When passion meets purpose, extraordinary journeys begin. For Cyrus, a dedicated nurse from Nigeria, that journey led him across continents, from Nigeria to the UK, where he is now based as Asher House and thrives as a Registered Mental Health Nurse at Elysium Healthcare.
With over a decade of nursing experience, Cyrus’s path has been shaped by resilience, a desire to make a difference and a personal commitment to transforming mental health care. In this blog, Cyrus shares his story of relocation, adaptation and professional growth, offering a heartfelt look into what it means to pursue a calling in nursing.
Tell us more about yourself and your role at Elysium
My name is Cyrus and I’m a registered nurse from Nigeria with over 10 years of experience in general nursing. I began my career with a diploma in general nursing and over time, I found my passion in mental health. That shift led me to pursue further training and experience in the field.
In January 2025, I relocated to the UK through the Elysium sponsorship programme. The journey began back home in Nigeria, where I completed my IELTS and passed the computer-based test (CBT) in mental health nursing. After successfully clearing those steps, I was offered a role with Elysium as a Registered Mental Health Nurse.
When I arrived in the UK, Elysium supported me through my OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) and I’m grateful for how smooth the process was thanks to their guidance. I’m now based at Asher House in Walton-on-the-Naze, where I’ve been settling into my role.
The support I’ve received from the team has been nothing short of overwhelming in the best way. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and helpful, which has made my transition into the UK healthcare system much easier. I’m learning every day, getting to know the processes here and building the confidence to provide the best possible care to the service users.
How did you find your transition from Nigeria to the UK?
Coming from Nigeria, I knew the journey to working abroad wouldn’t be simple, especially with the country being on the Red List, which has made securing overseas healthcare roles increasingly difficult. Thankfully, an opportunity came through at just the right time.
I applied to Elysium Healthcare and shortly after I was invited for an interview. I received an offer and that marked the beginning of a new chapter. From the moment I got my offer, the level of support from Elysium has been outstanding. Every step of the way, from the visa application, booking my flight, even arriving in the UK, they’ve been there. We were met at the airport, transported to our accommodation and made to feel welcome from day one.
When we had to take our exams, Elysium made it seamless. They provided transport to and from the exam centre and ensured we had everything we needed to succeed. The training we received was thorough, practical and it’s already proven to be useful in my current role. Thanks to the way Elysium guided us through every stage, I’ve found the transition into the UK far easier than I expected.
The weather was a bit of a shock, it was freezing the moment I stepped out of the airport in January. But I had been well-prepared through the pre-arrival orientation, so even that didn’t catch me completely off guard.
Looking back, I genuinely don’t know how I would have managed this move without the support of Elysium. It’s been a life-changing experience and I’m grateful every day. I can confidently say Elysium is a fantastic organisation and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone considering taking a similar step in their career.
Did you always want to have a career as a Nurse?
Growing up in Nigeria, my dream was to become a medical doctor. I applied to study medicine at university but when I wasn’t offered a place, I began to look into other paths within healthcare. I knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and nursing felt like a natural fit.
At first, it was simply a practical decision but once I stepped into the world of nursing, something shifted. I discovered a deep sense of fulfilment that came from being there for patients, day in and day out. The trust they place in us, the ability to meet their needs holistically and the impact we make, even in small ways, began to feel like more than just a job. I realised nursing wasn’t just an alternative to becoming a doctor, it was my true calling.
Over time, my passion for the profession grew and so did my desire to enhance my skills and broaden my experience. I wanted to challenge myself in a setting that would push me to grow, learn and deliver the highest standard of care. That desire led me to consider moving to the UK, a country where I believed I could truly develop both personally and professionally.
That’s when I found Elysium Healthcare. Joining Elysium has given me access to exactly what I was seeking: opportunities for career progression, a supportive environment and a chance to provide meaningful, person-centred care. I’m already seeing the positive impact on my professional growth and feel confident that this is just the beginning. With the right support and a clear path ahead, I know I’m where I’m meant to be.
What made you specialise in mental health?
Where I come from, mental health is often overlooked, misunderstood and sadly, heavily stigmatised. In many communities across Africa, including my own, mental health issues are still seen through a deeply spiritual lens. People experiencing mental illness are often thought to be under some kind of spiritual attack or curse. Because of this, they are frequently hidden away, mistreated or left to suffer in silence.
This reality is what drew me toward a career in mental health nursing. I believe that mental health is total health. It’s just as important as physical health, if not more so, but in many places it’s often ignored. I saw the gap, the misunderstanding and the silence and I knew I had a role to play. I felt a deep responsibility to be part of the change, to educate, support and advocate for people struggling with mental health and to help shift the harmful narratives surrounding it.
I believe this stems from an experience I had in my teenage years that has always stayed with me. Our neighbour, who looking back now, was clearly living with a serious mental illness would destroy things, wander around without any clothes on and exhibit distressing behaviour. The community believed she was possessed, meaning she was often locked away, beaten or prayed over but never given the proper care or medical attention. Sadly, she herself badly and passed away from her injuries,
I still carry the weight of that memory. At the time, I was around 18 or 19 years old and not old enough to understand something was wrong and not yet equipped with the knowledge to help. Years later, when I started studying nursing and specialising in mental health, I began to realise what might have really been going on. That woman needed help, clinical, compassionate, professional help, not isolation or violence.
That experience lit a fire in me. It made me realise how powerful awareness and education can be and how dangerous ignorance is. It strengthened my resolve to pursue mental health nursing and be part of the solution, both within my own community and beyond.
How would you like to progress in your career?
As time goes on, I would love to work towards becoming a leader, so I can not only care for others but uplift my team along the way. My passion lies in helping people and I see a future where I can do that more effectively and with greater impact.
I’m considering furthering my education, possibly pursuing a master’s or even a PhD in mental health. The goal is to equip myself with the knowledge and tools I need to make a real difference. I am fortune that I am in an environment that supports my career progression and with hard work, I look forward to climbing the ladder and learning more.
If you’ve been inspired by Cyrus’s commitment to person-centred care and his unwavering desire to make a difference, why not join the team? At Elysium, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals who share the same passion for meaningful, life-changing work. To find out more, click here to visit our careers page.
