Musacana Mukonje, known as Musa, joined Avonbourne Care Centre after responding to the overseas nurse recruitment campaign by OSJCT. The Nurse from Zambia joined the Trust in July for a period of induction before moving permanently to the Old Sarum care home in December.

The thirty-eight-year-old trained and worked as a nurse in Zambia’s capital Lusaka, but was keen to experience nursing in a new country. With her best friend already working in the UK, Musa jumped at the chance to join OSJCT’s overseas nursing programme.

She said: “I am really enjoying using my nursing skills here at Avonbourne Care Centre. Nursing in Zambia is often under-resourced, whereas here we have the equipment needed to do a good job, for example hoists to lift our residents.

“Another advantage of working in the UK is better wages. In Zambia it was very hard to save, but the salary here is good.”

Musa, whose young daughter currently lives with her sister, is planning to bring her daughter to the UK next year and is pleased that she will be able to benefit from a British education.

Musa found everyone at the care home very welcoming. She said: “I moved here in December, when the home was getting ready for Christmas. Every team member here received a present from the Manager, myself included. It was very nice to open a present, I felt appreciated.”

Musa wanted to be a Nurse from a young age. She said: “I’m a compassionate person by nature. I love to care for others and make them happy.”

Working in older people’s care suits Musa as she enjoys listening to residents sharing their stories. She has a great respect for older people and getting to know the home’s residents is Musa’s favourite part of her job.

Musa said: “Taking this new job and moving to the UK to improve my life has been one of my best decisions. It’s brilliant to get this exposure to different cultures and backgrounds, and I am very happy to be part of the Avonbourne Care Centre team and to support our residents.”