Nurse and midwife Amie English’s career – from Brighton to Saudia Arabia

Amie English graduated in 2011 with BSc Hons Nursing. Here, she offers some advice and talks about her experience studying at Brighton and how her career has led her to Saudia Arabia….

It’s hard to believe it’s been eleven years since I finished my nursing degree, but looking back on all I’ve done since then, it’s evident that time does fly when you’re having fun. I will eternally be grateful for the University of Brighton, for the friends I made and the opportunities I have had, I have been very lucky to have worked in some amazing hospitals/GP practices since, including Eastbourne District General Hospital, England, King’s College Hospital, London, University College Hospital, London, Watford General Hospital, England, Midland’s Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, Clane Medical Practice, Ireland, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and research centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with world class Nurses/Midwives/Healthcare assistants/Physio’s and doctors.

I remember the day I interviewed for my nursing degree, I had originally thought I’d want to be a paediatric nurse, how wrong I was, and one of the nursing lecturers said that adult nursing is more widely recognised if you want to travel, and that was the start of my BSc nursing journey. I have worked in trauma orthopaedics, nurse led pre assessment clinic, GP surgery, and labour wards.

In 2017, I was lucky enough to return to university and complete a BSc Midwifery, like any job in the health service they face their challenges of staffing/funding/increased activity and pressures but midwifery brought a whole new world of challenges and struggles, but the privilege of being with a couple when they begin/extend their family is like no other. Like any job it isn’t always a positive outcome for the families involved, but it is still a perquisite to provide them with the care they deserve.

For any students/newly qualified nurses/midwives, my only advice would be do not give up, you will have days when you question everything but if you remind yourself why you began that voyage it will help you to keep going and remember to keep a note of all the positives/highlights as there are so many. As long as you do your best and keep the patient at the heart of everything you do, you won’t go wrong.

One of the many great things about being a nurse/midwife are the number of opportunities you have at your finger tips, over the years I have been a Staff Nurse/Sister/Practice Nurse/Midwife and only in the last three weeks I have embarked on my latest journey and I am now a staff nurse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and I am looking forward to what the next twelve months or so have in store for me-wish me luck 😁

If you want to follow along with my journey or ask me anything my Instagram is @nursinginsaudi