Nurses to receive boost to graduate pay and job progression

The government and the Royal College of Nursing have agreed measures to raise graduate nurse pay and introduce a national preceptorship. Employers will review Band 5 roles and extra funding is pledged to support any resulting pay uplifts.

NHS nurses are the focus of a new agreement between the government and the Royal College of Nursing to recognise their work and improve career support. Officials say nursing is central to the government's 10 Year Health Plan and that many nurses have not been paid fairly. The package includes plans to increase graduate pay, review Band 5 roles and introduce a national preceptorship for newly qualified nurses. The government engaged with nursing unions including the RCN, UNISON, Unite and GMB ahead of the agreement. Key points: - The government and the Royal College of Nursing agreed measures to increase graduate nurse pay and create a national preceptorship. - Employers will review every Band 5 nursing role to check pay and job descriptions, with additional funding to support that process and any resulting salary uplifts. - The Chief Nursing Officer for England will lead work with unions, employers and stakeholders to improve the quality and consistency of preceptorships for newly qualified nurses. - The government has committed to fund discussions on reforming the Agenda for Change pay structure, following NHS Pay Review Body recommendations in 2024 and 2025. - The reported package is said to extend potential graduate pay uplifts to other NHS graduate professions, with the NHS Staff Council to decide the level of any increase. Summary: The package aims to address pay and early-career support for nurses by raising starting pay and standardising preceptorship. Employers are to review Band 5 roles and the NHS Staff Council will set the level of graduate pay uplift during broader Agenda for Change discussions.