Find out more about what it's like to work as an international nurses at at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) directly from some of our team.
Click the links below to read their experiences:
• Bijo Thomas– Theatre Practitioner – Royal Manchester Eye Hospital
• Liny Phillip– Staff Nurse – Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
• Mary Sajini Prasad– Staff Nurse – Vaccination Clinic, MFT
• Shamseer Punnakkal– International Recruitment Programme Manager, MFT
• Shirma Kelly– Matron, Manchester Royal Infirmary
Bijo Thomas – Theatre Practitioner – Royal Manchester Eye Hospital
"Since my interview with MFT, I have been getting constant and timely support at each step of the way. My career has progressed with this Trust for the last two and half years. I had a wonderful warm welcome right from the airport immediately after landing in a new country. With the International Recruitment (IR) team providing a fabulous orientation of the hospital, residence, and local amenities I never had a strange feeling throughout the transition period of my career and starting a new life in this wonderful country. Perfect training and constant evaluation by the IR Team enabled me to recognise my strengths to achieve an easy success in OSCE examination to complete my NMC registration programme.
Placement in a new department could cause nervousness for most of the international nurses like me as I was placed in Theatres and had no previous experience of working in theatres. But constant supervision and proactive support from the management of my department made my initial days tension free and literally I never had a feeling that I'm working in a totally new setting. The support from the local educators helped me to complete various levels of competencies and achieve a better level of professional excellence in the unit. I feel that I am an integral part of a complex process where my opinion and contributions are valued and appreciated. I should not forget to say that I am happy with the immense level of support what I am getting from my management and co-workers to achieve the level of satisfaction what I have dreamt of when I was aspiring for a better career in this country.
MFT is an amazing place to grow your career in diverse ways. I have recently completed a graduation programme in Anaesthetics in one of the eminent universities in UK which was fully funded and sponsored by MFT. If you are an aspirant looking to relocate to the UK, MFT is here to support you to achieve your career aspirations."
Liny Phillip – Staff Nurse – Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
"I have been a part of MFT for the past 3 years. I relocated from India, and I felt welcomed and accepted from day one. The training provided by the International Recruitment (IR) education team helped me to hit the ground running. Firstly, the MFT IR education team did a brilliant job by helping me clear my OSCE exam. Simultaneously, I was also trained by the IR team to gel in with the UK NHS workforce which helped me familiarise with policies, protocols, and the working culture. I soon realised after commencing in the role of a registered nurse that the roles and responsibilities of a nurse is not just restricted to providing bedside nursing care but includes liaising with a number of multidisciplinary teams and professionals. With all the initial pastoral support and training I received at MFT, I was able to build a strong foundation.
The excellent training and support I received at the beginning of my career at MFT has also helped me in my journey towards becoming a Professional Nurse Advocate. It is great to be part of a highly competent team at MFT that has always motivated me to grow professionally. I would recommend MFT as an employer of choice because here we work as one family and have a shared commitment to both quality patient care and professional career development."
Mary Sajini Prasad – Staff Nurse – Vaccination Clinic, MFT
"I started my nursing career in 2010 in India. I worked in Oman for 7 years, under Ministry of Health and joined the Manchester Foundation Trust in December 2020. Travelling to a new country and getting oriented in a new job, culture and environment can be a daunting experience. However, coming and settling into this Trust and in the UK was made smooth enough by the awesome hard work of the International Recruitment (IR) Team. Though I arrived during the Covid -19 lockdown, I was not short of any facilities or amenities as everything was arranged beforehand. All my needs were met from day one of arrival. I was introduced to the IR team members on the first day, who took me under their wings, supporting, encouraging, and guiding me, throughout this journey. My induction and orientation into the respective ward went smoothly and the IR team kept an eye on me until I settled in, which was very heart warming. The team worked hard to provide the OSCE training and thanks to them as their hard work was rewarded.
My experience with the Trust has always been supportive due to my colleagues, clinical leads and of course the IR Team, with whom I keep in touch even after a year with the Trust, especially on career progression advice and support.
The most attractive part of joining this Trust is the opportunity for career growth. The Trust supports staff with continued professional development.
Thanks to the IR Team who have instilled confidence in me, and still look out for me as an international recruit . Congratulations on the great work you are doing."
Shamseer Punnakkal – International Recruitment Programme Manager, MFT
“Ever since I joined MFT in 2017 I’ve experienced a learning curve like no other! I’ve been fortunate enough to be given exposure to different opportunities and responsibilities that I didn’t expect and the immense support that was offered to me from my arrival day and every day since then that enabled me to be what I am now. I can honestly say that though I have evolved from a theatre nurse to being the International Recruitment (IR) programme manager, it could have never been achieved without the support of the wonderful team at MFT.
Yes, it was a difficult decision to move into a country that is very different from the place where I have been living my entire life. To leave my parents, family, and near and dear ones was challenging. A big cloud of thoughts was there throughout my flight journey to the UK thinking how it would be when I reach there, how would it be at the accommodation, will I fit in well, will I adapt quickly. Uncertainty and doubts got building up. But that didn’t last long with the help of the support that I received right from the moment I arrived. It was a great feeling to be welcomed at the airport and the way the team at MFT made me feel part of their family.
It was tricky and a bit challenging to adapt to the UK culture and to integrate into nursing in the UK as its very different from my home country. The induction, IR training programme, and the pastoral support that was offered were really wonderful and helped me to put a foundation in my nursing life in the UK and also generally my life in the UK. The tailored OSCE training programme and mock exams helped me to become more confident and helped me to pass the exam while I was facing one of the most difficult times in my life. The way how the team looked after me and my health and well-being are incomparable. I am very much thankful to my educator, my manager, and the senior team.
Getting allocated to theatres where I had experience was so comforting. The feeling of getting your experience and passion recognised was wonderful. I managed to get an opportunity to explore the educator in myself and got recruited to be the Clinical educator for IR. Training the newly recruited overseas trained nurses and supporting their journey was so satisfying. I always felt happy thinking that I have had the opportunity to support the nurses in their journey to be a successful nurse and achieve their goals. Shortly after during the pandemic I had the opportunity to lead the IR programme for the Trust as IR Programme Manager.
Thank you, MFT for supporting me to be what I am today. If you are a nurse and looking for opportunities, MFT is the place to be.”
Shirma Kelly – Matron, Manchester Royal Infirmary
“I have worked in MFT for the past 22 years of which I have truly enjoyed my journey. As an international recruit it was daunting to start off, the fear of the unknown but that was only for the first day. The warmth, care and belonging I felt from the beginning was extraordinary. I was made to feel as part of the Theatre family initially and to date I am still part of the team. My initial plan was to spend 6 months then move to London, but I am still here with MFT and that is solely because I was cared for and nurtured to be the professional, I am today.
I love working with the team, caring for patients, and improving as we go along when new colleagues have completed their competencies, we support them to do three speciality training modules: Anaesthetic, Recovery and Scrub. Mentors also support new members of theatre staff every day through our buddying scheme. We’re always there for each other, like a family within MFT.
Working in the operating theatres has always been my desire, it has truly been a rewarding experience, I was able to develop myself and others along the way. I was given equal opportunities to expand myself in specialised skills within the theatres and in the development of others to progress in their career aspirations, which you would equally have the same opportunity at this Trust.
I started as a band 5 and progressed to being the matron of a very big operating theatre suite, managing a theatre room to managing over 400 staff members. Learning and development is available for all. The sky is your limit once you start working with this Trust the opportunities are endless.
MFT truly believes in recruiting and supporting all international recruits, one of our values is to attract and develop great people. There are robust training plans in place with dedicated theatre practice-based educators whose main goal is to ensure that your transition to the role within the Trust is streamlined and focused on your success in your new role. They also help with the pastoral care that is provided for all new starters. Together everyone matters within MFT theatre teams’ cross site. I am proud to be one the valued members of the MFT team and you will also be the same”
Get in Touch
If you are interested in taking the next step in your Nursing career with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, then take the first step by emailing your CV to internationalteam@ttmhealthcare.com.
