From the Philippines to the UK: My Nursing Journey

My nursing journey didn’t begin in the UK.

It began back home, in the Philippines, with a dream that felt both hopeful and heavy.

Where it all began

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in April 2015, but the journey toward that moment had already begun long before the graduation march, the cap, and the photos. By January 2015, my life had quietly shifted into full review mode. Every weekend was dedicated to preparing for the Philippine National Licensure Examination for Nurses. While others were winding down, celebrating the end of university life, or enjoying time with friends, my weekends were spent surrounded by review notes, thick textbooks, and endless practice questions.

The routine was exhausting, repetitive, and mentally draining. There were mornings I woke up already tired, and nights when my head felt so full that nothing seemed to stay in. Anxiety slowly crept in—What if I don’t make it? What if I fail? What if all these years of studying still aren’t enough? No matter how much I reviewed, fear often felt louder than confidence.

A few weeks before the exam, my nursing college classmates and I—who had been reviewing together—decided to visit a Mama Mary grotto on the west coast of the city. We didn’t bring books or notes, only quiet hearts and heavy hopes. We prayed, shared our worries, and wished for a positive result. Standing there together, I realised how much pressure we were all carrying. It wasn’t just an exam—it felt like our entire future was on the line.

In the weeks leading up to the board exam, I also attended Sunday Mass regularly with my family. Sitting beside them brought both comfort and emotion. We prayed not only for success, but for strength, clarity, and peace. I didn’t ask for perfection; I asked for courage—courage to face the exam and to accept whatever outcome would come.

When May 2015 finally arrived, I took the board exam carrying not just knowledge, but months of sacrifice, self-doubt, anxiety, and prayer. The waiting period afterwards felt unbearable. Each day was filled with restless thoughts and endless “what ifs.” When the results were finally released, and I saw that I had passed, everything seemed to stop for a moment. Relief washed over me, followed by a gratitude so deep I could barely put it into words. I could only say one thing: thank God.

That moment didn’t just mark the start of my career as a registered nurse. It became the first true victory in a journey that would go on to test my resilience, faith, and determination again and again.

Learning to be a Nurse on the Frontlines

My first hospital experience was in a government hospital in the Philippines, where I began my nursing career in the Emergency Room, the counterpart of A&E in the UK. From the very beginning, I learned that working in a public hospital meant showing up every day knowing you would be stretched—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Every shift in the ER was unpredictable. Patients arrived with conditions ranging from minor injuries to life-threatening emergencies, often all at once, and sometimes with limited resources and overwhelming patient numbers.

As a Filipino nurse in a government hospital, you quickly learn to do more with less. There were days when the workload felt endless and the pressure overwhelming. Yet despite the exhaustion, the responsibility never left my hands. I learned how to prioritise care, assess patients rapidly, and make safe clinical decisions under intense pressure. In that environment, hesitation could cost time—and time could cost lives. Every shift pushed me beyond my comfort zone, slowly shaping my confidence, clinical judgment, and emotional resilience.

I will always be deeply thankful to my senior colleagues in the Emergency Room, who guided me through those early and uncertain days. I learned emergency nursing not just from protocols, but through their mentorship and, along with the on-shift doctors, patiently taught, supported, and trusted me—even during the busiest and most overwhelming shifts. Through them, I experienced what emergency medicine truly looks like within Philippine healthcare standards—where teamwork, adaptability, and compassion are just as vital as clinical skill. Their guidance played a huge role in building my confidence as a young Filipino nurse, and I carry those lessons with me to this day.

After my Emergency Room experience, I was assigned primarily to the Medical Ward, and this was where my nursing foundation truly deepened. The pace was different from the ER, but the responsibility was just as heavy. I was exposed to a wide range of medical conditions—cardiac, respiratory, neurological, endocrine, infectious diseases, and long-term chronic illnesses. I learned how to manage complex medication regimens, closely monitor vital signs, perform thorough assessments, and recognise subtle signs of deterioration before they became emergencies.

More than anything, the medical ward taught me how to see patients as people, not just diagnoses. Many stayed for extended periods, and caring for them required patience, empathy, and consistency. I learned the importance of clear documentation and effective communication with doctors and the multidisciplinary team. This ward shaped the way I thought as a nurse—it taught me critical thinking, accountability, and holistic care.

At times, due to understaffing issues, I was also assigned to the Surgical Ward—an experience that initially felt intimidating in such a busy provincial government hospital. However, it soon became a blessing in disguise. Being placed there allowed me to gain hands-on experience in surgical nursing, particularly in caring for patients stepping down from the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU). These patients were often at their most vulnerable, requiring close and constant monitoring during the critical hours after surgery.

I learned to carefully assess and manage pain, monitor fluid balance, perform wound care, encourage early mobilisation, and recognise early signs of post-operative complications such as bleeding, infection, or respiratory distress. Caring for post-operative patients sharpened my attention to detail and reinforced how crucial the first hours after surgery are—not just clinically, but emotionally. Patients needed reassurance as much as observation, and nurses became their first source of comfort and safety.

Looking back, my experiences in the Emergency Room, Medical Ward, and Surgical Ward reflect the reality of many Filipino nurses working in government hospitals. The work was demanding, resources were limited, but the training was rich. Those years shaped not only my nursing skills, but my character. They taught me resilience, adaptability, gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility—values I continue to carry with me wherever I practise nursing.

Precision, Discipline and Growth in the Operating Room (OR)

The Operating Room demanded a completely different level of discipline, focus, and humility. Stepping into the OR in a provincial government hospital in the Philippines, I quickly realised that this was a space where there was no room for shortcuts—only precision, preparation, and deep respect for patient safety. Unlike the wards, where care unfolds over hours or days, everything in the OR had to be planned, prepared, and executed with absolute accuracy, often under time pressure and with limited resources.

One of the first things I learned was the critical importance of infection prevention and control in its strictest form. I became deeply involved in the autoclaving and sterilisation of surgical instruments. Understanding the entire sterilisation process—from decontamination and careful packaging to monitoring indicators—changed the way I viewed patient safety. It taught me that nursing responsibility extends far beyond what the patient can see at the bedside.

As time went on, I had the opportunity to observe and assist in various surgical procedures, moments that left a lasting impression on me. Watching surgeons work with precision while nurses supported every step deepened my understanding of anatomy and surgical principles. For the first time, I could clearly see how conditions I had managed medically were treated surgically. It connected everything—pre-operative preparation, intra-operative care, and post-operative recovery—into one continuous patient journey. Those moments reminded me that every role in the operating theatre carries weight, and every action contributes to a patient’s outcome.

I was eventually trusted to work as both a scrub nurse and a circulating nurse, roles that required constant alertness and accountability. As a scrub nurse, I learned to anticipate the surgeon’s needs, maintain a sterile field, and handle instruments with confidence and precision. Every movement mattered. As a circulating nurse, I became the patient’s voice and protector inside the theatre—checking documentation, assisting with positioning, maintaining surgical counts, coordinating with the surgical team, and responding immediately to any needs during the procedure. These roles taught me teamwork, focus, and responsibility in an environment where mistakes could have serious consequences.

One of the things I am most grateful for during my time in the Operating Room was having a mentor who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. In the beginning, I worked closely under his supervision, carefully observing every step, every decision, and every technique. He corrected me when needed, explained patiently, and allowed me the space to learn without fear of being judged. Those early days were filled with nerves and self-doubt, but also with constant learning.

As time went on, his guidance slowly turned into trust. I remember the moment when I realised I was being allowed to work more independently—still supported, but no longer watched over every second. Eventually, I found myself functioning on my own, relying on everything I had learned during those mentoring moments. That transition—from supervised practice to independent responsibility—was one of the most empowering experiences of my early nursing career.

Through that mentorship, I didn’t just gain technical skills; I gained confidence. I learned to trust my judgment, stand firm in my role, and take responsibility for my actions in the operating theatre. For a Filipino nurse working in a provincial government hospital, that kind of mentorship is invaluable. It shaped me into a more competent, confident nurse, and it reminded me that growth happens not in isolation, but through guidance, patience, and trust.

Even now, I carry those lessons with me. Every time I prepare, double-check, or pause to ensure patient safety, I remember those mentoring moments that helped mould the nurse I became.

Working in the OR also taught me humility. There were days when I felt overwhelmed, knowing how much was at stake. The awareness that even the smallest error could affect a patient’s life pushed me to practise with caution, confidence, and professionalism. Trust within the multidisciplinary team was essential, and clear communication became non-negotiable. In that space, I learned to speak up, to double-check, and to never assume.

Looking back now, ending my time in that hospital in the Operating Room felt deeply meaningful. It brought together everything I had learned—from emergency care to medical and surgical nursing—and gave me a broader, more grounded understanding of my role as a nurse. The discipline, resilience, and sense of responsibility I developed in the OR shaped not just how I practise nursing today, but how I carry myself as a professional. Those months in the OR became one of the strongest foundations I brought with me when I stepped into nursing beyond the Philippines.

Chasing a Dream Beyond the Bedside

But nursing skills alone wouldn’t get me to where I wanted to be.

Knowing that communication was key to working abroad, I made the difficult decision to work in a call centre. It was a completely different environment from healthcare, but it gave me daily exposure to English-speaking customers. I learned how to listen carefully, respond confidently, and communicate clearly—all while reviewing for my IELTS exam in Manila.

I took the IELTS three times.

Three attempts filled with doubt, frustration, and moments when I questioned myself. Then came the announcement from the NMC UK—international nurses could now combine two IELTS exam scores to meet the required band. When I realised my scores finally met the standard, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Once again, God’s timing was perfect.

The next challenge was the Computer-Based Test (CBT)—another nursing exam, another hurdle. I reviewed and studied for it while still working as a call centre agent. Balancing work, revision, fatigue, and pressure felt unbelievable at times. There were days I came home exhausted, questioning how I could keep going. But I did. I was tired—but I was resilient.

Eventually, I applied through an agency in Manila and was scheduled for an interview with a UK employer. Before the interview, there was an MCQ exam. I was nervous, unsure of what to expect. It covered drug calculations and assessed my nursing knowledge. When I found out I passed, I felt another quiet victory—another reminder that all the sacrifices were adding up.

After the interview, I received the news I had been praying for:

They hired me.

I got the job. Paperwork followed. Visa processing began. And then, in August 2019, I finally arrived in the UK as a Staff Nurse in Colchester.

On my very first day in the country, I was incredibly lucky. I managed to rent a room in Colchester where other nurses lived—many of them Filipino nurses. From the start, I felt understood. I was surrounded by people who spoke my language, shared my experiences, and knew exactly what it felt like to be new in a foreign country. That sense of familiarity made all the difference.

Through them, I gained not just housemates, but friends. Soon after, I also built friendships at work—people who helped me adjust, supported me, and made the workplace feel less intimidating. Having that community softened the loneliness that often comes with migration.

Still, even with that support, the homesickness hit hard.

I cried for a few days—not because I regretted coming, but because I missed home deeply. I missed my family, my comfort zone, and the life I left behind. At the same time, I was happy. This was my dream job. The life I worked so hard for was finally real.

I was grateful.
I was homesick.
I was proud.
All at once.

That’s the reality of chasing a dream abroad.

This journey wasn’t easy. It was built on sacrifice, faith, resilience, and countless moments of doubt. But it shaped me—not just as a nurse, but as a person.

And if you’re reading this while standing at the beginning of your own journey, remember this:
If it feels hard, it’s because it matters.
And one day, you’ll look back and realise—you survived more than you ever thought you could.

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