Published on: 10 May 2024
Patients at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust will benefit from the latest recruitment offer for international nurses ahead of International Nurses Day this week (Sunday 12 May) – a day dedicated to celebrating our overseas nursing profession.
The Mental Health Integration Programme, piloted across the Midlands under NHS England, will welcome five international-educated nurses to join Derbyshire Healthcare and three set to join Derbyshire Community Health Services from June 2024, to provide vital contributions to both Trust’s nursing workforce through innovation in a diverse workplace.
All eight international registered nurses are qualified in nursing from India. However, for an international nurse to be able to register in the UK, they must meet the minimum nursing standards to practice, such as taking the Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) – a comprehensive and detailed set of practice exercises. It covers the nursing process, professional behaviours and attitudes of a registered nurse, key clinical skills and communication is a core component.
Emma Bailey, Practice Facilitator for International Educated Nurses at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, who works across both Trusts said: “We value the skills, knowledge and overall expertise of our International Registered Nurses, who will offer their unique experience to better patient care across Derbyshire.
“It is important that our workforce is diverse and representative of the communities we serve, particularly to target health inequality work amongst our ethnically diverse communities.”
There will be an induction period with the International Educated Nurses team to support with work permits, accommodation, OSCE support and requirements as well as a Trust induction, to ensure a smooth transition is made given the change of location to the UK and working for a new Trust.
Dave Mason, Interim Director of Nursing and Patient Experience at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I look forward to welcoming our new cohort of international nurses. This is an exciting new joint venture with Derbyshire Community Health Services that will enable us to pilot the initiative introduced by NHS England on a regional basis in the Midlands.
“Not only will our new international cohort of nurses learn from us, but this provides us with an opportunity to learn new skills and adopt new ways of working, which will in turn have a positive impact on our patients and the care we provide.
“I would like to thank all our wards and departments at both Trusts for their enthusiasm ahead of this recruitment programme in being so supportive of our international nurses.”
