Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

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Kunle Emmanuel
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Nrs Joy Ojonile Agagwu
My experience started from the induction. I noticed so many ills in the health sector, and I was full of pity for my dear sector back home...no wonder they all run to "abroad" when they fall ill.

I have not started proper wars work yet, still doing my OSCE training but from the procedures I've seen, even nursing and midwifery council need to upgrade on the procedure manuals. There's so much malpractice in Nigeria. If you're a typical government hospital nurse who does the job for work sake in Nigeria you will have a longer way to go here. I discovered that they are not as stressed as us after work because there's so much assistance with many things. It's more of a cognitive thing for nurses.

Every member of the team matters here and even though I've not really worked, I have been able to see that the nurse is actually the main
Person in the system, she has more responsibility than others. And they respect nurses

My environment is good, there are whites around us and they're veery nice to us. I hope it continues
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Chichi Asagwara
Hello all. So i did my process in 2008 via Cgfns. If you want to go the Cgfns route, know you would need ielts, pass the Cgfns and get an agency to represent you.

If you don’t want to go the Cgfns route, you can do the NCLEX exam in America or approved regions and also get an agency to employ you. You would have to apply to States that do not require Cgfns

There is an agency called Avant Healthcare that helps situates foreign nurses in the US. Google them and apply. They would require ielts passing before they take you on.

That’s about it
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Obioma
Chichi Asagwara please what did you use to study for cgfns exam and where are their centres in Nigeria?

I really want to pass through Cgfns. I would be glad if you can kindly put me through the process of cgfns and the expectations. Thanks.

Obioma Ogbu Mbah-Darlington I believe it was just one center in Abuja then. Not sure how many there are now. You can get more info at their website www.cgfns.org
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Chiwendu Mbanugo
Chichi you got into the system when the immigration backlog had crept in.
My process took less than 2years and the agency kept their part of the deal( flight, accommodation, job). I didn't pay them a dime. Of course they got a cut from my salary( through the employer) for two years I worked for contract. IT WAS WELL WORTH IT.

Likewise they aren't doing the Nigeria recruiting again now because of the backlog( it's an immigration procedure for the employment visa category)
Chichi Asagwara
Chinwendu Mbanugo Alaribe your agency dealt well with you. Mine didn’t. They simply didn’t keep their end of the deal. I had to painfully make my own way here, squatting with friends and staying so long without a job. I know the retrogression of that period contributed to the long wait for me. In all, i am grateful I got in thru an agency i didn’t have to pay a dime to, even if they failed me in the end
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Chiwendu Mbanugo
For the U.S practicing nursing in a long term care facility ( nursing homes) could be very stressful. I have never stepped foot in one and don't intend to. The staffing ratio could be crazy; one RN with two or three nursing assistants taking care of almost 40patient that are on long list of medications, wound dressings bed ridden etc.

In acute care hospitals, staffing ratio varies by hospitals and by states. Some states like California have laws to back up nurses, meaning a nurse cannot get more than a certain number of patients.

Most places are 4-6patients some could go as high as 8/9 patients if short staffed.
Chichi Asagwara
Chinwendu Mbanugo Alaribe girl count yourself lucky then. I had no choice but to work in nursing homes when i got here, due to the failure on the part of my agency to secure me a hospital job as promised. I had to get in thru the nursing home system and still there now. Hospitals i apply to keep asking for US experience that it got tiring. You know, you learn to kinda make the best of whatever circumstance you find yourself in, rather than folding arms and waiting for a cushy hospital job to fall on my lap. This is for aspiring migrants. If nursing homes are what is available at the moment, do it! Get in the system and find your way from there.

Also for the U.S. most places maintain ONE SHIFT. So you are either a day shift nurse or a night shift nurse.

And most places are on flex schedule , meaning the 12 hrs shift. That means you are required to work three 12 hr shifts every week( the rest are your days off). Reason why some nurses can hold two jobs down( two full time, one full tine and one part time, or one full time and one per diem, also called PRN or locum( in Nigeria right?)

Of course if you are night nurse but they are short staffed during the day and you offer to come and do day shift that day as overtime, it's done.

Most Psych units are still operating the traditional 8 hrs shift, meaning they work 5 days every week or 5 nights every week . This is because a full time work is 40hrs of work every week.
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Bolanle Shekoni
As for the job experience it is worthy of note to say you are more appreciated and doing emphatically core nursing job and not jack of all trade and Master of none
.
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

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Signorina Kinda
I'm a nurse in Canada. I'm also a Digital Entrepreneur because I have the freedom to balance my work and leisure time.

Ayuwe Maureen Ehigiator I came to Canada first as a visitor. Started my registration and licensing with the board in BC.
Got a job offer. Went back home to Nigeria and applied for permanent residency.
Things have changed now, but that's how I did mine.
I'm an OR nurse, my skills were in high demand then, so, my employer sponsored my PR through provincial nomination program.
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Tosin Okunade Ajayi
My own experience and I’ll answer each question asked by Kunle.
1. I passed my IELTS in July, and by October, I was already in the UK working as a pre-registered nurse. The only issue for most people is IELTS but you can do it. After passing ielts, all the agents will be begging you with offers. I had different offers and I chose the best one with good benefits and prospects- My NHS refunded my fight ticket, IELTS, CBT, OSCE and other expenditures.

2. Settling down- After starting work, I struggled for some time but after passing my OSCE, it all became history.
I decided to stay outside London because of cost and to ease settling down. Most of the people here are indigenes but they are so accommodating and lovely, which made it easier to settle down.

3. Work experience- I don’t know about other work place, but my hospital has been so supportive. My manager is always interested in your total well being, and she organised time out for us all outside work just to catch up and relieve stress. Though, you can’t rule out favouritism, but at least, there is still equal opportunity. When there was a post to be filled on my ward, my manager called me to discuss the post, which I later got. It was free and fair.

4. Culture shock- A lot. I had issues understanding the culture when I first came, but now I’m beginning to understand them. I have not completely understood them lol.

5. Future goals- Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist. My Hospital is sponsoring me for a course to achieve this goal. I’m so grateful for that.

6. Advice for aspiring nurse- If I can do it, you can do it. Sit for your ielts, be determined. After IELTS, the sky is your limit as jobs will be flowing in.
Also, when you get to a foreign land, be your best. It pays.

I am a living witness.
Shalom.
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Oluwasemilore Bamba
You can work as many jobs as you want. Like, have a full time job and have as many float pool/ part time job as you want as long as you know how to manage your time.
And at same time work on your carrier part.

You can easily work on your next level carrier wise while you do your work.

In some facilities, you fill your availability.

My work experience is not so challenging as I blend right away into the system.

I had 2 weeks of orientation. I week in class learning about chatting and managing crisis on the floor. I was required to do crisis prevention program and CPR before I could work on the floor.

One of the floor, I learnt about being compliant with HIPPA law and practicality of what I learnt in class the prior week.

I work in two facility, one still use paper chatting and the other one is electronic chatting.

The electronic chatting was a big deal for me at first before that was my first exposure to such.o took my time to learn about it and work my way around it.
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Re: Nigerian Nurses Working Abroad, Share your experience

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Missy Olayinka
1. Be willing to learn and unlearn... embrace good practice, ditch the bad stuff and sometimes harmonise both worlds, at the end of the day the core of nursing is still all about the patient.

2. Set SMART career objectives so you don’t keep carrying bedpan in your old age. There’s power in knowing what you want and knowing quickly. As soon as you’re settled and get over your culture shock, you need to make some serious plans.

3. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Give yourself some credit!!! I will say it louder. GIVE YOURSELF SOME CREDIT!!! The whole process it took you to the country where you’re in must have been challenging but you made it and because of that, you’re an inspiration to a lot of people even if you don’t think so. You can be a great nurse even in ‘the abroad’

4. Find a mentor or mentors...it may or may not work for you but it’s useful to tap their brains and get some sense...lol

5. Ask questions especially when you don’t know,don’t let oversabi kill you and land you in trouble.

6. Read and continue to read more...it’s not your father’s country so you have earn that respect sometimes by proving what in your head.

7. Don’t focus on jumping from shift to shift and earning money. That aspect might get you carried away but focus.

There’s a lot more but I’m happy to elaborate if anyone is seeking clarification 😉
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