Samsha Balona, a nurse and Practice Facilitator for International Nurse Recruits at George Eliot Hospital has won a Cavell Star Award for going above and beyond for her colleagues.
Colleague and Practice Education and Development Facilitator Wilfredo Vitao explains why Samsha deserves her award,
“Samsha joined our Practice Education and Development team to support our NMC-OSCE programme. OSCE is one the competence tests that internationally educated nurses (IENs) must pass to obtain UK nursing registration and George Eliot Hospital has now welcomed 62 international nurses. Our first three cohorts have all passed their OSCE and the hospital’s pass rates were consistently higher than the national average.
“Samsha is instrumental in further improving our first time pass rate of our internationally educated nurses. She is a dedicated practice facilitator and she serves as an ambassador for our internationally educated nurses.”
Reacting to her Cavell Star Award, Samsha explained why she loves working with IENs,
“I was once an international nurse who came to the country, unsure of what the next few months or years will look like. I was in a completely unfamiliar environment far from the comforts of home. I know how working in a foreign country is not one of the easiest decisions to make. My current job role allows me to work with Internationally Educated Nurses who go through the same challenges. What I love about it is the way I can relate to IENs, allowing me to cater to their needs as they prepare for their OSCE even better.
“It feels good to work in an environment where people lift each other up and appreciate each other. It makes the job I do more meaningful and reminds me that my efforts are not in vain. Being recognised by my colleagues feels very humbling as well. This award, though, serves as more than just recognition – it is validation of the hard work not only I put in but also the hard work of the international nurses I support daily.
“I am very grateful for the incredible team that has been by my side throughout. They are more than just colleagues but a source of support and inspiration. Despite being the youngest member of the PED Team, I have learned a lot from their vast experience. They have helped me develop both personally and professionally.”