What it's really like for Americans in New Zealand!

If you are a nurse and considering a move abroad, New Zealand may be for you! Terri goes into great detail as to what it is like as an American nurse in New Zealand. If you are interested the time is now as there is a huge demand!
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[@mariatheresamalate5765]

Hi there! I’m Filipino, NZRN, Australian RN, and now in MD USA! I arrived in NZ in 1986 with my Philippines RN license, had a visitor ‘s visa for only 11 days but I fell in love with NZ as soon as I exited the airport…Auckland International Airport! I wanted to stay so I applied for my RN license. At that time, there wasn’t onlne applications yet so I called the NZ Council of Nursing. Within that week, I received everything they needed. I mailed everything then within a few days, I received a letter from the Council of Nursing with a Congratulations! I was granted my NZ RN without having to sit their licensure exam. I called them to make me understand why I was granted a the NZ RN license without sitting their licensure examination! I was too excited that I just took it for granted! But they insisted that I apply for a higher level title job! Ok, I understood that! In a few days. I received my badge! I So my first ever job was as a Manager for a small Psychiatric Hospital! Then I completely understood why I got my license without the exam! Turns out their graduates do not study OBGYN NURSING, PSYCHIATRIC NURSING AND ETC! To make my long story short, I held 3 DON positions, met and married my boyfriend there, had my daughter there who was 13 weeks early (paid zero dollars), worked and lived there from 1986-1999…moved to Queensland. Australia for a better opportunity and my NZRN license was just transferred…like state to state compact nursing here. I did not experience the numbers thing…conversion because the Philippines 🇵🇭 have the same system there! And everything else you mentioned is VERY TRUE…IT IS REAL! I love NZ and I’m going to return there to spend the rest of my retirement years! To be honest, it’s not fun to be a patient here! I’ve been a patient having had a CVA! Yes, stay there permanently! I’m even going to return there to continue my retirement years! Oh! You do not buy kiwifruit! For me, I didn’t because I had a tree at home. For mussels, they if you harvest them yourself, you can take home what you can consume! You go to the water, have a swim then harvest your own mussels! Everyone, NZ is the way to be! For me, it’s as close to heaven one can be. People are honest and kind! The air is always fresh! Tell me about milk, butter, cheese! You can’t have enough of it. In Auckland, we lived in Remuera! In Australia, we lived in the Gold Coast, by Surfers Paradise, an hour drive south of Brisbane! Yeah, I ‘ve been around and grateful to be able to return to NZ, my first love! ❤️ ❤

[@mariatheresamalate5765]

By the way, I received an employment offer on the 10th day of my visitors visa! The Immigration Department stamped my passport with a work permit! ! Then came the Residency then Citizenship! I suppose it was easier those days! I was meant to be there! To God be The glory forever and ever!

[@joxp6971]

We need nurses badly in Australia

[@Andy_M986]

​@joxp6971 What about all the nurses that were fired for refusing the Jabs?.

[@joxp6971]

@@Andy_M986 well I agree now we are suffering

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

@@joxp6971 I don't think there's a country in the world that doesn't need nurses. Countries are in a competition for the limited pool of trained nurses.

[@deana1111]

I think Terry should start her own KZbin channel. You are very personable, and you gave so much useful information to share with USA nurses. As a kiwi, i am very grateful that you chose to live here. Especially the small towns really need nurses.

[@greggiles7309]

I work in a university Library, AUT, our Jargon is an experience. So Translating professional Jargon is an HR Topic. We have have some university events on next week, if you want to google it, if thats a KZbin theme?

[@stephenbrown6041]

Lived in Nevada for 37 years…moved back to NZ 🇳🇿 with my American wife last year…took a year to get rid of the anxiety America infects you with…peace at last.

[@chrishirini5414]

Welcome back to paradise brother

[@NuNuQuinn]

This is so true my husband and I are still just having anxiety but for no valid reason

[@druckerman247]

​@@NuNuQuinnhi. Welcome to nz. I used to get anxious before sleep, deep thinking. I take Magnesium glycinate a couple times a week. Easy as.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

@stephenbrown6041 I moved to NZ a few months ago. I keep feeling anxious and can't figure out why. The only thing I can figure is that there's so much less stressing me out that on some level it feels alien and confusing. Nice to know I'm not alone with that.

[@stephenbrown6041]

@@StethoscopeStoryTime Yes this is not talked about enough seems like a common symptom/feeling. It’s like being a diver you’ve been under pressure a long time years/decades as you come to surface/relocated overseas takes some time possibly years to release that pressure/anxiety.That you have always lived with…PTSD.

[@369kenzorei]

Just ran across this channel. I’m fro the U.S. but been here 25 years now ! Never going back…except to visit my family.

[@raeward1605]

Thank you very much ladies. Wonderful to watch and all I can say is WELCOME to New Zealand. THANK YOU so much for coming and bringing your nursing and experience to us. We need as many nurses and doctors as we can get. So thank you again. Kind regards, Rae Ward from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

❤ this is Terri. Thanks so much! This really means a lot to me.

[@willimacdo]

I add to that. We appreciate having you here. Haere mai.

[@ryannlazcano3398]

This has to be one of the most helpful videos I have yet to come across for moving as a nurse! Thank you again and again. As an ED nurse you made this seem possible, and you addressed it in such a relatable way.

[@munzy5865]

What an amazing incredible interview, Terri has seen how a Health system should function, were nurses are respected for their attributes and knowledge. Patient care is the utmost important issue in NZ not the Hospital from the fear of lawsuits in the USA. Tara as an interviewer the way you ask a question and letting Terri answering without interrupting is definitely your greatest asset which is massive to listen as a viewer. Terri sounds so happy and glad the environment in a NZ workplace. Congrats to you both. Loved this video. Thank you for sharing. Ohh I live in Houston Texas from NZ. Miss Aotearoa so much. Will be returning one day soon I hope...

[@greghodge3587]

Thoroughly enjoyed listening and watching you. You are an absolute Ray of sunshine. Enjoy New Zealand Terri.

[@Kiwiamericans]

I agree - how great it Terri!

[@icedem1]

Hopefully Terri will put up her own channel. Very intelligent conversations and shows her expertise. So glad she chose our little islands to live and work. We are desperate for not only Nurses. But Doctors as well. Better add to that, Mental Health workers also.

[@NuNuQuinn]

My husband and I both from america in the ER n moved to NZ. Wild WILD! Its true u get into it to help people, but hard to when insurance n health system makes people very sick. Everyone has very intense comorbidities and never go to a primary/get meds becuz it is so expensive. So when they come in to the ER they are in crisis mode. On top of getting assaulted by everyone. Moving here, you actually get a break, u dont have to eat at ur desk, and they are using data to capture if they are short....and actually pay their nurses. We are sooooooo short in the US, a different level of busy/short. Just the whole system here is truely worker focused. Maternity leave, sick leave, easier tax system. You actually have time to talk with your patients. So far month and half in, been loving it. Dont get me wrong you def have that homesick feeling and lonliness i feel creeps in, but better to work through that feeling to stay.we have been missing are level of skill and busy balls to the wall feeling. But i feel we miss US nursing like an unhealthy abusive relationship. The only hang ups is you need to recertify in alot of things such as placing IVs which can drag on n on. 100% on handover issues, def dont understand and have to slow them down on their medical jargon and blood sugar values. But over all liking the changes to our life.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

This is Terri. So cool to "meet" someone with the same experience! Yes, yes. Yes! That's exactly how I've felt.

[@viviennemcgreal7039]

What a lovely interview. Greymouth your so lucky having Nurse Terri. What a blessing

[@Kiwiamericans]

@@viviennemcgreal7039 totally agree

[@graemeblackledge2076]

Thank you both so much, great to hear a professional opinion of nz health care. Apologies, i did not catch your name, but it is obvious you are a wonderful vibrant woman ... nau mai ki aoteraroa, welcome to New Zealand

[@MoxyInxs-xv6qe]

You picked the right person for this. She was great

[@graemejoyce5629]

[a Kiwi] this conversation was sooo entertaining. You're a great addition to our country. This video would be so valuable to both newcomers as well as our health workers to create an understanding. While some complain, our health model should never move toward private/corporate. And yes, our housing prices have become ridiculous over the past 2 decades. Have fun Terri. 😊

[@margaretp1465]

You are entitled to a morning/afternoon tea break here, but not everyone takes it and not every employer is as meticulous about it as your employers seem to be. I don't take regular tea breaks, but in my office on a Thursday almost all of us on the floor sit down to tea/coffee together and probably on average once a fortnight my team go out for a coffee. In both cases we take longer than the official 10 mins, but then we work through most days. Swings and roundabouts.

[@chrispayne2608]

Hi Tara, I have always enjoyed your articles. Especially the genuine excitement Terri showed in your latest interview. She is definitely a breath of fresh air. Thank you Terri for the way you explained the nursing it kept me laughing. I hope your stay in New Zealand is filled with awesome experiences, and a variety of interesting people. Chris

[@annahouston9528]

Watch this with a big smile on my face 😊 Glad you are enjoying it here in NZ.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Love it - thanks for watching

[@chrisbatt7809]

I thoroughly enjoyed that video... I am so pleased to hear that you are really enjoying your time there.

[@grantadamson3478]

We need to ensure our wonderful NZ nurses have all of the support they need.

[@gregmoore2386]

What a cool lady, makes me appreciate what we have here.

[@ValerieBailey-y9u]

I'm a UK nurse/midwife who did the same in 2003. It took about 10 months to come back for good on permanent residency visa and I was able to bring my dog with me (no quarantine from UK). Been here 20 years now and still love it. Never been made to feel like a stranger and my quality of life improved immensely.

[@kathysmotherman6770]

I'm a 57 year old RN, been wanting to try traveling as my kids are grown and I left the hospital 2019 (before covid) and cant go back. I'm currently doing home care with a trach baby, but its not keeping me here. The health care system here has only deteriorated, and its not getting better any time soon. New Zealand and Australia have always been on my list, so this is so exciting. I'd love to be able to talk to Terri more! /as well as viewing everything on this channel!!

[@ivydickson7596]

I am a kiwi and had the same reaction to driving down from Christchurch to Queenstown. By the time I got there I was out of Wows! So glad you are enjoying being here

[@dianathompson8794]

Loved listening to you two ladies discussing nursing in NZ. As a South African nurse would love to work in Nz. Visited there about 8 years ago and fell in love . Took the Trans Alpine from Christchurch to Greymouth, and agree...the West coast is beautiful. Thank you so much for all the info.❤

[@Kiwiamericans]

You are very welcome

[@lynairepoless9098]

Mama Jones. An OBGYM from Texas moved too NZ and had a similar experience. Loved you both tonight. NZ is an amazing country. And here I am an NZ ex pat living in Oz.Medi Care in Oz is even better than NZ

[@Kiwiamericans]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

@lynairepoless9098 yes, that encouraged me along the way b/c of things does said about how much she enjoys medicine here.

[@amerkiwi]

West Coast is so underrated . I didn’t think I’d end up there either, I settled in Reefton

[@brucelines9745]

As a kiwi guy , I love hearing this story and the happy beautiful approach she has ! So refreshing ! I really feel the vibe . Welcome to New Zealand it’s a wonderful place . We just need to sell it to the locals

[@ctakitimu]

Wow Terri, you're 53?! You look like you're in your 30's. Also, we're super lucky to have you!

[@lanav6785]

Terri should start a KZbin channel about nursing career US vs NZ. It would be so helpful for us nurses, especially since there are no channels like that. All the information would be so valuable!

[@marso1052]

Interesting watch. Just a note, Greymouth district covers a population of approx 15000 people so nursing in a small rural hospital will be quite different to our larger hospitals so this doesnt show a true reflection on NZ nursing but rather rural/small town nursing. Love your enthusiasm, you seem like you would be a wonderful co-worker. Hope you continue to enjoy your time in Aotearoa 😊

[@michaelm9302]

New Zealand

[@francesgraham5411]

I agree, vastly different to working in an Auckland hospital

[@Ian-u5q]

@@francesgraham5411 I’m a plumber here in nz our health professionals need all the help they can get, in all my dealings that myself and all my friends and family have had is they always have provided the best service possible they are underpaid and undervalued In my books I hold them to the highest upmost respect and thank them for all they do for our community

[@TheKL105]

Aotearoa New Zealand ​@@michaelm9302

[@FerretKibble]

Rural/small towns need nurses and doctors tbh

[@Lurgansahib]

Hi Terry, Thank you for coming here to join us, you are most welcome. It was very nice to hear you speak so nicely about our public health system. In todays world it sometimes seems that too many of our own people just want to put our system down. Yes no doubt the system needs a hand up here and there and I know help is on the way. Also remember that at age 65 you will qualify for our national superannuation retirement scheme, no doubt your hospital will have informed you all about that. Welcome once again, you are a breath of fresh air.

[@dennisteriini659]

I love your energy Terri and welcome to our country

[@davidforeman2734]

This is very interesting. I am a kiwi living in canada trained as a automotive technician in NZ & came to canada 1971.

[@rajendrakumar8419]

I really enjoyed listening to a passionate nurse , someone that enjoys het work and adores Nz , more so the West Coast

[@johnjkiwi7818]

Kia ora Terri. Welcome to Aotearoa. I bet you are looking forward to 20 paid vacation days, 11 paid public holidays (if you work on a public holiday, you are entitled to a day in lieu), 10 paid sick days annually and up to 26 weeks paid maternity leave. I wish you and your family all the best and hope things work out for you. Its is good to hear from you Tara. I hope everything is ok for you in the USA.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Thanks- things are going well. Finally getting settled..it was a hard journey, not gonna lie

[@Frank-rx8ch]

Health and safety is vital for workers. That's why NZ have that tea or lunch break. We all need to re-energize, recooperate and recover the body and spirit.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

❤ I wish other countries would realize that. :-(

[@scAllblacks]

Terri, love your energy! Thank you for sharing your life and experience 🖤🩶🤍👍🏻

[@tigertiger1699]

Say it again Terri.. we’re super lucky to have you… welcome to the Waka🌹

[@Ian-u5q]

, I hope we can turn you into a full kiwi , we all here appreciate the fact you are willing to bring your skills here To help out people ,apart from the cost of living it is truly an amazing country, yes it’s not perfect but what country is, I hope you really enjoy your new country , and can call it your home in the future

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

This is Terri. Your comment means so much to me.❤❤❤ yes, no where is perfect, but so much here is phenomenal! I know there are problems here, and I'd love to be part of trying to make things better.

[@bhudson39]

​@@StethoscopeStoryTime Welcome home. 😊

[@brendanmccambridge8609]

What a delightful conversation

[@Kiwiamericans]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@DustinPT]

This was an excellent and insightful look at nursing in NZ as an American. Working in emergency medicine as an RN currently and can confirm at a minimum, verbal abuse is a near daily experience at work. Thankfully physical abuse is less common but still something I expect to happen once every couple years. Glad to hear NZ is as awesome as it looks!

[@willimacdo]

I now live on the West Coast and yes, the Coast is stunning.

[@aranuicdb2]

Nurses are very special people ❤

[@edwardreuben6650]

I think it's the same for everyone moving to a new country. I moved from New Zealand to Australia in 2004. My family had similar problems with different accents and terminology for certain items etcetera. I also had a home sickness meltdown within a month. All history now and Australia is home. Why did I move. For a better life and the money and the warmer climate. New Zealand is a beautiful country, but I lived in a poor environment surrounded by gangs and poverty in a place called Ford block in Rotorua. By chance a friend moved to a suburb north of Brisbane and the job i was doing was a 5-minute drive away. I was also doing the same job that I had back in New Zealand but with less hours and earning 3 x more. I took my granddaughters back for the first-time last Christmas to Wellington and Rotorua. They couldn't get over how safe they felt in Wellington city. Also, they couldn't believe how blue the sea water was in Wellington and Lake Toupo.

[@Kiwiamericans]

Interesting... thanks for sharing 😍

[@tizme6105]

That was a great presentation Terri and Tara. Terri perhaps a KZbin video now and again to answer questions that foreign nursing staff may have could be very useful especially if you include staff members you work with who are also from other countries like India and Singapore for example.

[@natopotato2711]

What an endearing bundle of energy you are, Terri. Lucky Greymouth. I grow trees, one variety is called Oregon Sunset. If that's an indicator of the landscape over there, I can understand why you didn't want to give it up. Thanks for bringing your talents to our shores. I hope the novelty doesn't wear off... I suspect it wont 😊

[@Muritaipet]

That was a huge surprise. I really thought NZ would not be competitive, when attracting US health care professionals. But I can see that our core values around how we work make a difference. I'm surprised and delighted.

[@Kiwiamericans]

@@Muritaipet surprise

[@Muritaipet]

@@Kiwiamericans lol. I was confused by the one word answer. Then I thought "Oh, she's jumping into the comments and shouting 'Surprise' "

[@turangatohiariki3042]

Nurse lady sound's like she's in a job & country where HER well being is VALUED & unheard of where she's from👍🏽Love to hear what you both thknk about living with native culture people 's & life style change's so far

[@nosleeplisa]

This has been SO helpful, and I swear it’s weird to something SO specific to why I was just starting to think. I’ve recently become a widow and our plan had been to get to NZ as retired investors when my husband reached 62-but they did away with that visa and now I was hoping to wait til I’m 66 (8 years from now, instead of the 3 years we would have had to wait for my husband to turn 62) Recently, just no more than 2 days ago, I started wondering if it would be better for visas and PR to just go before retirement. My issue is that I work as a per diem in PACU and work 1 day/week and make 56k/year. I will now be upping my availability to two days and expect to make 112k or so…the money is scary to consider taking a HUGE pay cut AND to have to work full time. I work 12s and barely get a break, we get a half hour for lunch and the next day I’m so tired I can barely walk. This video, I swear the timing is so bizarre…I’ve been asking for a sign. Maybe this is it. Thank you both for all the information!!!

[@shaungordon9737]

That was very interesting hearing the differences. Also how pampered they are in NZ by comparison.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

This is Terri. They're not really pappered, they just work to do right by the patient's in ways that we used to 50 or 60 years ago but dont anyone. There was a time in the US we did that much better. We've just lost that. So, the things that sound like pampering are things I think everyone should have. If you're old and you've worked hard your whole life to build the economy as support society, we should keep you in the hospital longer if you need it. But.... just my bias there.

[@rossmcintyre1328]

One big concept to learn to accept is appreciation of a relatively easier stress free lifestyle. Money can be earnt but time cannot and I feel that you will benefit so much in NZ Terri. It was a pleasure listening to you explain your story. Don't be afraid to say "Put the jug on I'll be around for a cuppa." It breaks the nervousness in a cheeky way and Kiwi's are open to new people with interest such as you two ladies from the US.

[@greymouthman]

we are so lucky to have you

[@danreichenbach4390]

As I Kiwi we all complain how rotten that our public health system is and thats reflected on our news cycle , but then you hear about how bad the US is and I guess we have things better here in comparison. Living anywhere outside of Auckland is pretty relaxing .

[@gregs3845]

The sad fact is nurses have it better in Australia than in New Zealand, work life balance is probably similar, but because incomes are so much higher you get a better quality of life outside of work. Some / many(?) Nurses and doctors who come to New Zealand to work stay long enough to get permanent residency and then move to Australia as they can work visa-free in Australia if they are NZ permanent residents. I love that NZ and Aus citizens and permanent residents have such freedom of movement, but the movement is too one way and we lose too many good people.

[@shaungordon9737]

I've heard from people that have nursed in Australia that yes you do get paid more, but they felt that in NZ the workloads were more manageable, more support from management etc.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

I agree. I've know several who moved. I prefer living in New Zealand. Hopefully, they will eventually come home.

[@granitesoldier7704]

@@shaungordon9737 Yeah work life balance in NZ is better

[@mattieclan8957]

You might want to write a handbook on the different USA vs NZ medical terms

[@LeslieWalters-n9t]

Sounds like a good opportunity to write a translation book for foreign health workers coming here

[@dave21002002]

Welcome to my town. We really need people like you. I'm hoping we don't meet as it's been a while since my last visit to CCU and I am not looking for a return.

[@Mcfreddo]

Yes, we're little.

[@Frank-rx8ch]

Your all good to go girl. Kia Ora 👍

[@NickiveeNZ]

Had a giggle at your reactions to your first tea break 😂 yep that’s another Health and Safety thing

[@ctakitimu]

Yup, in NZ if you get paid for 8 hours a day, then you're done for the day once this is hit.

[@justintangaere3932]

Welcome home Terri, Kia kaha waihine!!!

[@moirapettifr7127]

Ah these issues are so interesting. I've worked in hospitals in the US for my first main career job right out of college. So at my job we did not go home or go on breaks if our work wasn't done. Many times I had to soak my feet in warm water when I got home and literally no one cared about my well being at my first hospital job. This is why we voted to join a Union the Teamsters so we had adequate vacation, breaks and cost of living raises. It was impossible to be able to take off when we wanted to. I had a chance to live in the UK for 6 weeks and my job would not give me time off even tho I had accrued it - so I quit without them giving me all my vacation pay or pension. I had to forfeit it.That's the way it is in the US. They simply do not care about working people and it's rare that laws support workers.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

Yes, I completely relate!

[@LinzDubNZ]

I think I understand now why unions are a big thing in the US, given the working conditions there. NZ has unions too of course, but they are pretty low key. It would be interesting to hear from a US nurse working in private sector health in NZ to see how much different that is.

[@moirapennell1945]

Most medical and nursing terms in NZ , Aust, India , Malaysia, Singapore Sth Africa , Africa etc are British in origin. A (Wherever the British Commonwealth Empire was except for North and South America.) A few terms may be unique to NZ but not many which you can probably find in the NZ Nursing Journal. Search for something like UK vs US or British vs American med/ nursing terms.😊

[@claytoncandy640]

Very Good Summary :) Bit surprised at the internet in Greymouth, (That was pretty Bad) :). Also she briefly touched on primary care and patients getting in before condition gets to bad but I would have liked to hear her thoughts on the free heath care comparison to US. and if she noticed differences in Patient care + or - from that angle.... Well I hope the honeymoon period stays as long as Terry decides to stay :)

[@shanewilson2484]

Thank you for your service

[@jrmop0965]

It's not about work ethic here. It's work smarter not harder.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

I agree. But, I think she means the cultural identity that Americans have around work and the idea that a good work ethic is synonymous with constantly working

[@jrmop0965]

@StethoscopeStoryTime I think your confusing work ethic with poor time management, having a .work mentality even on holiday is a sickness not a badge of honor. Is it really a cultural identity? Or cultural pressures of being in such a competitive market? Americans are used to fighting for positions to gain oneupsmanship, it's that culture as the RN describes where abuse is normalized, competition breeds this conflict amongst piers, I find it interesting how it's normalized to dehumanize people in the USA. I think that's my biggest take out of this interview

[@Psaltrymom]

For what it’s worth, I’ve lived in NZ (on the South Island) since 2017. Since the pandemic, healthcare is so much worse. I know countless people on a waiting list for surgery who have been waiting for MONTHS. I had an elderly friend denied a knee replacement surgery because others younger qualified (she was essentially too old.) I also have a Kiwi friend who is married to an American. NZ refused to give her a scan to see if her cancer had progressed because she had opted to not receive chemo. Since she refused their treatment, they refused to give her a scan. She actually had to fly to the US to have the scan done there, because her husband was US Military, so she could have the scan done with his insurance in the US. (This was in July 2024.) My son’s girlfriend is a nurse, and she is often exhausted from being overworked. The healthcare system is NOT getting better - it’s worse. You only get seen quickly if you have private health insurance, which many Kiwis cannot afford. Yes, NZ is beautiful, but the healthcare system is NOT. I know a lot of Kiwis who would agree with me.

[@Kiwiamericans]

@@Psaltrymom how is the private healthcare unaffordable? I had it with a family of 6 for $60/month and would take preexisting conditions. In the states right now with a job my healthcare for a family of 4 is $700/month plus deductible of $3000 per year and co pays.. it's outrageous

[@robertcollins403]

Nice to see you USA Nurse in New Zealand. Nice to see you inthe YouTupe. 👍👍😍🖐️🖐️❤️💛💚🙏🙏

[@crazyxaviandosky]

Terri, you should do app like technical diccionary where US healthcare professionals can search what some NZ terms actually mean.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

Great idea!

[@Chris.Davies]

The NZ public health system saved my life in 2024 when I had perforated diverticulitis, and then it allowed me the luxury of letting my amazing guts heal themselves over 23 days in hospital, rather than have the horrendous stoma surgery, and have a colostomy bag for 6 months. And the whole 23 day journey cost me exactly $67, which was the price I paid for my GP appointment, where they took my blood, and 2 hours later I was in a bed in a surgical ward with an inflammation marker count of over 320. I conservatively estimate my treatment in the USA would have cost me in excess of $200,000. And the quality of care would be far lower. One of the reasons I won't travel to the USA is what could happen to be if I got sick, or had an accident of some sort.

[@libbysevicke-jones3160]

I see some people are claiming that nursing is way better in Aus than here in the comments but l totally disagree. My eldest daughter works 12 hour shifts in ICU in Aus. Plus she does flying doctors so can work up to 22 hours if they get a call out. She has no family life and is 100% reliant on her inlaws to step up and look after her small children when hubby is working. Its been this way since day one when she did her nursing studies over there. My youngest daughter is a nurse here in NZ and her world is complete life balanced.

[@adellesmith5412]

someone needs to publish a dicionary for americans coming to nz

[@7884golfguru]

Awesome story thank you ❤❤❤

[@davidlloyd7597]

As a non-medical Kiwi living in Australia, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. I do have a question though. Is the difference in medical terms related to the British/American divide or is it a Kiwi eccentricity?

[@tigertiger1699]

I assert that we…. Are very lucky to have you young lady🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 🥰🇺🇸🇳🇿 Ka Pai

[@twichyi3ones312]

Should make a "medical jargon conversion list" for new people. :)

[@Fifty8day]

53 !! I thought Terri was about 40 or late 30s

[@gideonporter537]

This is dangerous talk! Our government might be listening! 😅🤣😂

[@TheAravisTarkheena]

I haven’t gotten to listen to this whole video yet (because it’s late and it’s an hour long) but I watched a news story from NZ posted only a couple months ago that many nurses are now stranded with no job prospects. Spending so much money spent on visas, licensing exams, moving expenses with no luck even having the government saying “if you can’t find a job here, you shouldn’t be here and to go back to where you came from.” They’re stuck with not much money left to live on (because of no job) and no more money to go back home with no supports from NZ. They’ve been doing a lot of recruitment outside the country with no resources once they get there like a bait and switch? I also watched another news special from another NZ news channel-posted recently as well-about the shortage of GPs that will eventually overload the hospitals in the ER. What do you have to say about that? I was thinking I’d want to live and work as a nurse in NZ because of all the positives I’d heard about the work/life balance. But what about the structure of healthcare and government-especially if they’re not investing in primary care? What are the realities of other nurses living there-how hard is it to find a job there? It’s a bit worrisome.

[@garywilliams-h8d]

Come back to New Zealand;;..

[@T_Vk1327]

Terrri you cant be telling your foreign ppeers how amazing NZ really is, how peaceful safe and relaxing it is in NZ, Where there are no dangerous snakes or spiders, no guns low crime.. Where ppl actually care about one another. Where you live a happy and fulfilled life here. A country you would fall in love with. In summary from the famous USA VP K.Harris. "Do not come , do not come:. IF readers dont know by now this is sarcasm, Welcome and Kia Ora(Be a Well)

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

This is Terri. 😂 I have! Lol.

[@carolkrishnan7842]

Health and Safety is important with ACC paying.

[@zunairbirds3984]

Still waiting

[@LFY_OFFICAL]

Real

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

I just got here. It was so painful and discouraging to wait. Hang in there. It's worth it! I got a Licensed Immigration Adviser with Working-in when i was waiting. It helped me feel like someone was advocating for me and they could explain things and make calls to people to try to speed things up. 🤞 good luck :-)

[@returningtoperfection]

I wonder if "permanent resident" in NZ is the same as Australia? if it is I just learned what it means. Thanks 👍

[@Kiwiamericans]

@@returningtoperfection permanent resident in NZ has access to all things in nz... they are looked at as citizens

[@laurah9927]

Oh my god - dealing with US insurance as a nurse is SOOO frustrating. The doctor can order whatever they think will help the patient, but if insurance denies it, it can put the patient in a rough place. it's awful to see.

[@blackis90pcofmywardrobe]

I do wonder how her experiences would stack up/contrast with an American working in a large city hospital e.g. Auckland City Hospital. I'd wager some of the class A, B, and C drug and crime related issues that present in ACH would be very, very similar to the US.

[@chrisharkins6929]

Yes, but I gather is madness ALL The time in the US hospitals - Yes we do have our problems here but it is very much worse in the States - The staff there are actually saints in disguise at what the manage to achieve each day. But NZ mustn't let what is happening over there to become the norm here and when they protest I/we should back them 100%

[@lindascott6902]

I think you seriously underestimate the violence and drug problems in American cities!

[@Kiwiamericans]

That is a good question but based on my experience it still would not stack up to American trauma in the ER

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

@blackis90pcofmywardrobe I hear that. But, in the US big city hospitals, there is a constant stream of shooting victims, stabbings, and assaults. In Chicago alone, there were +600 murders, +8000 nonfatal gun shot wounds and a total of +22,000 assaults severe enough to get police reports in 2023. And thats just one city. I looked it up and in just 2021 in the US, +48,000 people died of gun shot wounds and 1.6 million assaults overall (including stabbing, gun, and fists). And those asssults and shootings dont capture the dog bites and car accidents and burns that also come in to hospitals. I only worked at a US trauma center for a few weeks. It looked like the hospitals I have seen in combat zones in the Middle East during war.. I worked in a US city that has 9 large hospitals. Last summer, they were so busy that there were several weeks where 4 of them were turning away emergency ambulances for several days (911 ambulances). It looked like pictures of hospitals in Ukraine after rocket attacks in the cities. As an American I can vouch that when I visited Auckland in 2023, it was the only city that reminded me of the US, but it still felt a lot safer than I've ever felt in the US.

[@fhcreates]

We don’t have the gun crime in Aust and NZ. Guns kill and cause catastrophic injuries in the US. I’m surprised you have to go through a third party for registration. In Australia only generic drug names are used as it is much safer than using trade names. The US has one of the highest GDP spend on healthcare but some of the lowest health care outcomes. It is shameful. Really the health service in NZ on the registration board should have given a much better orientation for someone not educated in NZ

[@michellej7539]

All the NZ nurses are leaving for Australia in droves much higher wages in Australia and lower cost of living plus much better climate.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

And the job market in NZ is tough for nurses now that hiring in the public sector is frozen. :-(

[@michellej7539]

@@StethoscopeStoryTime Exactly! I’m in the admin sector at NZ public hospital everyone’s admin job is on the line at the moment very stressful! They are asking admin staff to resign and take redundancy! In this economic climate who would! 😳 if anything they should be looking at middle management get rid of them too many chiefs not enough Indians…

[@sademoala]

Tara did you work at Open Polytechnic? Sounds like you're describing my old work place, which was Open Poly 😊

[@Kiwiamericans]

@@sademoala haha yes... still contracted with them unfortunately 🤪

[@sademoala]

@Kiwiamericans 😂😂 wow. Small world here in NZ. I got to meet you in person at TBI physio too 😊 be blessed in Jesus name

[@sweetybnz7482]

The current NZ government is underfunding health by 4.5% or billions of dollars. Having someone deep in the public service people are demoralised and overworked.

[@shaungordon9737]

I bet they're not overworked compared to overseas. NZers are lazy. Everyone is "overworked", but every foreigner that comes here thinks we do bugger all and that it's so cruisey.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

😢 yes. Having seen that in the US, I can empathize. It's really painful when you're working in a broken system. I see in cities how overwhelmed the hospitals are here. It seems like people here won't let that be that way forever. I have hope you will be able to turn it around. Hang in there. --Terri

[@robyndavies2762]

I was in hospital recently my dr didnt put my iv in the nurse did! So Greymouth must be a bit different.

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

@robyndavies2762 American here. It's still most common in both the US and New Zealand to have a nurse do your IV. The difference is that in the US, it's very rare for a doctor to do it, and in NZ, it's much less rare. In 17 years of nursing in the US, I've seen 1 doctor do an IV regularly. (Many of them do specialty lines in the neck or chest, though.) In New Zealand, the doctor usually doesn't do it just because they are needed elsewhere and it takes a few minutes. In the US, even if the doctor is free and the nurse is busy, it's not considered a task for a doctor. Even if the nurse needs help, they often won't help unless a surgical line is needed.

[@inzana2]

The big problem we have here in NZ is that historically the immigration system was focused on immigrants with money. This, combined with a high level of corruption both in immigration and money laundering has resulted in extremely high housing costs. This in turn has become a massive barrier to bringing in the skilled professionals we need for the economy, particularly in small towns where housing costs are comparable to many foreign cities where wages are much higher. Many who do come use it simply as a short term stepping stone to Australia.

[@FerretKibble]

We don't have "a high level of corruption", the nats just sold off state housing and didn't replace it.

[@no_triggerwarning9953]

As an Australian now retired IT professional you are correct there are large numbers of migrants that come from the sub continent (India and Bangladesh) via NZ after gaining residency because they can't meet the requirements to migrate to Australia directly. Australia also has a problem with laundered money especially from China going into the housing market as real estate agents are exempt from the anti money laundering requirements regarding reporting. It was that bad after the GFC there were bus tours of prestige suburbs organised for mainland Chinese and they were paying for multi million dollar houses with suitcases full of cash.

[@ValerieBailey-y9u]

As a registered nurse from UK I had no problem getting residency other than the time it took to get it. But I did become aware that the business investment category allowed the rich to basically buy residency.

[@FerretKibble]

@@ValerieBailey-y9u As an 8th gen pakeha, that's infuriating - I'd much rather have a personal care worker and their extended family come than a billionaire.

[@tonygrimes2034]

Hello, I’m from the US. My partner and our baby have been considering moving to NZ. I have a job offer in the works with an accredited employer. I’m an acupuncturist. After looking into the details, I’ve learned that my partner won’t be able to immigrate because of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Does anyone know any way around this, or have experience with this?

[@ValerieBailey-y9u]

Unfortunately NZ Immigration rules are pretty inflexible. Even if you qualify as a skilled migrant, any spouse/dependent with likely long term healthcare needs will not be allowed as healthcare is publicly funded here.

[@tonygrimes2034]

That is deflating. That sends a clear message that the dollar is prioritized over human healthcare.

[@richsmith3300]

It would be the same if the table was turned US is harder to get into than NZ.​@@tonygrimes2034

[@aniee249]

Hi, I will be visting New Zealand in December into January, I work as peer support/counselor. Are there job opportunities for someone like myself?

[@raneetablog]

im sure there will be jobs available

[@lig8817]

Thought they had enough nurses now? Was on the news a while ago ....

[@raneetablog]

nope still short staffed i think nurses now have their own application form

[@nzmike555]

How is the work life balance different here than in the US?

[@StethoscopeStoryTime]

Its not unusual in the US to be assigned six 12 hour shifts in a row as US hospitals. Hospitals often assign mandatory overtime. Hospitals often don't give you time off if your loved one is in the hospital dying. You only get a day off if the loved one dies. And you don't get off for the funeral unless it is your parent, spouse, or child who died. In many hospitals, if you leave, you will get a poor reference and it will be hard to get a new job. To go to a wedding or graduation or family event, you are often required to request the date 6 months ahead and you may or may not be permitted time off. You're encouraged to work even when you're sick. Many employers expect you to check your work email even on weekends or days off. You're regularly required to come in to meetings on days you are off. The employer feels they have the right to have access to you by phone 24 hours a day. You can get an administrative disciplinary action taken against you if you don't give your boss your current phone number and they will call you at home. People call you and say things to make you feel guilty for "letting down the team" or the patient's if you don't work extra shifts. It's just not considered relevant to anyone that you have a family or things outside or work that matter.

[@thehangmansdaughter1120]

12hr shifts as the norm? Good lord, how do they expect any worker to cope long term?

[@joxp6971]

Kiwiamerican would you move back to nz?

[@nzbrent]

good onya mate

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

Ahem, this South Pacific paradise does not exist. We live lives here.