"A nurse is born, a nurse is not made. My husband always says that it is a calling and not an occupation."

So said Naomi Rademeyer, RN, a nurse from Pretoria, South Africa, who is passionate about her career. She has been a nurse for more than 15 years, but is adamant that she could never leave the profession.

"I work in the NICU of a busy hospital in Denver, Colorado," she said. "I’m still learning all the time because I’m exposed to more things here than back home in Pretoria. There are so many more abnormalities that we see in this unit. Working with so many diverse problems forces you to learn all the time and expand on your skills. I am also contemplating further studies in nursing as I’m exposed to many more exciting new technologies, ideas, research and overall developments in health care."

According to Rademeyer, another difference within her unit is that she can ask to be an infant’s primary nurse.

"This means that when I go on duty I will look after that infant and I then have continuity of care from when a baby first arrives in the unit until he or she is discharged" she said. I’m on top of everything concerning the infant’s care and get to know the parents. This allows me to assist and help them through trying times. The process of care is so satisfying, and I can’t imagine anything else being so rewarding."

Rademeyer said there are differences in responsibilities for nurses in South Africa. She said nurses in South Africa don’t have pharmacists to pre-mix medications, nurses mix medications themselves. They also don’t have the assistance of nurse practitioners to assist with case management but deal directly with doctors themselves.

Rademeyer enjoys the team approach in the United States. She actually works more hours here and loves it. Her schedule is flexible, allowing her to choose the hours that accommodate time with her husband and two children. The opportunity to work extra shifts has helped the family make some important purchases like a new home which will be completed and ready for them to move into in the fall.

Not everything has been easy though. Rademeyer said the move has been more difficult for her husband who left an executive level job in Johannesburg South Africa, and hasn’t found a comparable position here.

"He is working and we’ve made lots of friends, so I’m sure it’s a matter to time until he finds the right position," she said.

Rademeyer contacted O’Grady Peyton International to help her transition to the United States. Although she found the NCLEX-RN exam challenging, she appreciates the help she received from O’Grady Peyton and found the study guides they gave her particularly helpful.

"I would advise nurses preparing for the exam to work on understanding the questions," she said. "Differences in wording and terminology make the test more difficult."

Overwhelmingly, Rademeyer feels that they will make America their new home. She and her family love the safety, security, and conveniences they’ve discovered in Denver and have found the people to be very welcoming and friendly.