The Royal College of Nursing general secretary Prof Nicola Ranger said she welcomed the news, noting it should “provide hope to students”, but added a note of caution.
“When the health service urgently needs nursing staff, it was absurd to leave people in limbo,” she said. “The test of this will be if students can find jobs, vacant posts are filled, and patients receive the care they deserve.”
Gill Walton, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “We’re pleased that the government has listened to the voices of student midwives who are desperate to start their career, only to find those opportunities blocked.
“I know today’s announcement will come as a relief to student midwife members.”
But it was not clear in the announcement what extra money there might be for employers already under pressure to cut costs.
Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers which represents trusts, said it was good that staff concerns were being addressed – but added that there were questions over the finances.
He said: “It’s not clear how this will be fully funded, nor what it could mean for other staff groups facing similar challenges.
“Trust budgets are already under enormous pressure. There is no spare money.”
The health union Unison said ministers should also deal with a lack of opportunities for new graduates in occupational therapy as well as paramedics and other professions.
The attempts to make it easier for newly qualified nurses and midwives to get jobs comes at a time of a growing row with the government over NHS pay in England.
The Royal College of Nursing is calling for talks with ministers over pay issues after a consultative ballot of members showed a large majority opposing the 3.6% pay award. Future strike action has not been ruled out.
Another health union, the GMB, has said there will be talks on Monday at the Department of Health after its members also came out against the wage award in a ballot.