Date of release: 12 May 2021
Many young nurses would be unsure about moving to work in a new country during a global pandemic, but Adenike Kusamotu was not put off by this – she, alongside 36 other international nurses, took the plunge and joined the Trust in February of this year. Now working at New Cross Hospital on the respiratory ward, she finds herself doing her bit to care for the patients of Wolverhampton and its wider communities.
Looking back to her younger years, Adenike remembers being inspired by her mum who was also a nurse. She explained: “I grew up watching my mum and hearing her stories, and I was always interested in her work. I felt it was something I too could be passionate about.
“I knew I was destined to be in a caring profession and for me it’s so incredibly rewarding; supporting patients in their recovery and watching them get stronger each day. Every time someone is discharged I feel blessed to have been a part of their journey.”
A fully qualified nurse in her home country of Nigeria, Adenike and her peers are undertaking their OSCE examination which is designed to test clinical skill performance and competence. Upon completion, the nurses will gain the necessary qualification to practice as a registered nurse in the UK.
While studying for her exams, the international nurses are still able to provide care to patients in a number of ways; from making observations to administering medication and taking samples / readings. Here, Adenike works with a multidisciplinary team of professionals to provide the appropriate physical and emotional support.
“While there are many similarities in procedures, it has been a big learning curve for me – from new equipment to a different culture and working environment.
“The technology is so advanced over here and the pathways are very comprehensive, it’s been a privilege to be a part of such a modern and innovative healthcare organisation. It’s so interesting and the staff have been so welcoming.
“COVID-19 has made working in healthcare quite challenging, but the Trust is working extremely hard to safely support its patients and by following the guidance and using resources effectively, staff are enabled to keep delivering the same high-quality care.”
The nurse also remarked on the vast amount of training opportunities she has been presented with since joining the organisation.
“The Trust is big on further education, whether that’s with face-to-face training or e-learning packages online. With my OSCE exam, which I will sit in a month’s time, there has been support from a team of fantastic trainers. A big thank you to the education team for their time spent helping me to prepare.”
When asked what International Nurses Day means to her, Adenike replied: “It’s about recognising the contribution of nurses to society, especially throughout the recent pandemic.
“By showing people what fantastic opportunities there are in nursing, hopefully we can attract a new generation of people to join the profession!”
Since March 2020, over 130 pre-OSCE international nurses like Adenike have supported the Trust, working as healthcare assistants prior to gaining their UK registration and then continuing to support us as newly qualified staff nurses. A big thank you to all international nurses for their continued hard work!
