INSPIRING STORIES

Journey as a Norwegian Nurse

Roumeline Aglipay, a graduate of B.S. Biology year 2001, thereafter B.S. Nursing year 2004. Immediately after passing the licensure exam, she got a job at The Medical City in Ortigas, Pasig City, Philippines. She has also worked as a Staff Nurse at the Surgery Ward and promoted as an Officer-in-Charge (OIC), then Nurse Manager of the same unit. She worked at The Medical City (TMC) for almost 7 years.

My journey in Norway started in the year 2009. A Norwegian agency from Norway in collaboration with an agency in Makati visited the hospital and recruited interested nurses with a working visa, provided we pay the Norwegian language course. It was a hard journey juggling between work and going to the language school mainly because of time and distance. For 3 months, I worked night shifts and in the morning, I have to go to language school. Unfortunately, I was not lucky to go to Norway because of unexpected circumstances. I was discouraged and was convinced that I will never leave the Philippines anymore. By 2012, another opportunity came this time using the student visa scheme. Applicants paid all expenses. Finally set foot in Norway in September 2012.

With a student visa, we were asked to pay for everything-from lodging, school tuition fees and allowances. My friend and I had to do cleaning jobs once a week just to sustain our costs of living. It was hard applying for a job related to nursing because of language barriers. I sought advice from our guidance counsellor in school and helped me get in a nursing home for my language practice. Luckily, I passed my Norwegian language examination (Norskprove 2 & 3).

I was offered an 11.6% work contract and this was not much but I just have to grab that chance. With determination and encouragement from a Filipina nurse working in the same unit, I then took the Nasjonalefag thru online. I passed the exam and undergone 3 months practice in Geriatrics. After the satisfactory evaluation from my Norwegian nurse mentor, I submitted every requirement to SAFH (Statens Autorisasjonskontor for Helsepersonell) and got my authorization as a nurse in Norway.

I am currently working in Sarpsborg Kommune, Valaskjold Omsorgssenter as a night shift nurse for 6 years now.

Tears, sweat and blood pays off, I believe!