From Arrival to Direction: Why Values Matter Before Your Next Career Move
- wednesdayswithjame
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Driving along the M5 today on the way to IKEA, I found myself reflecting on the journey that brought my wife and I to where we are today.
She arrived in the UK alone on a cold November day in 2018— navigating homesickness, unfamiliar systems, and the quiet challenge many internationally trained nurses face when starting life in a new country.
This story is not just hers.
It reflects the journey of many internationally trained nurses who arrive in the UK with years of clinical expertise, skills, and experience. Yet the biggest challenge is rarely the job itself.
It’s finding belonging, direction, and confidence in what comes next.
After the first few months of settling in, many nurses begin asking the same question:
“What should my next step be?”
Should you specialise?
Move into leadership?
Develop a niche area of practice?
The truth is — before deciding on a vision, you must first understand your values.
Your values become the compass that guides the decisions you make in your career.
For me, the values that shaped my journey into senior leadership in the NHS were:
Equity
Kindness
Respect
They shaped how I lead teams, support staff, and advocate for internationally trained nurses navigating their careers in the UK.
If you are feeling driven but uncertain about your next move, it may be time to pause and reflect.
That is exactly why I created the Values Before Vision Session — a guided conversation to help you clarify what matters most and identify the direction that aligns with your goals.
Book your session here:
Or register directly here:
Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from working harder.
Sometimes it begins with the right conversation.
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