Being a new nurse in a foreign country is very challenging to say the least. On top of studying for OSCE exam, one faces homesickness and issues around communication. Fortunately, there are many useful apps for new overseas nurses in United Kingdom to assist them keep their professional and personal life in order.
Citimapper
This app is essential for getting around London or any major city for the first time. It gives you step by step directions and has a real time data for bus, train, and London tube times. You simply type in where you want to go and it tells you the quickest and cheapest route. Transport shown is straightforward and easy to follow.
Trainline
You can book all your train and coach journeys in this app. It’s quick, convenient, and easy to use. Your tickets are also stored in this app, so you don’t have to fumble for paper tickets or worry about printing one. It also shows if there are any serious disruptions from your train line so you can plan your journey in advance.
My Shift Planner-Calendar app
This app is an easy-to-use roster calendar for shift workers like nurses. You can see your shift schedule in an easy-to-use colour-coded calendar. You can also integrate your schedule calendar with family, housemates, or colleagues.
TooGoodToGo
TooGoodToGo lets you save unsold food, so it doesn’t go to waste. You can buy the discounted meals through the app and collect your food at the pre-set time. The app is simple and easy to use. You can get a whole bag of grocery items for as low as £3 from local supermarkets. More money-saving tips can be found here: https://thepinkscrubs.com/money-saving-tips-for-filipino-nurses-in-united-kingdom/
Vinted
Vinted is an online community marketplace for buying and selling pre-loved pieces. When you are a new overseas nurse in United Kingdom, every penny counts. This app is excellent for buying items that would otherwise be too expensive like winter clothes or winter boots. You can also make an offer to negotiate prices with sellers. Think of it like an online ‘Ukay Ukay’ where you can haggle but with extensive options.
Amazon Shopping
You can browse, search & buy millions of products in this app. It has a user-friendly interface and pricing is mostly competitive. Amazon also has excellent customer service is you need to return an item or request a refund.
Banking apps like Revolut, Monzo, or Starling
It’s easy to open online banking account for beginners. You only need to provide your biometric residence permit and proof of address in UK. You can also use Monzo card when going back to the Philippines and it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees for using your debit card. For Revolut, one stand-out feature is its own investing platform where you can buy and sell stocks. For Starling Bank, there are no overseas fees for using your card abroad or for withdrawing cash at an ATM.
Remittance app like Wise, Remitly, BCRemit, Taptap, MetroRemit
One of the ways to send money to the Philippines is the use of mobile money transfer apps. By comparing money transfer apps, you can pick the one that fits you best easily. It should have competitive exchange rates, low transaction fees, and quick transfer speed.
Ubereats, Deliveroo, Just eats
If you are planning to book multiple bank shifts on top of your regular shifts, you might find food delivery apps convenient. There’s lots of options and less kitchen cleanup involved. Food delivery services might be more expensive, but these are reserved for days when we are too exhausted to cook. Also, it saves us time typically spent on travelling to pick up a meal.
Fabulous Daily Routine Planning app
This app offers self-care routine for lifestyle change, setting life goals & personal growth. You can keep a gratitude journal, do short workouts, listen to meditation sessions, and write your to-do list. It’s simple to use and very helpful to put your life back on track.
Calm- Sleep, Meditate, Relax
This app is perfect for night shift nurses who have difficulty falling asleep during daytime. You can sleep with calming music, sleep sounds and full soundscapes. It also introduces mindfulness and breathing exercises into your daily routine.
NHS App
This app has many uses, such as:
You can view your personal health records including your present and past medicines.
You can get your NHS COVID Pass or Covid19 vaccination details.
You can manage appointments with your GP and book online consultations.
You can order repeat prescriptions and have them sent to a pharmacy of your choice.
If you are a parent, you can link your children’s profile to yours and you may be able to access certain NHS services on their behalf. You may order repeat prescription for your child through the NHS app.
NHS App can be used by anyone aged 13 or over and they should be registered with an NHS GP surgery. To set up an NHS log-in, you will need an email address and a mobile number.
