INSPIRING STORIES


Get to know inspiring and success stories from Filipino Nurses living in the Nordic Region.

I am a Home Visit Registered Nurse in Sweden


I am a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Philippines at Mary Chiles College year 1997. In the Philippines, I worked in private clinics, companies and worked for some years as a medical representative in some local and international pharmaceutical companies.


In 2003, I decided to move to Norway and worked as an Au Pair with a plan to submit all my papers as a Nurse and then later as an assistant nurse. I got my license to work as an assistant nurse but didn’t get the chance to work with the title because I moved to Sweden, got married and build my family in 2005.


For the first few years in Sweden, I was learning the Swedish language while working at the same time. I submitted my credentials to the education department to validate my BS Nursing degree. I got a letter of acceptance from Gothenburg University to pursue obtaining my Swedish nurse license. The program offered for nurses with a foreign degree from countries outside the EU / EEA and Switzerland comprised 60 higher education credits corresponding to one year of full-time study. The program contained both medical science and nursing courses. The nursing aspect contained health promotion, illness prevention, alleviation of suffering, and provide support and assistance during the end of life care. While the framework of medical science included pharmacology, pharmaceutical management, health care hygiene as well as illnesses and illnesses that are common in Sweden.


The course comprised of both theoretical and practical elements such as laboratory exercises and simulations. The program contained operational training (VFU)- conducted in collaboration with municipalities and county councils/regions. Three of the program's courses included operational training in municipal care and care, psychiatric care and in any of the specialities of medicine, surgery or geriatrics. During VFU, we were given the opportunity to develop the professional role and professional approach, integrate and apply knowledge to carry out and manage nursing work.


Fortunately, I finished the one-year program and obtained the license to work as a registered nurse here in Sweden. Since then, I am working as a home visit nurse serving and caring home clients- giving qualified nursing measures performed at home. These patients require a home-like environment instead of being taken good care in the hospital.


I enjoyed my profession as a nurse here in Sweden. With the challenging pathway I have experienced, I am proud to say that every person can be successful and happy through the nursing profession, and of course with the constant support of friends and family members. Believing in oneself with the combination of hard work will lead to a happy and successful life. I will always be grateful and willing to encourage every Filipino immigrant that there is nothing impossible if we just believe in ourselves.

Maryrose Martensson is currently working as a Home Visit Nurse in Gothenburg, Sweden for over a decade.