Medicosnext
An interview with Assistant Professor Dayana Shakya
The dream of working as a nurse in the United States has fueled a growing interest in the NCLEX exam among Nepali nurses. Despite the challenges—ranging from language barriers andfinancial constraints to visa retrogression—many aspiring nurses remain determined to pursue opportunities abroad. To gain insights into this evolving trend, we spoke with Dayana Shakya, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing at Kathmandu Medical College. With a strong academic background, a passion for research in non-communicable diseases, and extensive experience in leadership and training, she provides a unique perspective on the aspirations, hurdles, and strategies for success that Nepali nurses encounter on their journey to international practice.
Is the craze for NCLEX exams among Nepali nurses increasing or decreasing these days?
Yes, the craze of the NCLEX exam is definitely increasing despite challenges faced by the nurses
trying to go abroad. Most of my students who enroll into nursing have their future plans to go
abroad.
What specific challenges do you see international nurses facing during their NCLEX
preparation, and what solutions would you recommend?
One problem may be the English language as it is not our mother tongue. Another challenge is the cost of joining the NCLEX preparation class as well as the costs for preparing and processing the documents. Visa retrogression has added new challenges and the nurses are not able to plan their future as they would have wanted.
What is VISA retrogression and how has it affected the nurses here in Nepal?
Visa retrogression is when the demand for a visa category or country exceeds the supply for the visa for that fiscal year. So, nurses who have passed their NCLEX and have had their placements secured may fall into retrogression. This means that they will have to wait longer for their placement than was anticipated.
What additional certifications or skills would you recommend nurses acquire during the retrogression period?
When nurses have time due to retrogression, I feel that it will benefit them if they take a certified course of critical care nursing. Even if they do not end up working in a critical care setting abroad, they will understand the sensitivity and the extreme responsibility of taking care of patients there even in general settings. I also urge them to take the opportunity to learn new skills that may come in handy when they start living in a new country. Driving and language skills will definitely come in handy besides basic computer skills; others may include swimming, music or any other hobbies they have. These skills can be life savers and can avoid a lot of
hassle when you start living alone in a different country.
“Are you a registered Nepali nurse dreaming of working in the United States?
Share your experience or message us at medicosnexteditor@gmail.com!”
