{"id":92319,"date":"2025-02-07T17:34:57","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T17:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=92319"},"modified":"2025-02-07T17:34:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T17:34:59","slug":"student-nurses-protest-course-closure-as-part-of-cardiff-university-proposals-to-axe-courses-and-400-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2025\/02\/07\/student-nurses-protest-course-closure-as-part-of-cardiff-university-proposals-to-axe-courses-and-400-jobs\/","title":{"rendered":"Student nurses protest course closure as part of Cardiff University proposals to axe courses and 400 jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The proposal comes as Wales faces a severe nursing shortage, placing pressure on an already overstretched workforce<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

HUNDREDS of student nurses gathered at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff to protest the closure of their prestigious nursing programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposals by Cardiff University – which could also include axing ancient history, theology and music as well as nursing – are to fill a \u00a331m funding deficit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The protest on Friday, February 7, followed a similar demonstration by nursing lecturers outside the Senedd which happened on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposals have been met with widespread criticism from some staff, students and unions. But the university has said there is no longer an option “to continue as we are” partly due to declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cerys Keane, 27, is a third year nursing student at Cardiff University, and a member of the Save Nursing group which organised the protest and which is made up of more than 300 student nurses across Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to bring staff and students together in solidarity to show that we won\u2019t go without a fight,” Ms Keane said.   
 
\u201cAnyone who has been treated in hospital or community services will have been treated by a student nurse at some point in their lives. We care for people from cradle to grave in the best of times and the worst of times.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNursing is an incredible career, and the value to the very fabric of a functioning society we represent cannot be underestimated.  
 
\u201cBut nursing has long since been undervalued and prioritised and if we want a functioning health service, the university executives and the Welsh government must intervene.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Nicola Ranger, chief executive director of the Royal College of Nursing Wales spoke at the protest and said: \u201cThis is an absolute attack on the safety-critical brilliance of nursing, and that is what we are fighting for here today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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