She's more than 2,000k from home and swapped Spain for CHFT.... and nurse Silvia Argota is loving it!! Here's her first impressions.
Trust News (TN) - How long have you worked for CHFT?
Silvia – I started work with the Trust in January this year and work on the coronary care unit at CRH.
TN – Tell us a little about your background
Silvia – I always wanted to be a nurse, but also to work abroad. In Spain it was almost impossible for me to find permanent work even after four years training. I was working on a temporary contact at a Spanish hospital in the A&E department last June when I made the decision to start applying for a job in the UK.
TN – why the UK?
Silvia – My close friend, who is also a nurse, came to work in London last October. I knew she loved it so that helped me make my mind up.
TN – How did you set about finding a job?
Silvia – There are a few specialist sites, and I sent my CV to quite a lot of them. I also registered with Medacs. It was quite easy really and I was really pleased to be offered a job at CHFT. I’d been to Manchester on an exchange trip so I knew I loved the area.
TN – And what’s different about working here to Spain?
Silvia – The most difficult thing for me was the language, even though I'd studied English. It also felt like I had to learn everything over again. In Spain students are left to just get on with it when they are training. It’s good really because I have had to show the Trust that I know what I am doing, so I’ve seen it as extra training.
TN – What’s the best thing about working at CHFT?
Take a look at Silvia's video which tells us more - but it's based around the fabulous support she gets from her manager and team
TN – So what do you like to do in your spare time?
Silvia – I’m friendly with other Spanish nurses and we’ll often go to the cinema or out. I also love shopping and have been out and about to Leeds, Manchester, York and Chester