International Nurses recognised at special ceremony

The dedication shown by international nurses to advancing their careers at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust has been recognised in a special ceremony.

Since 2016 UHCW has been part of a hugely successful programme to attract nurses from the Philippines. This was extended to include India in 2018.

Candidates have to meet stringent Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements, including two exams, before and after they enter the UK.

To date the Trust has welcomed 85 nurses, all of whom play an integral part in delivering expert patient care, from the Philippines and India.

Many of those who’ve made the transition were celebrated during a traditional afternoon tea at Coombe Abbey in Coventry.

The event was hosted by ID Medical recruitment, which organises the full entry process of International nurses into the NHS.

Registered Nurse Francis Niala, originally from Manila in the Philippines, said: “It has been such a worthwhile process thanks to the massive support I have received. I am blessed to have this opportunity and I will always pay it back to the Trust and to the people it serves.”

Registered Nurse Jennifer Madeja, 28, chose UHCW out of four possible options and has never looked back.

She said: “The whole journey has been extremely rewarding. Any adjustments made have been taken over by the excitement and joy I’ve felt since I started at UHCW. I am always learning and developing.”

Pass rates have been increasing since the start of the programme, with 98% in 2018 and 100% so far in 2019.

Nina Morgan, Chief Nursing Officer at UHCW, said: “International nurses have been supported in more than 30 of our clinical areas and the feedback from both candidates and ward managers has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The candidate’s journey is not an easy one. It takes dedication, strength of character and determination to succeed and gain an NMC registration here in the UK and we are so proud of the contributions our International nurses have provided to our clinical areas.”