Meet our nurses

Although nursing was not my ambition, my father wanted me to become one. In fact, he filled out my university applications. While I did not struggle with the course, I did not find a deep connection with it.

I was a fresh graduate when my grandmother had a bad fall and had a fracture that required me to be her primary caregiver. My great love for my Lola (Granny) might have tied the strings together. She always encouraged me to pursue nursing, not just because of family members who preceded me, but because she believed in my abilities.

 

Once she recovered, I tried applying to one of our local hospitals in my hometown and luckily got a role as one of their ward nurses. It was a surprise how the profession grounded and impacted me. I learnt to love nursing and everything that came with it.

 

Moving to the UK was not only an attractive option but a sensible one, as I had family to support me here following my father's and grandmother's passing two years prior. Furthermore, I was ready to grow and accept new challenges in a foreign country.

 

When I arrived from the Philippines as an international nurse in May 2018, I joined Whittington as a healthcare assistant while waiting for the Observed Structured Clinical Examination. Once I had passed my OSCE, I joined Whittington's Meyrick Ward, a care of the elderly ward, and worked there for 18 months. Working on Meyrick was rewarding, but I wanted a bigger challenge. It was easy to stay in my comfort zone, but I wanted more and sought greater fulfilment. I started in the Intensive Care Unit just before the pandemic struck in 2020. My knowledge and skills have developed so much since, as the pace is different. The pressure can be high, but the teaching is structured and steady.

 

I immediately felt a strong sense of support, especially during an emergency. I was never left alone or made to feel pushed or pressured. It is a very nurturing environment. The teamwork is excellent and there is a good work attitude and a genuine drive to teach and nurture more junior people.

In 2023, I finally decided to do the ITU course at Master's level. The course was run by the North Central London ITU and Middlesex University and, towards the end of it, I applied to become a senior Band 6 ITU nurse in June 2024. I got the job, and that is where I am now. Taking courses and training while working was challenging, especially with a toddler.

 

It is hard work and exhausting but, with my family, we are moving forward and achieving the best we can. I am looking forward to doing another course next year to boost my skills even further.

If you are ambitious and work hard, there are opportunities for everyone. You just have to ask and look for openings. Specific courses for international nurses, such as leadership courses, are available via the Florence Nightingale Foundation and can create a real sense of belonging and community and affirm that you are not alone on your journey. I also discovered there is a network for Philippine nurses, the Filipino Nurses Association UK and communities such as those help speed up your progress.

I feel very settled in my role and life in the UK. My partner and I live in Barnet and we like the community and the High Street there. I have come to love north London and feel fortunate to have found my own comfort zone there.