Theatre Nursing: from the Philippines to the UK

[skylung]

Hello.

This is a diary of sorts, and I have 3 days off, so please bear with my post

I am a theatre nurse from the Philippines and have just started work in one of the NHS Foundation Trust Hospitals in the UK. I have been here for almost 1 month now and I. AM. LOVING. IT!! I know, I know, given the current status of the NHS, one may argue that this is not really the best place to start an overseas nursing career, but hey, an opportunity no matter how dreadful, is an opportunity nonetheless. Plus the salary no matter how low by European standards, is still tremendously larger than what I earn back home.

I have worked for almost 2 years as an Operating room (Theatre) nurse in the Philippines sub specializing in orthopedics. Coming into a different country I knew i was in for some culture shock so I plan to just take it all in and enjoy the experience.

Back home when Hip Surgeries, Intramedullary Nailings (gamma Nailing) and Spinal Implantations are done, Implant Reps are there to scrub in and do the assisting and us scrub nurses would just look and pass on whatever is given to us. All the sizing, approximations, and instrumentations are left to the Reps. Now I am not sure how it works in other hospitals in my country, but that's definately how it's done in ours. So imagine my fascination when I shadowed over my 1st surgery and saw just one scrub, one surgeon and one assist doing a knee replacement. That scrub nurse was taking charge of the sets and sizers like a boss. The implant tech was out of the field just monitoring. I talked to him and he too found it interesting that reps back home scrubbed in. I was like in an alternate dimension haha . Also, The differences in prepping, draping and additions and subtractions in responsibility are there, but that is totally expected.

As of this moment I am still uncomfortable calling doctors by their 1st names and talking to them casually, as that is seen as very disrespectful back home. I have no complaints on this though. Although if you are not comfortable calling them by their 1st name, you can always call them Mister (insert last name here), but, that too is still weirding me out haha. Although casual conversation can be achieved at a certain familiarity, in the Philippines (again in my experience) calling a surgeon by their 1st names is akin to stepping on egos; there always should be something to indicate seniority or authority. I guess I'll get used to it, as much as I know I'll get used to the difference in instrument terminology of the 2 countries.

As for the people, well the Brits and Pinoys, as I see it, are both courteous- albeit in their own ways. I might be oblivious or naive about this matter, but I'd rather give this one to optimism and belief in humanity, thank you very much. The 1st time someone said to me "how are you you ok?" I swear he would've stood there the whole day waiting for me to respond properly and ask the same question back. My friends and I back home just say 'Oi' and reply 'Oi' or raised both brows and smiled at each other and that would do it. People in the bus say thank you to the drivers before they get off, this has rubbed on to me as I say ''Cheers'' copiously. Although I'm not sure what the proper ''English'' usage is, cuz sometimes it seems that it can be used for thank you or goodbye or hello or loads of other things hahaha. Please let me know..

Ok that's It for my 1st post I guess, til next time. Cheers.

[Libitina]

Glad you're enjoying it. My trust has a very large Philippino community and has lots of get togethers. Does your trust have something like this?

I work with a lot of them and love it when they bring in food they've cooked

[skylung]

My trust has a lot of Filipinos too so adjusting may be a bit easier (plus my mentor is a sister, which might be on of the reasons too ^^), yup lots of get togethers too almost every week. Problem is, the older ones tend to stick to -for lack of a better term- ''their own kind'' when having fun outside the hospital (pinoys with pinoys, spanish to spanish, finnish to finnish and what have you) BUT everyone gels together just fine at work.. I'm determined to make as much friends from all cultures as I can (wish me luck)

Sadly, a guy like me is not a good cook. the 1st time I tried to use the oven here I set of the fire alarm and my girl housemates were like '*** u tryin to burn us?'' LOL.. Really enjoying my stay so far.. except the weather which is almost impossible to predict ^^

[claudynurse]

Hi skylung! I have recently passed an interview with the North West London Hospitals NHS trust where I was offered a nurse position at the Accident and Emergency Services. I'd like to know the steps or processes that you underwent just so you can get there? I mean, from NMC application to interview to visa application to actually going there in the UK?

Thank you very much. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated! :)

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

NMC is a long process so better start now and also check with the Trust that they are prepared to wait. Also they should be able to assist you with your work permit as they will have to supply paperwork for you to present. I think you will come under Tier 2 so read this carefully UK Border Agency | Tier 2 (General)