nursing care delivery , processes , and daily workflow . The nurses will have frequent touch-base meetings with their manager to monitor onboarding progress .
According to LCRH Senior Nursing Director Jessica Douglas ( RN , CCRN , SCRN , CLNC ), the orientation period is individualized to the nurse and their comfort level in the process .
“ In addition to nursing care , international nurses will be assisted with acclimation within the community ,” Douglas stated . “ They are connected with real estate representatives for available housing information , transportation departments for drivers licensing , and other necessary utility resources . Furthermore , within our area , we have a variety of cultural communities that welcome new members . Within our facility , we have several long-standing employees with similar cultural backgrounds to connect with for social engagement .”
Madel Alegre moved her family to Somerset from the Philippines back in April of this year . She stated that many of the changes coming to a new country were not that difficult to adjust to .
“ As foreign nurses , we have to adjust to so many factors in general ,” Alegre stated . “ But it was a surprise that with those adjustments , we don ’ t really have to struggle . In the Philippines we do study English since kindergarten up to college , so it ’ s not that much of a problem .”
“ I guess the most adjustment that I have had to make was the change medical documentation ,” Alegre stated . “ From where I worked before , it was all handwritten .
“ We have Filipinos here , we have a small community , and that makes it feel a little like back home ,” she stated . “ Also , we can communicate with our families back home through social media .”
Apple Borja moved with her family to America earlier in the year and stated she has adjusted well to the new lifestyle .
“ It ’ s not really much of a struggle adjusting in the United States because we speak the language since we were kids and we have had the same food ,” Borja explained . “ We had a lot of western restaurants or we ’ ve been westernized ever since . So it ’ s just a little adjustment .”
“ Work-wise , I think it ’ s much safer here because we have this computer system and we get to scan everything ,” Borja added . “ The chance of errors is much slimmer compared to working in the Philippines where we do less paperwork when giving medications and there ’ s no scanning .”
Janna Reyes , who is expecting her third child , stated that she feels part
24 • SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky June 2023