Becoming a U.S Nurse: An Employee’s Story of Living With Purpose
BGC, Taguig City – “ISSUED”. It was the only important email that Lester was anticipating in the past four years since his last VISA application for the American Dream Program. And now two weeks after completing his requirements, the dream will now be his reality.
“I was elated talaga, parang nag-replay yung six years na pinagdaanan ko tapos eto na sya. Ito yung ultimate output ng lahat – the application, the legwork, the examinations, IELTS, the interviews, the client matching, the medicals. Lahat yan kapag pinagsama-sama ang ending, Issued.” [“I was really elated, all the hardships in the past six years replayed infront of me and now this its it. This is the ultimate output of everything – from the application, the legwork, the examinations, IELTS exam, the interviews, the clients matching, the medical exams. All these put together with one result – Issued.”] Remembering all the experiences he has gone through at that moment; he can only feel being on cloud nine.
PHOTO: Status updated. Lester’s most awaited application result that came in the mail days after completing his requirements.)
“I did my research how long I should expect interview results after completing all my application documents including my contract, around ten to fourteen days from the time of my submission. I checked the status everyday --- when I wake up and before I sleep. It would say ‘Refuse’. Then one day I got a call from the U.S Embassy informing me about my profile being updated. By then, I am feeling positive, it gave me an idea that my profile is being reviewed. A week after I checked again, Nakita ko [I viewed] its marked ISSUED.”
In one of the busy days that came after receiving his VISA application results, Mark Lester Martin, an NCLEX Instructor to Shearwater Health CPO and employee of eight years sat down with us and generously indulged us his story on The American Dream Program, a benefit offered to Shearwater Health CPO Nurses to migrate and work in the U.S. And from our point of view ---- the exciting part of this journey has just begun.
The PHP70/Hour to Php1000/Hour Lecturer
Lester took his first gig as Lecturer in an educational center in Ortigas where he must conduct training to professionals vying for a Caregiver work abroad. It was a job he enjoyed doing while cognizant to the fact that this gig only pays PHP70 per hour. He tried to create a space for him to learn from the experience and be a contributory guide to those students aspiring for the dream to work abroad. After six months, he ventured working as a full-time Nurse at a hospital. However, the tiring long hours managing multiple patients than one can allow was difficult, adding to the pressure of being underpaid, he was contemplating the reason of this pursuit.
“I was only paid PHP2,500 per cut off parang nakaka-awa yung mga nurses. Sabi ko hindi ako tatagal.” [“Pay was only PHP 2,500 per cut-off, I feel bad for our Nurses. I said to myself I won’t last here.”]
He quips making light of his strenuous bedside experience but also knowing this is a reality that our nurses face until now. It was when an opportunity presented itself and brought him back to teaching. He was hired as a full-time Lecturer for an institution for undergrad Nursing students preparing for their local board exams and NCLEX reviews.
PHOTO: All smiles and energy. Lester with Nursing students in one of his Speaking engagements in Cebu that ended late after a delayed flight
To Lester who has high regard to educators and mentors, this was the dream profession. “Mataas ang tingin ko sa mga teachers and mga speakers even during my time in school and when I was reviewing for the board exams. [I have high regard to teachers and speakers even during my time win school and for when I was reviewing for the board.] I want to be like them, I want to be in that profession. Na-inspire ako and na-expose ako sa idea na this can be a profession. [I was inspired by them and it exposed me to the idea that I can do this as a profession.]”
So, it began his six years adventure as Review Center Speaker travelling all over the country speaking to hundreds of students, sharing his time and knowledge and giving each students encouragement to pursue their dream. It was the height of oversupply of Nursing graduates that he would have three flights a day to be at a speaking engagement from day to night. As if a superstar on concert tour, and he came to inspire.
More than imparting his knowledge, he made it his commitment to re-assure his audience the value of realizing their “WHY” because just like any victory, there are always challenges to make or break you.
PHOTO: Source of Inspiration. Aspiring US Nurses attending Lester’s speaking engagement
A New Destination with Shearwater Health
By the year 2014, Lester found himself accepting a corporate entry level role with Shearwater Health (previously HCCA Health Connections Inc) as a Nurse Associate. Navigating the new environment as a Trainee for Operations reviewing cases and being an office worker, he did what he can to learn the role, be of value to his team and participate in learning sessions to keep engagement active. His enthusiasm eventually led him to do bigger things that gained him trust from his superiors and opened him to opportunities within the organization.
On his sixth month in the company, he was endorsed for a Team Lead role, a step ahead his interest of a Subject Matter Expert (SME) position he was eyeing for. He then went on to achieve new milestones that contributed to the business’ performance including the Training timeline reduction from two months to one month.
PHOTO: All in. Shearwater Health Nurses at a team building activity facilitated by Lester during his years as Team Lead.
As part of Shearwater Health’s program for tenured US Registered Nurses, in 2016, the American Dream Program (ADP) was launched. This program will help Nurses achieve their dream of migrating to the U.S. This caught Lester’s interest and prompted him to rethink his goals. With the support of his superiors and the ADP management team, he took the chance and applied.
In Shearwater Health, the ADP team handles all the paperwork and sponsors all the expenses he will need in the application.
He recalls and said, “Now I really want that. Pinaglaban ako ng Manager ko to be part of the program. [My manager pushed for me to be part of the program].
Eventually, I was considered and was the last one to be included in the last batch (that year). My mindset then was, if it happens, it happens. It is better to try.” He then went on with his life doing what he does best.
Pitstops to the American Dream
Two years after he submitted his application, he received his VISA interview date. He completed his requirements and submitted it to the ADP team. He took the IELTS exams and medicals which was also sponsored by the company. Afterwards, he was issued a VISA screen, and he was feeling confident. “Apat kami from the company [There were four of us in the company] and I know I was the one with the most complete papers. I have the VISA screen, IELTS results,”
“I had my interview and my contract. Kung may mabibigyan ng VISA ako yun. [If there was one of us who would be granted VISA, that’s me.] However, I was not approved. One of my ADP colleagues was given a VISA. Kaya na-down ako. [I felt defeated.] I was devastated.”
The Consul asked for his actual U.S work location and contract --- he had none. He was in despair thinking that he should’ve been approved too. His consolation was the reassurance that the ADP team is with him and will find a way to work it out. He was psyching himself to activities he can put his time and effort on. Afterall, for him he has a great job and a great team with a company that values his skills.
PHOTO: Lester with his first batch of NCLEX Scholars in Cebu.
Another career milestone has unfolded towards the year 2019. He was tapped to handle Shearwater Health’s NCLEX Academy. Being a Trainer and educator at heart, he gratefully took the role and started facilitating NCLEX reviews for employees. And then Covid 19 pandemic hit in 2020 and all the hopes for the U.S dream was lost. But as a positive and forward-thinker person, he thought, “It will happen, but it may be further delayed.”
Hit By The Best Shot
By May of 2021 here received a call from the ADP team with the news that they will need to make a new game plan as his application was about to expire. He was asked to do another round of medical exams and to increase his exposure to bedside hospital work, he needed to go through a hospital externship program. Lester was assigned to a Shearwater Health partner hospital where he had to complete five hundred twenty-eight hours of bedside experience.
PHOTO: A day in a Nurse’s life. Lester in one of his patient rounds during his externship at Manila Doctor’s Hospital
“I was undecided when it was offered to me. Sabi ko, bakit ako pupunta sa area na baka mag-fail ako? Pero may nagsabi sa akin, kung hindi mo gagawin paano mo makikita father mo? Paano mo sila makakasama and madadala sa U.S? Ang na-realize ko, ang selfish ko naman. Bakit hindi ko gawin for my family? [I thought to myself, why would bring myself in a situation where I might fail? But a friend told me, how would I see my father if I don’t do it? How will I bring my parent to the U.S? I realize it was selfish of me not to do this for my family.]”
Those thoughts lingered and after two days, he found himself managing patients in Manila Doctors Hospital as a Staff Nurse. He administered care and medicines in which he confessed was a humbling experience for him. In-between his corporate responsibility as NCLEX Trainer, Lester set aside a day in his week to intern with a partner institution of Shearwater Health for employee externships.
In December of 2021, he finally had his interview with a potential hospital client in the U.S.
A start of a new journey
Not wanting to jinx the great news on the issuance of his immigration VISA, Lester was cautious about breaking the news to his family and friends. Over one of their family dinner he was asked about his future plans and nonchalantly replied, “Actually, alis na ako [I’ll be leaving] in five days.” And to his mother’s surprised reaction, he knew he made her proud. This was the same dream his mother is wishing for Lester, a life where he is at his optimal level of joy and success. It is also a dream where he can finally see his father who have been living in the States for decades.
“My father left for the U.S when I was three years old, and I have not seen him since. Now there is hope. I can bring my dad with me, they (my parents) will now be able enjoy their marriage together and we can rebuilt our relationship as father and son .”
PHOTO: Ready to go. All bags packed for New York to secure his SSN. His travel stories in our next feature.
The journey to our aspirations is all different in their stops and turns. Each decision we make in every pitstops defines our next route. Our best bet is ourselves, and for Lester he went all in, believing in his highest purpose and that good things manifest at the right time.
“The journey that you are in today is the same road for the greater things ahead of you when you believe it and when you are patient. There is a perfect timing in all our dreams.”
Lester’s exciting journey does not end here. He will let us take a peek on his adventure and travel preparations for his American Dream migration in the next coming weeks. Follow his inspiring story in our Instagram and LinkedIn page.