NurseScope

Transitioning from one country to the next as a nurse is never easy. As a transitional nurse though, rest assured that those challenges will help you to later navigate the system.

Challenges I personally faced on the job include adjusting to an electronic health record system and adopting to the American hospital culture. It was a real challenge and some days felt worse than some but as time marched on i adopted somewhat. In my country Jamaica I was referred to by my last name with Nurse in front, e.g. Nurse Snow (last name changed) in the USA they called you by your first name, of course I was shocked as the same applied to supervisors and managers. The challenges diminished as time went on and I integrated myself among the team and adjusting as the days come along. However, I realized there was a lot to learn not just about my job but the country itself.

What are some of the challenges you faced as a nurse after migrating?

When Moses led the people through the red sea, they were escaping from Egypt for a reason. Life in Egypt had become unbearable, signaling a need for change.
Jamaican Nurses have migrated to different countries for several years and continue to do so even today. Migration is not specific to Jamaica and occurs in other countries such as the Philippines, India, and Africa. 
Nurses migrate for several reasons not limited to financial stability, better opportunities for themselves and their families, and a stable environment. The ability to secure better o is one of the main influential factors for Nurse migration to the USA, Canada, and England. Migrating to other countries gives the ability not only to the individual who migrated but also to other family members. Nurses who migrate can take their families as they transition to the chosen country. Who would not want such an opportunity? The migration opportunity speaks volumes for itself, despite the changes and adjustments that nurses and their families make. Migration is an initial sacrifice, but everyone has an end goal and a plan in hindsight. Nurses who migrate usually travel through an agency that assists them with securing a job and a permanent residency visa. A permanent residency visa is a green light to the opportunities America offers, such as the ability to enjoy the benefits of the American system as a USA citizen would. Nurses who migrate with one's families also provide support and the ability to have other family members travel in the future. Nurses are able to obtain their citizenship after being in the US for approximately five years. Once citizenship is secured a nurse can also gain permanent residency for other family members including their mother and father. The US system also offers many benefits for children who migrates to the USA with their parents, as they usually excel and do very well in the education system. The ease of building credit, securing a home and retuning to school are other reasons why nurses migrate. Online education in the US and ability to upgrade is a significant reason for migration. The same may also be true of other nurses from the countries mentioned above. 
My main reason was the ease with enrolling in education after being at the bedside. Jamaica offers a slow system of first come basis, which is outdated and lack rigor. There are long  periods to complete and enroll  in a course. The flexibility is also at ground zero, making it difficult to enroll in master program. As a nurse, I enjoy freedom and the flexibility to choose my way.
Share your opinion. What opportunity caused you to leave?

Hello, my fellow superstar Nurses. So, we are at that point again, where we are always transitioning from one point of our career to the next. The fact is, it is never easy to make a career move whether it is changing departments or hospitals. You know you want a change but you're not sure how to make the move. So, I'm here to help because I too have been where you have been and you keep on wondering. Some key steps will propel you into your destiny by helping you to make the next step. A few questions to answer are:

1) Am I ready for a change. Have I garnered the skill set and capacity of the area I am in now to transition to another phase? For example, my skill set and ability have reached their capacity with handling Medical-Surgical clients and I can now handle a higher level of care.

2) What department do I see myself in and is it for me? How will I know, one might ask. Looking from the outside in will not help. The key is to interact with someone from the department and get a perspective, as well as, seek an opportunity to shadow in the department. Doing that will facilitate the key questions and thoughts that lie within your heart and answer that gut feeling you have been experiencing.

3) Decide where you see yourself now and in the future. Will this shift to another department facilitate my future career path and assist me in my final destination. If your answer is yes, then you are ready for this bold move. If not, then you will need to re-evaluate and get things into perspective. You need to write down your priorities and goals. At the end of the day, it is about you and what you want. You must be content with your decision and there should be no second guess.

Utilize my three shoe steps and move into a path that will channel you into making bigger steps for your career path. Remember, do what you love and what you love will work out for you.

It is never easy to face the unknown, with no sense of direction, not knowing what to expect and whom you are going to meet can be scary. This section highlights nurses transitioning from one country to the next, in most of these cases from Jamaica to America. Is the grass really greener on the other side? It is a process, a lengthy one with mixed feelings and fear....how do they do it ..... the answer lies right here. Personal experiences will be explored and those looking to step in the shoes others have stepped out of will have much more support, guidance, and less fear.

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My take: For me, it was an emotional state of sadness and happiness, I knew what I was leaving behind but I wasn’t sure in the entirety of what I was getting into. I had never resided away from home, plus it was just a couple of months prior that I had even moved out of my mom’s place, got married and all. In my head, I knew there would be some challenges, first because I didn’t have all the monetary resource they had recommended. Secondly, I did not want any further loans, in this case taking out a brand new car. I had no idea if I would be able to adjust and first of all, would I find the foods I like. Thoughts like, have I made the right decision flooded my head, I was trying to get things settled and sorted out before leaving and it felt like a rush. It was a rush and with packing came excitement and with sleeping thoughts of sadness. I felt sad because at this point I felt like I had achieved some of my goals and staying would be of no harm while leaving meant starting over from scratch. I thought of that numerous times, starting over, meeting new people, different culture to learn, adjusting to whatever climate came along and whatever else this new place had to throw at me. I decided to do what was best and that is to make this bold move. My reasons for leaving outweighed those for staying and so I decided to spread my wings, soar and overcome any force encountered. If you are transitioning, think about the cost and benefits of leaving your country for another. 

Hello, my fellow nurses. The topic I want to speak about is working the night shift and the effects it has on our body. Working twelve hours in the USA is not easy with only half an hour break for rest. That leaves eleven and a half hours to be constantly moving around and on your feet. For many nurses from the Caribbean, we know the situation was somewhat different as we were allowed at least an hour to two hours break on the night shift. Having an adequate break allows for rejuvenation of the mind and spirit, allows for relaxation and enough time to refresh oneself. So, how do we cope with just half an hour? Let's start by saying it is not easy, and half an hour can seem like five minutes with constant interruptions. My recommendations are to take breaks away from your unit and going for walks. Walking to a different area can help you to relax and take a breather. Keep hydrated while working by stopping in between patients to have some water or a drink. Take a few minutes to sit after seeing two or more patients or after standing for an extended time. Doing simple things can help to gauge you through the night. Try to do tasks in sequence and groups, importantly don't get overworked for the first part of the shift. It is easy to lose energy in the first half of the shift by trying to get everything done. Remember, you have twelve hours so split tasks and inform your patient ahead of time, so they know what time to expect certain tasks to be done. Do not be afraid to ask for help, yes ask for help if needed and do not try to achieve strenuous tasks on your own. Wait until others are available, and let the client know as well. While the break time may not be enough, and a longer time would be helpful. Try to do simple things to avoid exhaustion and burn out. Stay tuned in for more tips.