We were delighted to hear that Minu Joy, one of our international nursing recruits, is successfully developing her career with us at the LCO. Minu joined our Moss Side District Nursing Team in August 2021 after moving from Saudi Arabia to the UK. After getting to grips with the local lingo, working hard at her training, and learning from others, she’s now in a post with our Tissue Visibility team as a senior nurse.

Her former team leader, Meave McNulty, couldn’t be prouder and said:

Minu came to us with a wealth of international nursing experience. With the whole team’s support, she’s flourished quickly professionally and settled into living in this (cold!) part of the world. She learned to drive here, bought her own home, and much more. Her journey wasn’t without its challenges, but throughout, she’s shown an incredible amount of resilience.

Her recent appointment to the Tissue Viability Service is the culmination of all her hard work and a testament to the benefits of the wider recruitment campaigns. Our team has learned a lot from Minu, and we’re very sorry to see her go, but we wish her all the very best in her new role and career.

Read Minu’s interview below.

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An interview with Minu Joy, an international nurse

Tell us about yourself.

Hi, I’m Minu. I was born and raised in India and later moved to Saudi Arabia for work. I then came to the UK as part of the NHS international recruitment scheme, and I have been here in Manchester since the summer of 2021.

Why did you choose to get into nursing?

As a child, it was my dream to become a nurse. I believe it was my calling. I’ve always enjoyed looking after and caring for other people. Especially those who are vulnerable.

When did you first qualify and where did you do your training?

I studied nursing in India and graduated in 2008.

What was your first nursing role in India? 

After my studies and once I was registered, I went to work as a cardiac intensive care unit nurse. I was in that role for around three years, which I really enjoyed. It helped me learn more about acute and hospital care.

I then went on to gain experience working as a community staff nurse in Saudi Arabia between 2012 and 2021.

Was your role on the district nursing team your first in the UK?

It was yes. The team were very welcoming.

Did you have any worries?

Yes. Just because working in a community setting is far different from working in a hospital-based setting. However, after a very informative induction and welcome from the team, my worries were soon eased.

What did you enjoy most about your previous role?

The people. From the patients to my colleagues. The team was very good and there for me whenever I’ve missed home. They really encouraged me when I had moments of self-doubt and stood by me to give me the confidence to carry on. They also encouraged my professional development, and I’m proud to now be a qualified nurse prescriber after studying part-time at the University of Bolton. The team also shared their wealth of knowledge with me, and I’ve learned so much from them. Even how to talk to the Manchester lingo! It’s support like this (both professional and personal) that hasn’t really been made available to me in previous jobs.

What have you found challenging?

It was difficult getting used to the cultural differences and working through the language barriers. In addition, working in a community setting in comparison to an acute setting (a hospital) is totally different. For example, there’s more lone working involved.

Initially, I found it quite a challenge working in the nurse-led treatment room, where I needed to deal with various patients with different complex and hard-to- heal wounds each day. But whenever I needed help, my team was there to support me, so it got easier. They’ve also been there to support me whenever I’ve struggled to understand the British accent. We used to practice together, and I also spent some time listening to podcasts like those by the BBC to help improve my understanding and my own pronunciation.

How’s life in the UK different? 

Unlike where I’ve worked previously, I’ve been able to bring my family with me. So, I would say this has been one of the biggest differences. I still miss family and friends that are back home, but having my kids with me means everything. We’ve now found our dream home, and I’ve learned to drive, so we’re feeling very settled.

The UK’s education and career progression systems, I would also say, are very different. I’ve been able to achieve further qualifications and progress into a new role within the Tissue Viability Team as a specialist nurse. My career wouldn’t be where it is today, though, without the kindness and support of my district nursing team colleagues. A special thanks and my love to each one of them for supporting me throughout.

What are your hopes for the future?

To become a key person within the Trust and LCO and to continue to learn and grow to help deliver the very best patient care that I can. I want to learn more about lower leg wounds and management and how we can reduce the amount spent in the UK (it’s around 8.3 billion) on wounds. I hope my new post as a tissue viability nurse is a stepping stone towards this.