`Why I came here? It`s the Pounds...` `Dark, gloomy cold, brrr...... this

‘Why I came here? It’s the Pounds...’
Although the salary is just enough/sufficient for our
daily needs, financial problems occurred if you are
funding your children to university or if one of the
members of your family becomes unwell….
‘Life back home was comfortable but I
didn’t see myself ever going to progress
as a nurse if I stayed there...’
My reason for coming to the UK was
to experience a different life. I had
seen other nurses from ‘abroad’ who
had come to the hospital I worked in
Kenya and admitted their confidence
I thought ‘that is how I want to be’.
Coming here was very exciting.
‘First few days were all about orientation...’
I reached the college, the staffs were very
welcoming. I joined in the class
consisting of foreign nurses from
different parts of the world. I was able to
meet friends from home too.
The first 15 days was all study days.
Mandatory training, trust practices etc...
The package they offered was very attractive not to
mention the exchange rate of the pound to peso – you
can also bring your children to UK and there is also big
chance for them to become a citizen of this country.
Paid such as maternity leave and 7 weeks annual leave
paid aside from that reason, some of my colleagues
applied for that job as well and I don’t want to feel I
was left behind. The processing is very quick as well it
takes only up to six months.
‘Dark, gloomy cold, brrr......
this is my first minute in the land of the Queen.’
I could remember I was wearing
my first trench coat ever as I’ve
never been to a very cold country
like England... I could remember
my other fellow nurses walking
with me then we were extremely
happy that we finally experience
snow (but not now!)
We learnt quite a lot about nursing in the UK, case studies,
NMC professional conduct and nursing care plans...
They have to mentor us for the first 3-6
months before we are registered as
foreign nurses. I can’t believe it. They
have to teach us how to take blood
premises, blood extractions, we have
been doing this for years in our moving
progression and the mentor was just
qualified for 2 years. Anyway they found
out that we know more actually than
what they thought of us. This is their
second time to be working with foreign
nurses. It was kinda boring for the most
part of the day, weeks and months.
I hate this season with
the snow and having to
de-ice the car in the
cold and all. I love the
snow but only when it is
still fresh and you can’t
slide on it. After that, it
is not the best thing.
‘The homesickness was terrible…’
I miss home today. I sat in the living room with my husband
and suddenly felt homesick. All my sisters and brother are still
home and times like this I miss them terribly…
One of the things I
feel while I am here
is homesickness. I
haven’t been home
now in 4 years all
because of the
many things I have
chosen to do while
I can. This year I
would like to go
home.
(back home) though my workload was
heavy the camaraderie between the
nurses and doctors, even the helpers
was really amazing. I was very relaxed
and at ease with myself, the relationship
between my colleagues was really close
and personal, sometimes you gonna
end up as one of the godmother of their
children. We always go out for a meal
after heavy work, we have annual
outings too – I really miss those days.
LIFE AS A MIGRANT NURSE IN THE UK
This project is funded by the Richard Benjamin Memorial Grant.
Dr Emee Vida Estacio, School of Psychology, Keele University, ST5 5BG Email: [email protected]