Chloe Casabuena- Filipino nurse in Saudi Arabia

 

Filipino nurse community

Life is full of ups and downs. Happiness can bring you from one place to another top place and with the power of the money you can enjoy everything you want. The story of Chloe Casabuena had a tough start. She also traveled but with suffering. Due to her courage and dedication, she went through all difficulties with patience and now she is enjoying the fruit.

Difficulties

Generally, this community faces difficulties regarding low salaries, accommodation, and job perks. There is great uncertainty in the job. These nurses used to live in groups sharing almost everything with their roommates. Financial stability is very less. The rotating schedule is the most disturbing factor in their job. Instead of all these difficulties, they are ready to go to another country and try for a better future.

Chloe Casabuena shared her experience

Background

Chloe is a citizen of the central Philippines (island Negros). Her parents are dead, and she has one sister and a brother. She is a mechanical engineer and did job in technology maintenance in manila for 2 years, but she always felt unfit for this profession as it was her father’s wish. Chloe never wanted to do a job in which she has no interest. She always wanted to be in the medical field, so decided to do a nursing course and thus passed her exams. During the immigration process to Canada Chloe’s mother got breast cancer, she took care of her mother, but she could not survive. Chloe decided if she would get any job offer from any country, she will accept it at once, hence got a call from Saudi Arabia. Chloe came to Saudi in 2016 in the field of nursing and here her adventure started.

Working in the Saudi medical field

Chloe had a very rough and tough start in Saudi. She worked in Rama Medical Center for 2 years but after that, the doctor left, and she moved to another department. The center stopped paying then she moved to Sahafa medical center. In this center she got promoted as head nurse of ER dept. after that they also stopped paying. Despite all this tragedy Chloe did not lose hope and kept struggling in this field. She got an offer from DEMT medical center and now she is working as a Dental nurse for oral maxilla facial surgery. At the start, she was expecting that people will not accept her but with time all adjusted.

Cultural difference

Chloe said that she was already aware of the environment in Saudi that’s why she did not feel any difficulty in adopting the cultural challenge. Now she can wear an abaya even in 45-degree temperatures and has completely tuned herself to this culture.

The salary scale for nurses

In the start, it’s very difficult for nurses to cope with the less salary scale and to manage their homes, but with the experience, the salary scale also becomes better. Mostly the salary bracket is between 4 to 7k riyal, depending upon the dept.

Salary perks

Chloe said that now she has a good salary package with medical and good insurance and taking a vacation is not difficult.

Financial stability

She said that it’s difficult to manage finances at the start, but the time and money management skills can make it easy. Chloe is now satisfied with her job and finds herself stable.

Best experience

Chloe has a very caring nature. She loves to be kind to people. She said that when the results of her treatment are good and get appreciation from the patient’s family. It makes her day. She is happy when people are happy with her.

Worst experience

Chloe is an experienced nurse since 2012, she is a pro in her field, but when patients show doubt in her skills, she gets disappointed. Once she faced such a case in which a patient refused to get injected by her and demanded a doctor. She felt disgraced and insulted.

Benefits in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a country of opportunities. Chloe is working here for almost 6 years and still wants to continue as she is getting good money here and feels happy and free to be here. Chloe is enjoying a luxury life here and planning to explore more about Saudi Arabia.

Working hours

Chloe must work for 8 hrs. in fixed morning shifts.

Appreciation from heads

Appreciation from your boss is always fuel to work efficiently. Chloe said that in this clinic appreciation is given as in money, flowers, and chocolates. Once doctor bought shoes as a token of appreciation.

Nursing scope

Chloe revealed that Saudi is a great place for nurses. This occupation is booming here. One can find lots of opportunities here. Dedication and honesty can lead you anywhere, does not depend on gender. She said that in some hospitals the working hours are 12, but for 3 to 4 days, but in the case of private clinic there are 8 working hours for 6 days having the same pay scale.

Future Goals

Chloe is stable working here. She is going with the flow and planning to run her own business on returning home. She is enjoying life here and seeking for new adventures.

Message

“Life is short, have fun and enjoy every moment”

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