Newly qualified nurse says: “I see the difference we make every day” | News and events

Newly qualified nurse says: “I see the difference we make every day”

A nurse who joined Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) as part of a pilot programme which helps refugees to escape conflict has spoken of her pride after passing additional exams and receiving her nursing pin in the UK.

Rayyan Jad joined the team at Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth in September 2021 after moving to East Anglia from Lebanon, where she was living as a refugee.

Although she was already a qualified nurse, Rayyan initially worked in a clinical support role while she completed a computer-based test, English exam and a practical exam.

After successfully passing all three, she has gained her professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and is once again able to make the most of her nursing skills.

Rayyan has now thanked NSFT and her colleagues in Great Yarmouth for the support she has received since moving to England, and is looking forward to developing her skills and knowledge further in the future.

“I am so pleased I was given the opportunity to come to the UK and am really enjoying working at Northgate,” said Rayyan, who is Palestinian but was born in Lebanon. “I see the difference which every single member of staff makes every day, which is very rewarding.

“Providing good mental healthcare is about far more than just giving patients’ medication – its about communicating well and developing relationships so that you can deliver holistic care.

“I learnt a lot about mental health while I was a clinical support worker and had lots of new experiences. I want to learn even more in the future as mental and physical health are so closely linked – you cannot have one without the other and need both to be a healthy person.”

Rayyan was one of six nurses to join NSFT as part of the pilot, which is being delivered by NHS England and NHS Improvement in partnership with DHSC, Liverpool John Moores University, RefuAid and Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB).

She was invited to apply for the role by TBB after completing her nursing degree.

“Everyone has been very welcoming, and I am very thankful to be part of a really good team who are always here for me,” added Rayyan. “Being away from my family is hard but I have received a lot of support and have lots of friends around the UK, so go and visit whenever I have some time off.”

All of the nurses who joined NSFT as part of the pilot are still with the Trust. The remaining five hope to achieve their NMC registration early next year.

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