Why enjoyment is vital to nursing

In July, Skills for Care (2024) launched A Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England. I was pleased to be able to support this by joining colleagues at an event hosted by the University of Salford. This focused on celebrating being a nurse in social care. The event commenced with the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care in England, Deborah Sturdy, outlining her vision for the sector, and included conversations with inspirational nurses and students within adult social care.

The health and care nursing workforce is under significant pressure. The recently published Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2024) registration data report cites that, of the leavers who completed the NMC leavers’ survey, 49% stated they left earlier than expected. In the UK, burnout was the third most common reason given for leaving our profession and, worryingly, in line with the findings from last year's survey, around half of respondents are leaving earlier than planned (typically 5 years sooner than expected). Despite a slight improvement this year, most leavers said they would not recommend nursing or midwifery as a career. It was therefore important for us to take some time to use the opportunity to consider what brings joy to being a nurse in these complex times.