S3 Ep 7 - The One With Nurse Shagufta - Licence To Practise - from Pakistan to UK - OSCE For Nurses
** Sit back and listen, it's time for Licence to Practise by IELTS Medical.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRajCb7Eo1U
In Season 3 Episode 7 - We caught up with Nurse Shagufta; a UK registered nurse who moved to the UK from Pakistan.
Featured Course: OSCE for Nurses : https://www.oscenurses.com
Released fortnightly onto our Apple Podcast, (never miss an episode), Instagram, Google Play and YouTube Channel.
--
Christina:
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of season three of Licence to Practise from IELTS Medical, and don't forget to like and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. Today, we're going to be talking with a nurse who moved over here to the UK from Pakistan and has recently passed all her exams and got her pin to become a UK registered nurse. So, let's give her a call. Hello?
Nurse Shagufta:
Hello.
Christina:
Hi, thank you so much for coming on the podcast and sharing your story with us. How are you today?
Nurse Shagufta:
I'm fine. How about you?
Christina:
Yeah, I'm great, thank you. So, if we could just start by you telling us a little bit about you.
Nurse Shagufta:
Yeah. I'm actually overseas a registered nurse, but when I came to UK, it was in 2019, as a healthcare assistant with medicine and diagnostic services. And at that time was required only six months, which was the UKVI and it was really not that much a difficult job for me. And I know that the future is going to be more difficult for me. I thought this was my, first my thinking, that when I go to UK, I have to pay a lot of difficulties and on somehow I feel that it was a bit difficult procedure.
Nurse Shagufta:
As you know, I have passed my CVT from the Saudi Arab and with UKVI I got only six months and just came to UK with my family. And it was really hardship for me, especially with the family. I have two children and with a spouse. And being new in the UK when you don't have even a thing with you. Yeah. So, that's the thing causing me a lot of trouble. And especially when you don't know even the driving also, so that cause you more difficulties.
Nurse Shagufta:
So these are the problem which I faced. But when I joined this medical I have done with them OSCE and before going for the language test, I did not pass language test before, just I went for the OSCE. When I come to know OSCE can be done without language test. So I go for that one. And within first attempt, I know this is the all guidance by the IELTS Medical they have given to me. And within, on first attempt I had passed this OSCE from the Oxford university.
Nurse Shagufta:
And my trainer was Noni and another mentor, which was Filipino. I forgot the name. And really, they were nice. This Noni, she taught us about this assessment procedure and then another teacher, that Filipino one, she given her all hand in the skilled procedures. So this made us possible to do, for me, I have done it within first attempt. So-
Christina:
Yeah. Great.
Nurse Shagufta:
After that I went for the OET exam.
Christina:
Yes.
Nurse Shagufta:
Oh, God. This was a difficult for me.
Christina:
Oh, was it?
Nurse Shagufta:
It was not such difficult, but I don't know what is a criteria for the OET. Maybe I'm the one wrong that if I have passed in the reading, but I have other two is not matching to the requirement. So, my sixth attempt that was really ... with this much cost and when you are having only the ICA post and with the family and all this [inaudible 00:04:01] unable to manage. Anyhow, I got it within one and a half years of this all hardship. And now on 18th of July, after that, I got this pin number.
Christina:
Oh.
Nurse Shagufta:
I'm successful for getting the pin number.
Christina:
Oh, great. Well, congratulations. That's really recent then. Isn't it? It's only what a week or so ago. Couple of weeks ago. Yeah.
Speaker 1:
Central London OSCE or London Hospital OSCE. You decide. Our Central London purpose-built NMC OSCE course and practice rooms include all of the equipment you need to practice for your NMC OSCE exam. You get the same expert team by your side, the same expertly prepared materials, and now a dedicated space built just for our international and return to practice nurses. Learn more at www.oscenurses.com.
Christina:
So why did you, was there a reason that you chose to do the OET over the IELTS exam for the language exam?
Nurse Shagufta:
Yeah. Yeah, because I was thinking that the IELTS is much tougher than the OET. So I went for this OET. And OET, because it's related to my profession. Because most of the things, which I really don't know, even, I don't need to check for the vocabulary or check for the meaning or what this sound and how it happened mostly with the diagnosis. So only the problem with me was the reading.
Christina:
Yeah.
Nurse Shagufta:
So it's that because when we are in the nursing, especially when you are on the practical side, you are not much to encounter with the reading. Only have some policy procedure and the policy procedure, it was related to the UK and it was not related in Saudi Arab. It was in the simple language and I can manage it nicely. But here, first of all, policy procedure was different for me. And I was working as a healthcare assistant, not working as a nurse. So, that caused me difficulties. I feel that why I'm not going to kill listening was okay. Speaking was okay. Writing even was okay for me because we are really used to go these things. But with the reading, it caused me a lot, I can say.
Christina:
So what sort of things did you do to help with the reading then to help you ultimately pass it?
Nurse Shagufta:
Yeah. There is one native speaker. Her name is what is her name? Debbie Rugger. I just joined her, the native speaker, and she really helped me how I will go for the first I will go for the part A. This was stressing. And then she said to me, because when I'm get stressed, I cannot work properly. So she said to me, "Just relax. This is exam." And she just meditation techniques, she told me that you do this meditation before you are going for the exam. Because when I think, "Oh, it is only 15 minute and I have to go for the 20 questions."
Nurse Shagufta:
So that caused me, even this, whatever, I can attempt the 20 question, but because in hurry, anybody, maybe a lot of things I was doing wrong. Then when she said to me, "Just go. Don't think this is 15 minute for you. Just go with your head and go with a deep breath. So you will be all right." So I have attempted 18 question, but 18 over 18 was correct.
Christina:
Yeah. Okay, great. Great.
Nurse Shagufta:
Yeah. So this was my first strategy for the paragraph part A and then going for the part B and part C. So she said to me, "Go first for the part C." Because when you'll go for the part C it is really exhausting already. So when you're already exhausted from the part A, if you go for the part B, part B is related to the guidelines. So it is easier for you and is the lengthy one. So you can get it from the part B. Because I was good in the part B. She said, "Go for the first part C. At the part C, just you check first, these two, mess with this one. Which one is not difficult for you? Which one is more familiar with you? Just go for that one." So I did the same thing and that caused me to pass.
Christina:
Yeah. And then you passed. Great. Yeah. So why did you choose the UK to come and practice nursing?
Nurse Shagufta:
Yeah, it was, I will say this is from 2001. I have this ambition to go to the UK. It was since before my marriage, when I have finished my diploma in nursing and I have leased for myself to come to the UK and all these things. At that time, there was no requirement for the OSCE, OET, just for the [inaudible 00:09:11] program for the six months. But unfortunately, because of no proper guide guidelines from Pakistan.
Nurse Shagufta:
And after that, I went to the Saudi Arab, that is, procrastinating. but I did not leave these things. It was in my brain. That then I said, "No, I have to finish my family first. I have to complete my family." So I completed my family with my two children. And after that, when I saw that my husband also interested in ... He's not, he never inhibited me to do for anything for my better prospects. So he said, "Go ahead. I'm with you." So that's why I choose the UK. The important thing for the UK. They did not bother for the BSE in nursing. Even they're accepting if still they're accepting the diplomas.
Christina:
Yeah.
Nurse Shagufta:
Yeah. So that is a good thing for the UK. And you know, I did not finish my BSE nursing, but I have the 19 years of experience, even though I also register myself for the BSE nursing to go for the exam. But because I was in Saudi Arab, so that time of exam, I cannot get the leaves from there.
Christina:
Right. Okay.
Nurse Shagufta:
So two time I have, just ruin my money also for my registration of the BSE. Then I said, "Oh, no need for the BSE anymore. Anyhow, if they're accepting this UK, they're accepting for the diploma nurses. So why I would not go for that?" So I'm really thankful for this UK that they, at least they consider the diplomas.
Christina:
Yeah. Yeah. Great. So is it, do you like it, are you all happy here?
Nurse Shagufta:
I'm really happy here, though there was some difficulties I have faced because of the new environment. I was living in the 50's temperature there for 19 years. 19 year when I come to UK, it was really like, I got all my joint pain and all this thing because the weather-
Christina:
Oh, no.
Nurse Shagufta:
And then, but now I'm adapting this better, as well. First of all, my children, they are happy here.
Christina:
Good.
Nurse Shagufta:
Yeah. This, really, I can say this is the UK the best one to come to, especially for the work.
Christina:
Yeah.
Nurse Shagufta:
It's, it is most easier from any other country I can say.
Christina:
Yeah. Great.
Nurse Shagufta:
And there is not much racism or anything. I can feel that when even I'm from the Muslim background, I have seen a lot of Muslims there and they did not see that you are wearing it abaya or you are having your covered head or something like that. I never feel that somebody said anything to me about this. Even from the patient side also I did not feel anything that they did say something to me because of my, as a Muslim or something.
Christina:
Yeah. Yeah. It's a really, really multicultural society in the UK and it's, and it's great. Yeah. Obviously you've got your pin now. You're registered as a nurse here in the UK. So congratulations to you.
Nurse Shagufta:
Thank you very much.
Christina:
Do you have, just before I let you go, do you have any advice for any, well, any final words of wisdom for anybody else that might just be starting their journey, ever been registered here or thinking about it?
Nurse Shagufta:
Yeah. I can say that for my junior or goal there would like to come here. This is the best place to come. It is not only for yourself. It is for your family as well. If they have a family, the family future is right here. And weather is also adaptable. It's not that too much cold or too much hot. No, it's not like that. You can adapt that.
Nurse Shagufta:
And another thing there is equality and diversity. I feel that there is no any problem. If the one level is getting the ten pound per hour, even for the other also profession, they will give the same rate. I can, I could not feel the, they like pro- the hardship, they like, what I can say, the skills you have, whatever you have the skills.
Nurse Shagufta:
So, and you will pay equally. There is any reason that no, you are not educated or something like that. We will not give you the same amount. They just see your work. If you are, if you are a good hand in this skill, really it's nice place here to come here.
Christina:
Yeah.
Nurse Shagufta:
So the both nurses, they would like to come, even for their spouse, they can come and they can you know, the full, full, full hours. There is no restriction for them to do not work or something. Anything they can work.
Christina:
Yeah. Yeah.
Nurse Shagufta:
And they, when they'll come to this country, they can go to the children and they can send their children to the school.
Christina:
Yeah.
Nurse Shagufta:
The second day, is there any, and the good thing of the school, I will say that here, if you will not send your children to the school due to any problem from the parents side or something like that, they will call back to the home and they will ask why your children is not in the school.
Christina:
Yes. Yeah. They do.
Nurse Shagufta:
This is an important thing. Yeah. Really. I really feel very appreciate how they are caring and why this child is not in the school. They wanted to know if the child is okay. Or something like that. You know, the safeguarding and all this. Really I like very much this place.
Christina:
Yeah. Yeah. It is good. that. It is. It is. It's safety, isn't it, as well?
Nurse Shagufta:
Yeah. But do not think that to come in this country and you will be settled within two, three months. It will take some time.
Christina:
Yeah. Of course. Yeah.
Nurse Shagufta:
Anyway, if you'll go back to your home country also, it'll take some time to adjust there.
Christina:
Yeah, of course. Of course. Well, thank you so much for that. And thank you for sharing your story and all those words of advice. And yeah. Congratulations. Good luck with everything and have a lovely day.
Nurse Shagufta:
Thank you much. Thank you.
Christina:
Thank you so much for listening to Licence to Practise and I really hope you enjoyed our chat. Don't forget to like and subscribe so that you never miss an episode and I'll see you next time.
