What made you want to work in healthcare?
I went into healthcare because of the inspiration I received from my sister. My elder sister is a nurse, and she would come home and share stories about the wonderful care she provided and the smiles she put on people’s faces. That was the spark, the first time I became interested in healthcare. Then, in 2012, I was admitted to the hospital, scared and vulnerable, and was cared for by a lovely nurse whose kindness I will never forget. At that moment, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare and care for people.
Why did you choose to nurse in the UK?
My journey and commitment to nursing began overseas. There, I first developed a deep understanding of resourcefulness and resilience. Driven by a strong ambition to grow professionally and advance in nursing led me to relocate to the United Kingdom where the NHS is known for its high standards, ethical values, patient-centred care, equality and inclusiveness. I have since rebuilt my professional identity and skills around the NHS’s core values of compassion, respect and dignity, Commitment to quality of care, collaboration, and evidence-based practice.
What does a day in your life as a nurse involve?
A day in my life as a nurse is dynamic, challenging, and deeply rewarding. I work as a senior community nurse within an integrated network team, managing a complex caseload of mostly frail elderly patients. My day involves holistic assessments, clinical reasoning, and delivering person-centred care.
I am responsible for managing my own caseload, which includes preventing hospital admissions, delegating tasks, managing capacity, triaging patients, and coordinating care and referrals. These responsibilities have given me hands-on experience in workforce management.
I also work closely within a multidisciplinary team, sharing skills and knowledge in regular meetings with GPs, hospice teams, specialist practitioners, secondary care teams, and other agencies. Beyond leadership duties, I perform specialist clinical interventions such as end-of-life care, wound care, palliative care and assessing and providing equipment and other clinical supports needed within the district nursing and integrated network team.
What do you find rewarding about your role at Sirona?
What I find rewarding about my role at Sirona goes beyond clinical work—it’s deeply personal and professional.
First, Sirona has supported me from the moment they recruited me abroad to the present day. That trust and investment have given me stability, confidence, and a deep sense of belonging.
Second, I am part of a highly supportive team and management structure. Knowing my colleagues and leaders genuinely care about my well-being and growth helps me thrive, making challenging days manageable and successes shared.
Most importantly, Sirona’s values; compassionate care, taking it personally, and making every contact count, deeply align with my own values. These aren’t just words; I see them in action every day. That alignment motivates me to give my best, knowing I work for an organisation that believes in the same compassionate, person-centred care that first inspired me to enter healthcare.
Why do International Nurses Deserve recognition on Nurses Day?
International Nurses deserve recognition because they bring inclusivity, enrich our profession through shared knowledge, and bring unique contributions that strengthen healthcare for all, and make unique sacrifices to care for others through the courage of leaving their homes, friends and families to serve others with resilience and compassion. They don’t just fill roles they enrich the heart of nursing.
What’s the one shift you’ll never forget?
There’s something powerful in the fact that no single patient immediately comes to mind. It means caring for people has become part of who you are, not just something you do. But one moment that quietly stayed with me was supporting a patient receiving palliative care.
In healthcare, we often focus on observations, medications, and tasks but this experience reminded me that dignity and choice matter just as much.
This end-of-life patient had simple wishes: comfort, familiarity, and to feel heard during a vulnerable time in their life. This patient was scared as he was unsure if their wishes will be met in the community, therefore, they were considering being admitted to acute or hospice setting for their end-of-life care even though his true wishes was to be cared for at home with his family around him. By taking the time to listen, respect their preferences, and involve the family with compassion, I realised that nursing is not always about “fixing” people. Sometimes, it is about bringing peace, reassurance, and humanity into difficult moments.
What stayed with me most was the smile and calmness that followed when the patient felt understood. It reminded me that going above and beyond is not always something dramatic. Sometimes it is sitting for a few extra minutes, speaking gently, respecting someone’s wishes, and making them feel valued.
As a nurse, I meet many patients every day, and while faces may blur over time, the feeling of making someone feel safe, respected, and cared for never fades. That is the kind of nurse I continue striving to be.
Why do you think it’s important to celebrate Nurses Day?
Nurse’s Day matters because nurses sacrifice time with their own families to care for strangers, offer compassion when we are most vulnerable, and show kindness even on their hardest days. Beyond these, nurses carry resilience, patience, courage, and empathy every single day. One day of celebration cannot repay what they give, but it can say: We see your sacrifices. We honour your heart. Thank you.
