Welsh health board issues update after student nurses left livid

A Welsh health board has performed a u-turn after telling nursing students there would be no jobs available to them once they graduated in February.

Swansea Bay University Health Board left the 65-person cohort facing "unemployment, uncertainty and fear" when the revelation came to light in October 2025. The M23 nursing cohort at Swansea University found out there would be no available posts for adult branch nurses within their cohort despite believing they were entering a profession which was understaffed and where there was "no need to worry about jobs".

Instead the health board said they were "urgently exploring all possible options" to find a solution to the problem. They added that there were some vacancies in their mental health and learning disability services but successful recruitment and retention of staff had meant none were available in adult nursing.

The news caused backlash with students who sent an open letter to the health board detailing how they'd worked long, unsociable hours, cleaned bodily fluids, and held people's hands as they've died with the knowledge they were entering a profession in high demand.

At the time the Royal College of Nursing slammed the health board, saying the lack of suitable posts had been "like a slap in the face" after students were assured their skills would be in demand. 

One student described the lack of vacancies as a "fraud". He continued: "We were sold this training as a 'no need to worry about jobs' training. It is an absolute nightmare. We have been used to plug NHS shortages, working hundreds of hours unpaid on our training, and now no jobs."

However, after the move sparked uproar the health board has now opened up "substantive posts and fixed term rotational posts" which should be sufficient for the students hoping to be employed in the region.

A spokesperson for Swansea Bay University Health Board said: "While as a health board we did not and do not have any substantive inpatient ward nursing vacancies, we do constantly juggle a mixed staffing model involving different bands of staff and a blend of permanent staff, agency staff, bank staff and overtime. By adjusting this mix and approach, we have been able to create additional opportunities."

Professor Sandy Harding, associate director of nursing at RCN Wales said: "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.

"Our student members came to us with concerns back in October last year of uncertainty around available job roles once they complete their studies. And RCN Wales worked closely with students, the health board and HEIW to achieve this outcome.

"We want to see students who have dedicated their studies in Wales to be able to build their expertise to nurture the workforce in Wales."