How a Nigerian Nurse Moved to the UK. Moving abroad to work as a nurse is a dream for many Nigerian healthcare professionals, but getting there requires more than simply securing a visa or submitting a job application.
For one Nigerian nurse, the journey from working in Nigeria to practising in the United Kingdom involved saving money, completing professional requirements, applying for hundreds of jobs, dealing with repeated rejections and eventually choosing between multiple job offers.
Her experience also highlights an important reality: working abroad comes with opportunities, but it also comes with culture shock, loneliness, racism, difficult weather and the pressure of starting over.
Here’s what aspiring Nigerian nurses can learn from her journey.
From Nigeria to the UK: Why She Decided to Leave
The nurse had always been interested in healthcare and initially considered becoming a doctor or nurse. However, her experience working in Nigerian hospitals eventually influenced her decision to pursue a career abroad.
One of her major concerns was the difference between what healthcare professionals are trained to do and what is practically possible in hospitals with limited resources.
She recalled situations where procedures taught during nursing education required equipment that was unavailable in some Nigerian hospitals where she worked. Rather than abandoning her career, she decided she wanted to find an environment where she could practise nursing with greater access to the resources she had been trained to use.
However, her Nigerian experience was not wasted.
She credits working in Nigeria with developing her resilience, empathy and ability to perform under pressure. Working with limited resources taught her how to make the most of what was available while caring for critically ill patients.
For Nigerian nurses considering migration, this is an important lesson: your experience at home can become one of your greatest strengths abroad.
What Does It Take to Move to the UK as a Nigerian Nurse?
Her relocation process was neither quick nor cheap.
After completing NYSC, she began working and saving money to fund the different stages of her relocation. She gradually paid for the required examinations and professional processing rather than having all the money available at once.
One of the major steps was registering with the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and taking the required Computer-Based Test (CBT).
After completing the CBT, she moved on to the job-search stage.
This is where persistence became particularly important.
She Applied for Up to 20 Jobs a Day
Instead of sending a few applications and waiting, she made job hunting a daily routine.
After finishing work, she would shower, open her laptop and start applying for jobs. On some days, she submitted 20 applications, while on other days she sent as many as 30.
The result wasn’t immediate.
She received hundreds of rejections.
But rather than stopping, she reviewed each application, researched what could be improved and adjusted her approach for the next application.
Eventually, the persistence paid off.
By December, she had secured approximately 10 interviews, which eventually resulted in four job offers by January. She compared the offers based on factors such as salary, location and cost of living before making her decision.
The lesson for job seekers
Don’t interpret rejection as proof that you’re unqualified.
When applying for competitive international jobs, your strategy may need to change before your results do.
Instead of:
Apply → Get rejected → Give up
think:
Apply → Review → Improve → Apply again.
What Was It Like Arriving in the UK?
Her arrival coincided with a period when UK hospitals were recruiting large numbers of migrant nurses.
The hospital arranged flights for the nurses and they travelled as a group. Because the UK was still operating under COVID-19 restrictions, the newly arrived nurses spent 10 days in isolation in accommodation provided by the hospital.
But the first few days weren’t exactly easy.
The cold weather was one of her earliest surprises, and she also struggled to understand the British accent because conversations initially seemed much faster than she was accustomed to.
This is something prospective international students and workers should prepare for: relocating is not simply changing countries; it means adjusting to a completely different environment.
Culture Shocks Nigerian Nurses Should Expect
Moving from Nigeria to the UK introduced several unexpected differences.
1. Longer summer days
One of her first experiences involved sleeping after arriving at her accommodation and waking up around 8 p.m. only to discover that it was still bright outside.
She initially thought she had slept for much longer before checking the time and learning that summer days in the UK can remain bright well into the evening.
2. Getting used to public transportation
She also had to learn how the British bus system worked.
For someone coming from Nigeria, where transportation works differently from city to city, understanding routes, schedules and connections can take some adjustment.
3. Food
Food was another challenge.
She initially lived somewhere without easily accessible African food stores and found it difficult to adjust to British food. Eventually, she discovered Asian and Mediterranean alternatives.
4. Religion
She also noticed a significant difference in how religion is treated socially.
According to her experience, religion in the UK is generally regarded as a personal matter, unlike Nigeria where religious practices can be much more visible in everyday life, including workplaces.
5. Weather
If you’re considering the UK, don’t underestimate the weather.
She particularly disliked winter and even joked about spending future winters in Nigeria if she could afford to do so.
What About Racism in the UK?
This was one of the more difficult aspects of her experience.
She described experiencing situations where people treated her differently because she was Black. She also noticed differences in how some newly hired white colleagues were treated compared with her.
However, she learned to use the systems available to her.
When a patient behaved in a racist manner towards her, she reported the incident to her superior. She was advised to make a formal report, demonstrating that there are institutional procedures available to employees facing discrimination.
What can Nigerian immigrants learn from this?
Don’t assume you have to tolerate discrimination simply because you’re an immigrant.
Understand your workplace policies, know your rights and report inappropriate behaviour through the appropriate channels.
Did Nigerian Nursing Education Prepare Her for the UK?
Interestingly, she believes it prepared her very well.
Despite the differences between the two healthcare systems, she felt her Nigerian education gave her a strong technical foundation.
She also found that her previous clinical experience meant she was sometimes able to assist newly qualified nurses who had recently graduated from UK universities.
Her experience is a reminder that where you studied does not automatically determine how capable you will become professionally.
Your practical experience, ability to learn and willingness to adapt matter too.
What Are the Benefits of Working in the UK?
Despite the challenges, she rates her happiness in the UK at 8 out of 10.
One of the biggest advantages for her is the relationship between work and income.
She believes that working additional shifts in Nigeria often doesn’t provide the same financial benefit she experiences in the UK. She also appreciates the sense of safety she experiences, particularly when travelling home late at night.
Another benefit is travel.
Living in the UK has allowed her to travel to several countries, including Albania, Egypt, Morocco, Spain, Montenegro and Greece, with more international trips planned.
For her, international travel has become much more accessible than it was while living in Nigeria.
Building a Support System Abroad
One of the biggest challenges of relocation is being far away from family.
Fortunately, she wasn’t completely alone.
Her closest friends include other Nigerian nurses who relocated around the same period. They went through isolation, training and work together, and have maintained their friendships even after moving to different locations.
They also organise annual trips and December gatherings where they eat, celebrate and support one another.
Her church has also provided emotional and practical support, including forums designed to help people understand life in the UK.
And, of course, her family in Nigeria remained an important source of emotional support during the difficult early stages of relocation.
This is an important lesson for anyone relocating:
Don’t underestimate the importance of community.
Money can help you relocate, but relationships can help you settle.
Is She Planning to Return to Nigeria?
For now, she’s uncertain.
She has visited Nigeria since relocating and hopes to return again. However, she isn’t currently convinced that permanently returning would be the best decision for her future.
She is also considering another international move.
Having already passed her US nursing examinations, she is considering eventually moving from the UK to the United States, where she believes nurses have greater opportunities for professional growth and higher earning potential.
However, she isn’t rushing the decision. After the stress of moving from Nigeria to the UK, she wants to make sure she is ready before starting another relocation process.
Should Nigerian Nurses Consider Moving Abroad?
There isn’t one answer for everyone.
Her experience shows that moving abroad can provide better earning opportunities, professional exposure, safety, travel opportunities and access to a different healthcare environment.
But it also requires sacrifice.
You may experience:
- Repeated job rejections
- Financial pressure during the application process
- Loneliness
- Culture shock
- Difficult weather
- Racism or discrimination
- Professional adjustment
- Being separated from family
- The emotional pressure of starting again
The important thing is to go with realistic expectations.
Don’t relocate because social media makes life abroad look perfect.
Relocate because you’ve researched the country, understand the requirements, have a realistic financial plan and know what you want from the move.
Key Lessons for Nigerian Nurses Planning to Relocate
If you’re considering the UK nursing route, this experience offers several practical lessons:
1. Get your professional requirements right.
Understand the registration and examination requirements before beginning the process.
2. Save before you start.
International relocation involves examinations, documentation, applications and other expenses.
3. Don’t depend on one job application.
Apply consistently and improve your applications based on feedback.
4. Prepare for rejection.
Hundreds of applications may not produce immediate results, but persistence can eventually lead to interviews and offers.
5. Research your destination.
Learn about housing, transportation, weather, food, taxes, workplace culture and cost of living.
6. Build a support network.
Friends, colleagues, church communities and family can make the transition significantly easier.
7. Remember that relocation isn’t the end goal.
Once abroad, continue thinking about professional development and where you want your career to go.
