

Whilst students contributing to the operational work of the placement may offer some opportunity for learning, this will be varied and compromised, as a student working without supervision must only practice within their scope of confidence and competence (NMC, 2018).

Expanding placement capacity is a national strategic priority. To meet the government’s target of 50,000 more nurses for the NHS, protected learning time for students on placement is vital (Borwell, 2021).

If a student’s learning is compromised, successful completion and registration may be delayed or even prevented. Equally, if the quality of learning during nursing education is limited, transition from a student to a newly registered nurse may present significant challenges and could have a detrimental impact on retaining people within the nursing profession.

The RCN is campaigning for laws ensuring safe and effective staffing across the UK and we urge Congress to ask RCN Council to consider the impact of staffing shortages on student experience and supernumerary status. Protected time for supervisors and assessors should match the Welsh approach where it is specifically referenced in the statutory guidance underpinning the legislation.

Reading lists for each agenda item can be found here.

References

Borwell J and Leigh J (2021) Addressing the practice learning and placement capacity conundrum, British Journal of Nursing, 30(18), pp. 1093–1093.

Florence Nightingale Foundation, Foundation of Nursing Studies, Point of Care  Foundation and The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (2022) Regular protected time for reflective practice in nursing and midwifery. Available at: https://florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk/regular-protected-time-for-reflective-practice-in-nursing-and-midwifery/ (Accessed 22 April 2022)

Jack K, Hamshire C, Harris W E, Langan M, Barrett N and Wibberley C (2018) ‘My mentor didn’t speak to me for the first four weeks’: perceived unfairness experienced by nursing students in clinical practice settings, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(5–6), pp. 929–938.

Nursing & Midwifery Council (2018) Realising professionalism: standards for education and training. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/standards-for-nurses/  (Accessed 22 April 2022)

Nursing & Midwifery Council (2019) Supporting information: protected learning time in practice for nursing associate programmes. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/supporting-information-on-standards-for-student-supervision-and-assessment/student-empowerment/what-to-expect/supernumerary-protected-learning-time/ (Accessed 22 April 2022)

Royal College of Nursing (2021) Nursing workforce standards: supporting a safe and effective nursing workforce. Available at: https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/publications/rcn-workforce-standards-uk-pub-009681 (Accessed 22 April 2022)