Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure newly qualified nurses have pathways to gain clinical experience.

NHS England is working with employers, universities, and regional nursing leads to ensure that support is in place to help graduating nurses find a role as soon as possible after qualification and transition into the workplace.

It is important that as part of their first roles, newly registered nurses are supported to embed their skills and integrate into their new team and place of work. Nursing preceptorships provide structured support for newly qualified nurses to do this as they transition into professional roles. The NHS England National Preceptorship Framework sets out that all newly qualified nurses should receive preceptorship in their first-year post-registration.