Nurses across the UK are struggling to access training in core areas such as infection control, a new survey by the RCN has revealed. The landmark survey of over 3,000 nurses showed that almost a third (32.1%) have been unable to access their mandatory training this year.
Despite this, many nurses are using annual leave (34.2%) and self-funding training (38.8%) in areas such as infection control, child protection and basic life support. However, the survey showed that only just over half (55.8%) felt that they were up to date with their training. The RCN is warning that this situation is one of the “red flags” indicating that cut-backs are starting to bite. The survey follows recent RCN research indicating that Trusts may be freezing specialist nurse posts, despite the fact that these roles save the NHS money. This situation echoes the deficits crisis in 2006, when specialist nurse posts were lost and training was cut back as a result of NHS Trusts taking shortterm measures to save money. Janet Davies, executive director of nursing and service delivery for the RCN, said: “We know from previous economic downturns that training is often the first place managers look when they need to start making cuts – even though nurses need to be up to date with issues such as infection control and child protection at all times.” Mandatory training for nurses includes areas which are crucial for patient safety and need regular updating such as infection control and manual handling. Of the third of nurses surveyed who said they had not had their mandatory training this year, the most frequent reason given (by 44% of respondents) was staff shortage and a lack of cover, suggesting that wards are being hit by a “double whammy” of low staffing levels and staff who are unable to update their skills. The survey also showed that low staffing levels mean that even where training is approved, staff are often forced to cancel at short notice to cover on the wards.
