Cutbacks at work mean nurses miss out on vital training

NURSES are missing out on vital training, including basic life-support and managing superbug infections, a poll found yesterday.

A survey of more than 3,000 nurses for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) found 32 per cent had been unable to attend their compulsory training this year.

Of those, 44 per cent cited staff shortages and a lack of cover as key reasons why they could not attend. The RCN said cutbacks meant nurses were being forced to train in their own time or miss out altogether.

The poll found 34 per cent of nurses had used their annual leave to train while 39 per cent had spent their own cash to keep up with developments in areas such as infection and child protection.

Overall, 56 per cent of nurses said they felt up-to-date with their training.

In February, the RCN released a survey which found more than one in three nurses had seen cuts in services over the past 12 months.

Janet Davies, executive director of nursing and service delivery for the RCN, said: "Today's survey follows our recent warning about maintaining investment in specialist nurses – a key indication that cuts are starting to take hold.

"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."

One nurse told the RCN: "On one occasion I was told I could have time off, but there was no cover so I had to forego the training.

"I can arrange my own training, and there is a possibility my employers will pay for it. However it will be in my own time."