Trust first in the country to organise on-site English test for non-UK trained nurses

Posted: 12 June 2020

On 13 June a group of overseas nurses recruited to Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust will finally be able to sit their Occupational English Test (OET), a required part of their Nursing and Midwifery Council Registration.

The Trust has decided to create an exam venue on one of its sites. This means that those nurses will no longer face the delays, caused by the COVID-19 lockdown measures, to acquiring their NMC pin. They will then be able to join the rest of the nursing workforce at the Trust in delivering safe and compassionate care to people in and around Buckinghamshire, at a time of greater pressure on healthcare systems throughout the country.

Both IELTS and OET exams have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic since March, leaving many non-UK trained nurses unable to complete their NMC registration. The Trust’s International Recruitment Team has worked with OET to organise for recently recruited overseas nurses to take the test at Wycombe Hospital’s education centre on 13 and 27 June. Strict social distancing measures are in place to ensure all participants, both candidates and assessors, remain safe throughout their time on site. The team also worked closely with OET in order to meet the very strict exam conditions required, including bringing in an external company to assess the test, with a view to continue this partnership and offer on-site English exams for its overseas nurses even after the pandemic is over.

The International Recruitment Team (photo taken pre-Covid 19)

The Trust’s Deputy Chief Nurse Workforce Transformation, Jeanette Tebbutt, said: “I am so proud that we are the first Trust to support our non-UK trained nurses in this way. The COVID-19 crisis has forced us all to think about new and, sometimes, better ways of working. An on-site exam venue is more practical for our overseas nurses, which is why we will continue to offer this beyond the pandemic. We had 32 nurses waiting for their English exam since March. They are ready to go, eager to get to work and excited to fully join the team here in Buckinghamshire. Good luck to them all!”

Maria Catarina Fernandes, one of the nurses taking the exam, said: “Due to the period of lockdown, I had my exam postponed two times. For me, it has been a challenging and a stressful period. Now, I know I will certainly be able to take it and I couldn’t feel more optimistic. Taking the OET on site will help me feel more confident and knowing it will not be postponed again meant I could finally concentrate on my studies. After the exam and subsequently receiving the NMC pin, I hope to achieve my personal desire to work in the paediatric health context at the Trust."