Student nurses deserve to be paid

THE situation where student nurses will not get paid for their work placement is deplorable, morally reprehensible and just plain wrong.

Students, in any event, should not be put on work rosters until after they have completed their degrees. The nine-month work placement should be axed from the nursing degree. Newly qualified nurses can then get their work experience on the job in the same way as newly qualified doctors do.

Students should not be rostered to work, they should be studying and observing clinical practice whilst on their degree course.