S2 Ep 3 - The One With Mental Health Nurse Gideon - Licence To Practise - from Ghana to UK - NMC OSCE
** Sit back and listen, it's time for Licence to Practise by IELTS Medical.
In S2 Ep 3, we get to know Gideon, a mental health nurse who moved here from Ghana.
Learn more: https://www.oscenurses.com
Christina:
Hello, and welcome to another episode of season two of License to Practice from IELTS Medical. Don't forget to subscribe so that you never miss an episode. Today, we will be talking with a UK registered mental health nurse. As usual, he gave loads of great advice and it's been really interesting hearing about his journey, so let's give him a call.
Christina:
Hello.
Gideon:
Hello.
Christina:
Hi. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast, how are you today?
Gideon:
I'm good. How are you too?
Christina:
Yeah, yeah. I'm very well, thank you. So yeah, again, thank you so much for coming on and agreeing to have a chat with me and tell us a little bit about you and your move to the UK. If you just want to start by telling us a little bit about yourself, please.
Gideon:
I am, a registered mental health nurse from Ghana. I qualified in Ghana in 2011. And had my registration with NMC in 2012. I went in Ghana in 2020 December, when I moved to UK. I'm currently working with... in the UK.
Christina:
That's not that long ago, really, is it? Because it's July now. So, how did you find the registration process? Did you start that in Ghana, or did you start that when you moved over?
Gideon:
Yeah, I started the registration process in Ghana. The registration, did everything in Ghana. The UK's registration required that you should first meet the English language proficiency criteria. So they require you to take a formal English exam, and a international English language testing system, the IELTS. Or, within the occupation, in this test's exams.
Christina:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Gideon:
And then after I have met that criteria, download and register in UK, online.
Christina:
Okay, so if you are based in Ghana then. You have to do the English language test, first? Before you can start the rest of the process and move over?
Gideon:
Basically, most case, that's what happen in my case.
Christina:
Yeah, yeah. Okay.
Gideon:
There are some who prefer to start the registration, and then have the English language test along the line and submit a proper registration.
Christina:
Yeah.
Gideon:
So there are some who prefer to do their competency tests. Again, MC first. And then, within the period, do the IELTS. The English based tests.
Christina:
Right. So obviously, you've said that you did the English language test. Did you say you did the IELTS?
Gideon:
Yes, I did the IELTS.
Christina:
Yeah, you did the IELTS. So you did the IELTS whilst you were still in Ghana?
Gideon:
That's right.
Christina:
How did you find that? How did you find doing it whilst still living in Ghana, instead of... because a lot of people like you said, do it once they've moved over to the UK. So how did you find it, doing it before the move?
Gideon:
Actually, I didn't find it difficult, because the British Council in Ghana administer the test for the IELTS exams. And then they basically have two places they register in Ghana, for the exams.
Christina:
Right.
Gideon:
We have one in Accra, the main capital. And they have one in Kumasi, the second largest city. So you register with the schools [inaudible 00:03:59], which I did in Accra. And then, I was slotted for a date. So I do the test, and after I have passed. I was really confident getting this.
Christina:
Yeah. Yeah.
Gideon:
Should I give you your test report form then? I said, depends on have I met NMC criteria. And I said that the online registration at NMC UK.
Christina:
Right, oh. And then you came over and did all the rest of the... because obviously, there's a few more exams that you need to take.
Gideon:
Yeah, so what happened after the IELTS. You'll be asked to submit document of registration in your home country. So in that case, I have to submit document of my registration as a mental health nurse. Which is done by the NMC UK. It is done the NMC Ghana. So I submitted my proof of registration, and I needed to add my finished, the length of my training in Ghana. That I met three years post-secondary education.
Christina:
Right.
Gideon:
For my, being a mental health nurse. So they request for your school transcript, license and certificate, as part of the documents they require to prove. That you are qualified to be a mental health nurse in the UK.
Christina:
Right.
Gideon:
So that had been done. Then they will need to show proof of character. In terms of not having a criminal record. So I had to do a criminal background check. And then also, proof of good health. So do a medical with form, and submit to the NMC UK. When they are satisfied with all documents you have submitted, they will give you the go ahead to take the competency based tests. This is done online, so I added my request in Ghana.
Gideon:
And after I have passed the exams, they give attempt to take the second exam, which is the OSCE. Can only be done in the UK.
Christina:
Yes. So the OSCE is the only one that you did in the UK?
Gideon:
That's right.
Christina:
Yeah. So, did you get any help with the CBT exam in Ghana? Did you do a course over there? Or did you do the one from the UK? Or did you not do any courses for that?
Gideon:
Actually, in my case, I didn't get enough material in terms of mental health CBT. NMC UK online. But I had a few friends who had already written the exams, and had been to the UK.
Christina:
Right.
Gideon:
So they guided me in terms of where I may get some help or assistance. In most of the case, I felt like that's also what happens in the UK system. So pointers, who pushed me on certain things. And that really, for example, they UK's care program approach the mental health act, mental capacity act, it depends on registered acts.
Gideon:
And also on the NMC website, they find what they expect, an example of code of conduct and practice. And at mental health, issues that don't seem like difference. In terms of [inaudible 00:07:08] what mental health brings. For this guy, it's more the same thing. If we say schizophrenia, the symptoms and the management is a lot different from how you treat people. At same point, you need to put into perspective in the contract context, and then the load that that brings. How to read that.
Gideon:
Mental health, I need to adjust myself too.
Gideon:
Because the mental health act that we have in Ghana. There are issues like [inaudible 00:07:37] upload four hours period. [inaudible 00:07:45]. So if you miss an exam, you may think that [inaudible 00:07:48] four hours. And so we are allotted. We tended to choose four hours. But will not be the same as the NMC standard in the UK. So what we need to do is you would need to add that. What actually happens to where you are going.
Christina:
Yeah, yeah.
Gideon:
[inaudible 00:08:02] along the line. [crosstalk 00:08:04] to do that. But then, lesson holding power is... and then, duration is supposed to end their [inaudible 00:08:12]. I can't do anything. I just have to adapt myself to then. I had a few apps. Apps on Google Play store. I did a bit of trial tests and then find out... what happened was, what I did most was if I meet a question I'm not familiar with, I have to research on it. And I find out more about it.
Gideon:
Because it may not be the exact same question we meet in our CBT exam. But it will be similar, in that area. So that was how I prepared to write my CBT, basically.
Christina:
Yeah, oh wow. Interesting.
Christina:
So obviously there, you've mentioned a few differences in terms of mental health nursing and the way it's done and the documentation, and things you'll see. Have you noticed any other... are there any other big differences in working life or everyday life that you've noticed, since moving to the UK from Ghana?
Speaker 1:
Oh yeah. I've seen a lot.
Christina:
A lot.
Speaker 1:
An example is sanity leave. Basically, back home, sanity leave is not something you need a doctor to approve. And you are not call it leave. We call it [foreign language 00:10:15]. Basically, in terms of a [foreign language 00:10:17], in terms of in the hospital environment. Then we have all the town [foreign language 00:10:21], where all the good jobs, particular part of the town. To do [inaudible 00:10:26]. To visit the family for a number of days, and return for a time.
Speaker 1:
Back home in Ghana, they would all sleep. And then they will have section 17. For part of the mental health act. Which that, basically it, so Usually, we talk about two sessions, tell the patient, seven, 41 and stuff.
Speaker 1:
Back home in Ghana, you would not refer to them as sessions. We refer to them as particular headings In the act. It depends, admitted on court order, people admitted, serving here. In the UK. So at least we see voluntary patient, or patients, let's say they are section two or three. We don't have section two or three. In terms of it's really voluntary.
Speaker 1:
So in voluntary, we have court order [inaudible 00:11:14]. 136. In the UK, we do policemen, we bring them to a place of safety for assessment. We have [inaudible 00:11:20] agency. 72 hours for them to see a doctor or emergency services, or discharge them when we are not concerned to their treatment.
Speaker 1:
Because it's hard to, really differentiate in terms of what happens back in Ghana. And what happens in the UK, yeah. Short of there are a lot of reach, and [inaudible 00:11:48] of leave. A lot of have to do with discretion of the nurses. And for how long you're supposed to ask. And there's a certain documentation in terms of admission. Look for the evidence of the doctor through medical doctor recommendation.
Speaker 1:
In Ghana, we only have an assessment of agency. The one that is in Ghana, in the group key well, we expect two doctors or two nurse practitioners to [inaudible 00:12:06] that the patient's mental health treatment. And in terms of a court order, we do not need those forms. We just need an order from the court, to stand by the registrar or the judge, to admit a court order.
Speaker 1:
So we do not need any different. We don't need those forms to admit a patient into care. I've never had a judge from the court, you are bound to admit. And then, comment on what the court is asking you to do. So in most cases, to be in an order for treatment, in order to assess the person to stand on trial, or fitness to plead.
Speaker 1:
Basically, so that's the difference, but I'm still learning the record though.
Christina:
Yeah, yeah, of course. But yeah, that's a lot. From what you've said, that's a lot of new information, to have to learn. Just about the job that you already do. But yeah.
Christina:
Do you feel like you've made the right decision? Are you enjoying it? Are you enjoying being here in the UK?
Speaker 1:
Actually, I think basically, I felt like at a point in time, if you do what you do every day, you don't get to experience other issues or other areas of life. Hard things like that. So if all the perspective was home, try something else.
Christina:
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
So I'm telling you about the mental health act in Ghana. Because I have worked with it for a period of time.
Christina:
Of course, yeah.
Speaker 1:
I'm more accustomed to basically know what it is. And if I had not come to the UK, now I'm getting to know a different perspective of how the laws apply. And the total difference that applies, yeah.
Christina:
Yeah-
Speaker 1:
For example, in the UK, I realize people have an informal way of communicating, or greetings. And how they take certain expressions into context. Related to what would happen in Africa.
Speaker 1:
Some of the time, it shifts. People mistake you. Or something. And say, are you all right?
Christina:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
So, little point. But, now at least I find someone asking you, I'm all right in Ghana. Actually, what's up? What's happening?
Christina:
Oh, okay.
Speaker 1:
Or one more. Basically, that was an informal way of communicating among us, as friends.
Christina:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
It's hard to say. Somebody would say, "How are you doing?" Or "How are you feeling?" So I realize that there's slight difference. It's not just in terms of how to relate. But even beyond that, the informal way of communication. I had to learn in a way, to understand that this is how things are done in the UK.
Christina:
Yeah. Yeah, that's a really good point. And it's interesting, that you write. It is just a whole new experience, I suppose, isn't it? Yeah, like you said, it's not just learning about the new ways that you have to work in your job as a mental health nurse. But yeah. The whole thing, really. Isn't it? Interesting points.
Christina:
So, have you got any, just before we wrap up. Have you got any final words of advice for anybody thinking about making the move over to the UK? Anyone who's not started the process yet?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I think if you want to come, I won't be stopping you. It's a nice experience. Take the challenge. I always tell friends that it's a challenge, you might as well take. You want to learn something new, try something new.
Christina:
Yeah. [crosstalk 00:15:54].
Speaker 1:
It might not be easy at the start, but there are lessons you can learn from it.
Christina:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
And by staying there, you can, say in five years. Have an experience of working in Ghana. I think I will have gained a better understanding of people, than working in just one country, at a time. And I think that that kind of experiences, you'll not gain anywhere. Or when you practice in one particular area. And I think when you have a combination of several experiences, it helps to hone your skills. And makes you a better professional.
Christina:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
So I think tell people to also consider. If they want to come, it's a good idea. It's a good attempt. They need to take a hold of it. And make use of it.
Christina:
Yeah. Oh great. Yeah, I think they're really, really smart words actually. Yeah. I think that's a really good perspective to take. Right, well thank you so much. Thank you for sharing your story with us. And yeah. I hope you have a lovely day. And I hope you continue to learn and settle in. And yeah, I hope you enjoy it.
Speaker 1:
Thank you very much for the opportunity to share with others, my experiences.
Christina:
Oh, I'm glad. I'm glad that you've enjoyed it. Okay, thanks a lot.
Speaker 1:
Thank you very much.
Christina:
Bye.
Christina:
Thank you so much for listening to another episode of License to Practice. I really hope you enjoyed my chat with Gideon. I certainly did, as always. And, yeah, don't forget to subscribe so that you don't miss any episodes, and we will see you next time.
Christina:
And as always, to your success.
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