Student protests in France expand

Since September 21, high school and university students across France have been protesting to address worsening study conditions, including overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of teachers and staff, and outdated facilities. The movement has grown to include the National Federation of Nursing Students (FNESI), which is using the protests to highlight the specific challenges faced by nursing students.

Nursing students face low internship pay

According to the FNESI, nursing students in France earn between 1.03 € and 1.75 € per hour during internships, a rate that has not changed since 2020. This pay is significantly lower than the 4.50 € per hour earned by students in other higher education and research fields, despite a 20% rise in inflation during that period.

Financial burdens on nursing students

The federation highlights additional financial challenges for nursing students, such as travel costs, especially fuel expenses to reach internship locations. The FNESI reports that its hotline regularly receives calls about internship conditions, emphasizing the difficult situation nursing students face. The lack of pay increases over six years has worsened these issues.

Specialized nursing students face no pay

The FNESI warns that students pursuing specialized nursing roles, such as advanced practice nurses and operating room nurses, receive no compensation for their internships. The federation argues this situation financially weakens them, despite the critical skills these students will bring to public health. This reflects a broader lack of resources for nursing education, both in initial training and specialized programs.

Call for more teaching researchers in nursing

The FNESI points to a shortage of teaching researchers in nursing sciences, which hinders the development of both teaching and research in the field. To address this, the federation is demanding at least two teaching researcher positions at health universities. This would help strengthen nursing's role in higher education and improve the link between student training and research.

Demand for better recognition of internship supervisors

The federation also seeks better recognition for those who supervise nursing students during internships. These supervisors, who play a key role in training future nurses, are seen as underpaid for their pedagogical work. The FNESI is requesting a 300 € financial compensation for them to acknowledge their efforts and ensure quality supervision.

Broader goals for nursing education reform

Through these demands, the FNESI emphasizes that improving study conditions involves more than just financial compensation. It also requires better pedagogical resources and recognition for those involved in training. By joining the broader student protests, the federation aims to bring nursing studies into the spotlight, particularly regarding the funding of higher education. It remains to be seen whether public authorities will address these requests.