This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Camille Fahrnbauer, a 26-year-old travel nurse from Georgia currently working in New Zealand. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
Travel nursing in the US was debilitating. I needed multiple days to recover from the exhaustion of a single shift. So when my husband left me unexpectedly and my life flipped upside down, I took a nursing job in New Zealand.
I was shocked at how different the work culture was. We’re adequately staffed, I’m given multiple breaks, and I finally have the energy to care for my patients. My work-life balance is restored and I feel like me again.
Still, I won’t be staying.
For a fresh start, I signed a year-long nursing contract in New Zealand
I’d been travel nursing across the West Coast for three years when I started feeling a pull to nurse abroad. I knew I wouldn’t be 26 forever and wanted to travel while I could, but the complex process of relocating with my husband and his job was enough of a barrier to keep me put.
Then my husband filed for a divorce without warning, my dog died, and I crushed my ankle in a freak hiking accident, all within a month. I knew I needed a fresh start.
I spent the next six weeks resting my ankle and scouring the internet for international nursing programs. I was limited to English-speaking countries and remembered a fantastic family vacation to New Zealand several years back. I figured it’d be the perfect place to return to. I found a year-long nursing contract in Auckland with great reviews and started the weeks-long documentation process.
I found a flat on Facebook Marketplace that had an open room. It was a huge risk, as I’d be living with five random roommates, but the price was too good to pass up.
Once I finished the application process, I booked a one-way ticket to Auckland. To my surprise after I arrived, the flat I rented was perfectly functional, my roommates were stellar, and I felt settled. I bought a used truck online and started working shortly after.
I’ve been here about three months, and my nursing lifestyle is already completely different.
My 12-hour shifts are no longer unbearable
In the US, we were just about as short-staffed as we were short on equipment, so every day was absolute chaos. I’d be lucky to escape for a five-minute snack or bathroom break during my 12-hour shift in the ICU. It was an unwritten rule that you didn’t take breaks.
I was overworked, exhausted, and functioning on auto-pilot. I didn’t have the capacity to give my full attention to two to four patients at once.
There was also a distinct hierarchy. I’d call doctors by their earned titles and knew better than to bother them with my concerns. Everyone was working tirelessly, so we handled most problems on our own.
Meanwhile, at my hospital in New Zealand, the doctors insist on being called by their first names. Everyone treats each other as equals, which makes me feel safe to ask questions and voice my concerns.
I can’t speak for all of New Zealand, but at my particular hospital, we’re allotted three 30-minute breaks in each 12-hour shift. We give a stand-by nurse a comprehensive patient report and rest easy knowing that our patient is being cared for while we’re on break. Our break room is stocked with tea, bread, and cheese, plus comfortable couches to lounge on. My breaks are rejuvenating and prepare me to return to my shift with focus and precision.
I have a life outside of work, but the pay is lower and I miss my family
At the end of a shift in the States, I’d drive home in silence. It felt like I needed three days of doing nothing to feel like myself again. I hardly had enough physical and mental energy to get out of bed until it was time to clock back in.
A good night’s rest is all I need to recover from a shift in New Zealand. The next morning, I’m up early to hike, surf, or take a day trip to explore. I feel like I finally have my life back.
Though I’m happier and healthier than ever, the pay isn’t great
I make between one-half to two-thirds of what I did in the US. The financial situation is manageable because I’m single, living with several flatmates, and not looking to make any substantial purchases. I’m still able to explore and travel without budgeting too much. But living on this salary would be difficult in the long term. I also miss my family and friends and know that I’d be unhappy if I couldn’t return to my loved ones.
After my contract ends in April 2025, I plan on nursing abroad for a few more years to explore the world and gain experience. Dubai is at the top of my list because it’s reported to have a great work-life balance and solid pay.
Ultimately, I’m going back to the States where my family lives. I know it’ll be hard to return after being so spoiled, so I plan on returning to school to narrow my focus and open up opportunities for higher-paying work. I’m willing to sacrifice workplace conditions if it means I can achieve the security of a US nursing paycheck and be with my loved ones.
If you have moved abroad for work and would like to share your story, please email Tess Martinelli at tmartinelli@businessinsider.com
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