Pearl, originally from the Philippines, was working as an Urgent Care nurse in Oman when she first heard about Conexus MedStaff. When the COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes at her hospital, Pearl applied to Conexus MedStaff in the hopes of moving away from Oman to make a new life for herself and her family in the U.S. Now she’s happily settled in West Virginia with her husband and two sons, while pregnant with her first daughter.
The journey from signing her contract to arriving in the U.S. went “so smoothly,” according to Pearl. She found Conexus MedStaff to be supportive of her and her family every step of the way, right through to starting work in West Virginia. Her experience was so positive that she said she would do it all over again.
Even though she learned a lot during her time in Oman, living in the U.S. has opened up exciting new opportunities for Pearl and her family. Free education for her children is one – in Oman, Pearl and her husband had to pay for their sons to go to school. Greater access to healthcare in the U.S. is another benefit. Pearl’s also enjoying the working environment in her new hospital, claiming she feels respected and happy, and that the work assignment loads are equally distributed, unlike in her previous jobs.
The culture in the U.S. is something she enjoys, too. Pearl says she’s treated very well, is very respected in her social life, and appreciates having freedom of speech after living in a society that was more limiting in that respect. Something she also finds liberating is the ability to be open with her religious beliefs. She explained that as a Christian, she was limited to where she could worship in Oman, however in the U.S. she can pray and read her Bible anywhere.
Fitting into the local culture has been no problem for Pearl. She’s an active member in her church, and has found it very easy to make friends in her local community. West Virginia residents are, in her words, “so sweet,” and she’s planning to live there for a long time.
Her advice to other international healthcare professionals who might be thinking about moving to the U.S. is “trust Conexus MedStaff and the people who support you on your journey.” Her recommendations are to “make sure you are prepared emotionally, and develop ways to cope with being homesick. Be responsible for your actions. Prepare your budget very carefully, and start with small purchases and living expenses when you first arrive in the U.S.”
If you’re an international healthcare professional looking to move to the U.S. and make a new life there like Pearl, find out where you can meet our recruitment experts at our upcoming events, or apply now.