In recognition of her work with international nurses, Netce Sia was invited to Buckingham Palace last week to attend a reception hosted by the King to celebrate the contribution of internationally educated nurses and midwives working in the UK’s Health and Social Care sector.
The reception to celebrate nurses and midwives hosted by King Charles III was part of the NHS 75 celebrations.
Netce is the Senior Clinical Practice Educator for the international recruitment team of nurses at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. One of the aspects of her role is to welcome new nurses at the start of their career within the Trust and ensure colleagues adjust to their new environment by teaching and preparing them for their clinical training enabling them to be qualified UK registered nurses.
Netce also acts as a point of contact for the nurses regarding life in the UK 24 hours a day, providing her colleagues with holistic and pastoral support during their induction period and beyond.
Her colleagues have described her as “supportive, very hard working and passionate about the development of international nurses. She is an inspiration to all nurses.”
Netce Sia, who is originally from the Philippines has over two decades worth of knowledge and dedication as a nurse and practice educator. She is admired for her impressive leadership skills and has become a beloved mentor to many nurses and colleagues over the years.
Speaking about her opportunity to attend Buckingham Palace and meet the King, Netce said:
“I feel truly blessed and grateful to have received this invitation from The King to celebrate international nurses and midwives at Buckingham Palace. I did not know anything about it and could not believe when I first received the invite in the mail. However, I am very thankful to have been present for a lovely evening recognising the contribution and impact of international nurses and midwives and all involved.”
“The evening was a great boost of morale, especially to have had a couple of brief moments to speak to the King and celebrate his birthday with him. Being inside Buckingham Palace was an incredible experience and was as majestic as I had always imagined it to be.”
“I want to say thank you to all my colleagues and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, the Trust that I have been with since arriving to the UK, for the continuous and endless support for not only my development but for the development of many of my internationally recruited peers. It was an unforgettable experience, thank you God for the opportunity.”