Are Part-Time Pre-Registration Routes into Adult Nursing Required to Expand the Workforce. A Narrative Literature Review

Applications to pre-registration nursing programmes in the United Kingdom have declined significantly in recent years, raising concerns about the sustainability of the future nursing workforce. Although more than 500 undergraduate adult nursing routes are currently available nationally, the majority are delivered through traditional full-time models. These programme structures may unintentionally limit access for prospective students who have employment commitments, caring responsibilities, or financial constraints, potentially restricting participation among groups that could contribute to workforce expansion. This literature review examines whether the development of part-time pre-registration adult nursing routes is necessary to support workforce growth and widen access to nursing education. A narrative literature review incorporating systematic search elements was undertaken. Database searches were conducted using CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PubMed to identify peer-reviewed empirical studies exploring the experiences of part-time nursing students. Studies were included where they focused on pre-registration nursing contexts and examined factors such as workload, wellbeing, structural barriers, and workforce participation. Five studies met the inclusion criteria and were subsequently synthesised using thematic analysis. The literature consistently indicates that part-time nursing students face a number of challenges during their studies. These include high academic workloads, conflicts between work, study, and personal responsibilities, financial pressures, fatigue, and inconsistent levels of institutional support. Despite these structural and practical barriers, part-time students frequently demonstrate strong motivation, resilience, and the capacity to succeed academically. This suggests that many of the difficulties experienced by part-time learners arise from programme design and institutional structures rather than from limitations in students’ abilities or commitment. The findings highlight that the predominance of full-time programme delivery may disproportionately disadvantage mature students, individuals in employment, and those from socioeconomically underrepresented backgrounds. These groups are central to national widening participation agendas and represent an important potential source of future nursing workforce supply. Expanding and redesigning part-time pre-registration nursing pathways may therefore improve accessibility to nursing education, enhance student retention, reduce fatigue-related risks within clinical practice, and contribute to addressing workforce shortages. Overall, the literature suggests that part-time routes are both viable and increasingly necessary to support the future sustainability of the nursing workforce. Keywords: nursing education; part-time study; pre-registration nursing; widening participation; workforce planning