There are amazingly compassionate, empathetic, resilient and competent potential nurses attempting to access a nursing degree, all over the UK and facing an unnecessary and discriminatory road block. It's time to lift the barrier and reinforce the NHS workforce.

Let's introduce competency based entrance tests, rather than relying on level 2 qualifications, with little real world value. Access to education needs the boost to ensure that appropriate candidates are not overlooked.

In pursuit of my nursing degree, I have faced a perplexing barrier. Despite possessing a First-Class Honours degree, advanced Health and Social Care qualifications, A-levels, and eight GCSEs with grades ranging from A to C, I am hindered by the current entry requirements. My qualifications have lead nowhere because of this unnecessary barrier to nursing education.

Presently, the pathway to enrol in an undergraduate nursing program mandates all candidates to have achieved a Grade C or above in GCSE Maths or to pass a Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths. While these qualifications may seem like appropriate benchmarks, they don't account for the practical realities and diverse competencies required in nursing. I have completed Level 4 of my Nursing degree, achieving 100% accuracy in drug calculations. Yet, I am now obstructed by an entry requirement that is unrelated to real-world nursing practice.

This issue is not just mine but affects many aspiring nurses. There are countless candidates ready to contribute significantly to the healthcare sector yet are constrained by this academic technicality. We need to recognize that nursing relies heavily on applied skills, empathy, and the ability to adapt, not just conventional mathematics. Current requirements exclude those who may excel in all these areas but struggle with traditional maths exams.

To address this issue, we propose the introduction of a specialized entrance test tailored to assess practical mathematics pertinent to nursing. This test should be implemented uniformly across all UK universities, ensuring candidates like myself are evaluated on relevant skills directly applicable to nursing practice. Such a change would focus on the competencies needed for everyday nursing tasks, ensuring no capable candidate is left behind due to arbitrary academic requirements.

Revising these criteria does not mean lowering standards; on the contrary, it ensures that we maintain a robust, practically skilled, and diverse nursing workforce. Our aim is to see more qualified individuals entering the field, ready to address the complex healthcare challenges of today.

By signing this petition, you support a much-needed change in entry requirements for nursing degrees, enabling many competent and passionate individuals to fulfill their calling in the healthcare sector. Let us pave the way for a more inclusive and practical evaluation process for our future nurses. Please sign and promote this change for a better healthcare system.