This Nurses’ Day, we celebrate the diversity of skills, knowledge and experience our nurses bring to the Trust and the shared passion that unites them.
In fact, many of our nurses join us from all over the world. Between May 2022 and April 2023, we welcomed 259 international nurses to the Trust.
From the moment they complete their application form, to the day they arrive at the Trust and beyond, they are supported by our dedicated International Recruitment Team across our sites.
Talking about their work, Fiona Keeling, Head of Nursing International Recruitment, said: “The fantastic pass rates our international nurses achieve in their Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), really reinforces the valuable work we do – helping our nurses to thrive and flourish in their careers.”
“We have had another really successful year and are now fully recruited for the year.”
Fiona Keeling, Head of Nursing International Recruitment
What happens when our international nurses arrive at UHSussex?
Approximately every six weeks, the Trust welcomes the next cohort of international nurses. Upon arriving at one of our hospitals, they are supported by the international recruitment teams who help them to get set up for life in the UK, from sorting their banking, to registering with a GP, searching for accommodation, and giving them a taste of life on the wards.
They then receive OSCE training prior to sitting the exam and gain their Nursing and Midwifery Council registration. After this, they start their clinical placement.
First-hand experience
Kudirat Olajumoke Adepoju, Staff Nurse, arrived at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in November 2021.
In her home country of Nigeria, Kudirat worked as an adult nurse in the community for 16 years, became a midwife in 2014 and a public health nurse in 2021, before deciding to continue her career in the United Kingdom.
Kudirat, who works on Level 9A West in the Digestives Diseases Centre, explains: “Nigeria is a developing country. As nurses, we know what to do but don’t really have all the resources. I wanted to practice nursing on a bigger platform with more advanced technology.
“It was overwhelming arriving in the UK but the International Recruitment Team were so supportive and took us through everything we needed to know. We were all treated equally and everybody was always ready to help.”
After one year, Kudirat has gained a wealth of experience and was successful in her application for the role of Junior Sister on Level 9A East in the Digestives Diseases Centre.
She added: “I received a lot of training – face to face, online via the IRIS learning platform and via a leadership course as part of the preceptorship programme. I love a challenge and am proud to be advancing my career at the Trust.”
All our nurses have their own unique career journeys at the Trust. Keep an eye out on our @UHSussex social media pages today as we spotlight nursing colleagues across our hospitals.
Meet our Chief Nurse Fellows on Nurses’ Day