INTERNATIONAL NURSES REUNITE

20th September 2004 INTERNATIONAL NURSES REUNITE Nurses from overseas reunited at a special event at Edge Hill?s Faculty of Health at the Aintree Campus.

Those from as far afield as Southern India, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana who studied Edge Hill?s supervised practice programme to adapt to nursing in the UK, reunited with NHS Trust and Edge Hill staff and fellow nurses. Many of them now work in hospitals across the country, having successfully completed the programme to allow them to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Delyth Owen has organised the programme for the last three years, supported by Elizabeth Okeya, who took an adaptation course herself, following relocation from Nigeria several years ago.

"Over the last decade more and more nurses have travelled to the UK in search of better prospects, but making the move wasn?t always easy," said Delyth. "The social and cultural differences between Britain and their own countries were difficult to get used to. That?s why we set up the adaptation programme, arranging not only placements for overseas nurses, but also providing study days when nurses took part in developing communication and IT skills, as well as confidence building.

My colleague Elizabeth?s experience as an adaptation nurse has been invaluable in developing the programme and of course she has a natural empathy with overseas nurses."

Around 500 took part in the programme to support nurses in adapting to British nursing and culture and many continue to keep in touch with Edge Hill staff.

Delyth is impressed with the wealth of clinical experience and expertise that overseas nurses display. "Everyone is highly motivated, keen to start work for the NHS and to specialise in their chosen fields. Many had lots of responsibility in their old jobs looking after many more patients than is the norm in the UK. They also had lots of all round experience, and could deal with whatever came up."

Edge Hill is planning to continue to support overseas nurses by providing educational input in collaboration with the NHS Trusts.

ENDS EDITOR?S NOTES: For further press information please contact: Roisin Rowley-Smith PR Manager Tel: 01695 584509 Fax: 01695 584355 E mail: rowlesr@edgehill.ac.uk or pressoffice@edgehill.ac.uk.