Page 25 - World of Irish Nursing April 2018

STUDENT & NEW GRADUATE FOCUS 43

Managing costs

on placement

iNMO student and new graduate officer,
Neal Donohue, looks at the cost of living for students on

clinical placement and the various allowances available

At this stage in the academic year, stu- this is particularly concerning for nurses this allowance is intended as a contribu-
dent nurses and midwives all over the and midwives, since most hospitals are tion towards the cost of clinical placement
country have started clinical placements based in urban areas. travelling to work or and is not intended to meet the full cost of
and are experiencing the highs and lows placement can be difficult as public trans- accommodation. the Daft.ie rental report
of working in healthcare. Nursing and port does not always cater well for the for 2017 shows an average monthly rent of
midwifery can be extremely rewarding unsociable hours worked by healthcare €632 for Dublin city centre. is the accom-
professions. i remember my very first professionals. Nurses and midwives are modation allowance sufficient to support
placement as a student. i was inspired by often dependent on finding accommoda- students in 2018?
the knowledge and skill of the staff who tion close to their place of work. According to the higher Education
took the time to teach and instruct me. the cost of transport has also increased Authority’s Eurostudent survey Vi 2016,
their knowledge and expertise seemed to substantially in recent years. since 2007 the overall average income for full time
be the glue that held the whole system there has been a significant reduction in students was €621, while average monthly
together. national bus and rail services especially in expenditure of full-time students on living
While students learn to navigate the rural areas, while the cost of motor insur- costs was €718. these figures do not take
complexities of professional relationships ance has increased. in 2017 alone, there into account the costs of education, and
and structures within the health service was an increase in fares on 74% of national since nursing and midwifery students
and learn to understand the concepts of transport routes. have added costs associated with clinical
professional accountability and responsi- the National student housing survey placements we can expect the deficit to be
bility, they go through a personal growth 2017 was carried out by the Union of much higher.
where their coping mechanisms are chal- students in ireland on the experiences Travel
lenged in a way that other students are of third-level students in ireland. it is travel costs for clinical placement may
not. they do this while developing a com- worrying that this report highlights the also be refunded as outlined in hsE hR Cir-
prehensive knowledge base and clinical relationship between high accommoda- cular 9/2004. Allowances may be claimed
skills, along with dealing with the pressures tion costs and increased student drop-out by students when they provide receipts to
of exams and assignments. rates. A total of 89% of the respondents the student allocations liaison officer in
Like all students they also must manage in this study report being at risk of phys- the health service.
their expenses related to living and edu- ical and mental health deterioration due student nurses and midwives are in
cation, but there are far higher expenses to unsuitable accommodation. With such a more precarious situation than other
while attending clinical placements, espe- high expenses, student nurses and mid- students because they attend clinical
cially in relation to accommodation and wives need to be aware of the allowances placements, so it is necessary to provide
travel. available to them. additional financial supports. At a time
Costs Allowances where there is a recruitment and reten-
in 2017 we saw another year of increases Nursing and midwifery students in first tion crisis for nurses and midwives we need
in the cost of rental accommodation. the to third year may claim allowances while to re-examine the supports available to
market shows that there is greater demand on clinical placement. these allowances are students to assist them on their path to
in urban areas, which increases the com- outlined in hsE hR Circular 9/2004 which registration. All eligible student nurses and
petition for renting. the latest figures in states: “A student on the pre-registration midwives should avail of these allowances.
the Daft.ie rental report for the final quar- nursing degree programme is entitled to an if you have any questions regarding the
ter of 2017 show that on average, listed accommodation allowance up to but not accommodation and travel allowances,
rents increased by 10.4% in 2017. in 2016 exceeding €50.79 weekly for the duration of available, please contact me via the details WIN Vol 26 No 3 April 2018
there was an increase of 13.5%, in 2015 an the placement where it is necessary for the listed below.
increase of 9% and in 2014 an increase of student to obtain accommodation away Neal Donohue is INMO student and new graduate officer
10.7%. from his/her normal place of residence”. Email: neal.donohue@inmo.ie; Tel: 01 6640628