The International Council of Nurses (ICN) theme for 2023 is Our Nurses. Our Future. This will form the basis for their global campaign which sets out what they want for nursing in the future to address the global health challenges and improve global health for all.

Nurses are the biggest workforce at Oxford Health with over 2,000 amazing nurses delivering high quality and safe care to their patients on our mental and physical health wards and out in their communities.

In April this year the Trust moved into its third year of the International Recruitment programme which has seen 118 nurses (32 mental health and 86 adult) join the Oxford Health family since it started in December 2020. For this year of the project the Trust will be looking to recruit an additional 45 international nurses to join our services.

In September our first cohort of Nurse Associates undertaking the 2 year top up programme will complete their course and register with the NMC, this will see 11 adult and 28 mental health nurses join services across the Trust. The success of this programme reaffirms the Trust’s commitment to “growing our own” workforce and the development of our nursing career pathways.

This year we have seen a record number of student nurses start their first placements with Oxford Health and September will see 98 students complete their final placements. The Trust is currently developing an enhanced engagement and recruitment programme for student nurses that is being led by Rose Hombo, Deputy Director of Quality.

Chief Nurse Marie Crofts said:

“Our nurses are passionate, rich in their diversity and committed to providing outstanding and compassionate care to our patients and their loved ones.

I am inspired by the acts of kindness that take place across the Trust every day, our nursing workforce have a vital role in making a difference to our communities and myself and the Executive team would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication and inspiration.”

Deputy Chief Nurse Britta Klinck commented:

“International Nurses Day celebrates the wonderful nurses that are delivering care within the NHS and around the world. This celebration day is an opportunity for us to thank our nurses for their commitment and hard work and to demonstrate that they are a valued and respected workforce.”

Director of Clinical Workforce Transformation Matt Edwards added:

“The success of our International Recruitment programme has seen a record number of nurses join the Trust over the last 2 years. This combined with our “grow our own” programmes demonstrates the Trust’s commitment to increasing the number of nurses within our workforce and supporting them in their career journey and aspirations.”

If you would like to join the Oxford Health family, please visit our vacancies.