UNION officials are demanding extra support for student nurses after a survey found 83% had fallen into debt.
The research involving more than 1000 student nurses in Scotland revealed 42% were running up credit card bills, 14% had taken out a loan and 6% had turned to high street loan companies.
Unison called on the Scottish Government to urgently increase bursary rates for student nurses and midwives on the back of the findings.
Matt McLaughlin, Unison's regional organiser for the NHS, said the present system of funding student nurses and midwives was "unfit for purpose".
He continued: "Two thirds of student nurses and midwives are working part-time, some doing more than one job to make ends meet, many working up to 25 hours or more per week. As students make very clear in our report they find juggling work placements, part-time jobs, and studying very stressful."
The survey, conducted Scotland wide, found that 85% of student nurses relied on financial support from family and 83% had been in debt in the last year.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said the Scottish Government is undertaking a review of the whole funding package available to nursing and midwifery students. Unions and other professional bodies are being involved in this process.
Ms Robison added: "The current (bursary) guarantees all eligible nursing and midwifery students a minimum income of £6,578 per year, excluding supplementary allowances.
"The core element of nursing and midwifery student support in Scotland remains non-means tested and non-repayable, unlike the support package for nursing and midwifery students in England, where the majority of potential funding support is either means tested or repayable.
"We'll ensure that support for nursing and midwifery students in Scotland fairly reflects the needs of all students with diverse personal circumstances."
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