Equipping FENs in the UK with Tools to Thrive – Live from ICN
In the final ICN 2025 episode, Lea Sims interviews Annesha Archyangelio, discussing her personal migration journey and her work creating resources for internationally educated nurses. The episode highlights mentorship and community in helping nurses integrate into the UK healthcare system.
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Key takeaways
Annesha shares her personal migration story and rise to regional leadership.
Her new book offers practical guidance for foreign-trained healthcare professionals.
The discussion emphasizes mentorship and cultural competency in workforce integration.
In this final ICN 2025 episode recorded on the floor of the International Council of Nurses Congress in Helsinki, host Lea Sims welcomes Annesha Archyangelio, Regional Director of Nursing for NHS England. A Jamaican-born, UK-based nursing leader, Annesha shares her powerful personal migration story and how it inspired her to create tools and guidance for internationally educated nurses navigating career mobility and workforce integration.
Annesha reflects on her early volunteer experiences in Jamaica, her move to the UK, and her rise through the ranks to regional leadership. She opens up about the challenges she faced during her migration process and how those experiences motivated her to develop resources—culminating in her latest book, International Healthcare Professionals Handbook: A Success Guide to Working in the UK. The guide offers practical support for foreign-trained nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals entering the UK healthcare system, covering everything from licensing, NHS structures, and workplace integration to cultural adaptation and leadership development.
The episode explores the critical role of mentorship, community, and resource accessibility in enabling internationally trained nurses to thrive—not just survive—in new healthcare environments. Annesha also discusses the importance of cultural competency, offering strategies to build connections while adjusting to new systems, language, and expectations. Lea and Annesha emphasize how structured support and shared knowledge can bridge professional gaps and strengthen the global health workforce.
Whether you’re an internationally trained nurse, a healthcare leader, or a workforce strategist, this episode offers practical insights and a heartfelt reminder of the power of paying it forward.
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