US -- New Zealand nurse practitioner
Posted by alice_is_on_the_moon@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 21 comments
Hi! Are there any Nurse Practitioners that have moved from the US to New Zealand?
How are you liking it? Is the practice similar? How are the docs? Anything you wish you knew ahead of time?
Carmypug@reddit
I’m from NZ and there is a hiring freeze at the moment in the health industry. Work / life balance compared to the US will be night and day. Saying that depending on where you live housing is terrible, either high rent or high house prices. Also there is next to no public transport and everything is expense and hard to get.
Saying that all people have marriage equality and abortions are very straightforward.
orlandoaustin@reddit
Is this because of the election?
searchaskew@reddit
Why do you keep asking this question in all of these (somewhat obvious) election-influenced posts? Just give the context if it changes your reply.
orlandoaustin@reddit
Because people should be honest. 99.9% will not be able to move an the equivalent of a US bachelor degree is done in two years at the age of 16-18 in most western countries. For instance, A Levels in the UK.
So average 18 year old in UK has 6 US bachelors degree.
So yes it is relevant. Until people state "because of the election" I will keep asking.
BirdBarrister@reddit
What the actual fuck are you talking about? Put down the pipe and get off the internet. Smh
jesusgrandpa@reddit
They doesn’t even make sense. Any of it. Even if that incoherent drivel in the first two statements even made sense what does that have to do with you asking if the election was a catalyst?
orlandoaustin@reddit
Because if someone says:
I am a licensed XYZ majority of the qualifications are not applicable. Completely different if moving from one European to another. Just like if an American electrician moved to the UK...what they gonna do fix a fuse? It is completely different.
This post like many others is because of the election
estrea36@reddit
Many countries have job shortage lists that prospective foreigners can use as a guideline for transferring their skillset abroad.
Nursing is on many of those shortage lists.
Other examples include Irelands stamp 1A visa or a myriad of professions that qualify for the Canada/US/Mexico TN visa and FSWP visa.
alice_is_on_the_moon@reddit (OP)
my husband has two masters, I have nearly completed my doctorates.
akhalilx@reddit
What is this nonsense? It's not even close to true.
alice_is_on_the_moon@reddit (OP)
Nah. It's because we watched LoTR
We lived in Korea for a little while, enjoyed the experience and have also lived all over the US. We both have occupations that allow for mobility. So why not.
But also this is something we've been working on for the last year. The election isn't our motivating factor, but is further encouragement to continue with our plans.
exsnakecharmer@reddit
Look up recent funding cuts to our health system.
You’ll be coming into a system that is being ripped apart by our own conservative government.
Google things like hiring freezes in health nz or health cuts by government (add ‘stuff’ or ‘nz herald’ or ‘RNZ’ to get news articles)
alice_is_on_the_moon@reddit (OP)
This is helpful information! Thank you!
exsnakecharmer@reddit
I hope you come because we need health workers, but we need health workers because all our are leaving due to shit pay and conditions 😥
alice_is_on_the_moon@reddit (OP)
Tbf...I'd be coming from an already broken system of shit pay and conditions. I probably wouldn't even notice enough to mind 😭
exsnakecharmer@reddit
The issue here is also COL compared to wages. So things like petrol ($8-9 a gallon), housing, and food costs are extortionate.
jesusgrandpa@reddit
How’s the tech field out there? Do you know?
alwaystooupbeat@reddit
You should be aware that nurse practitioners in NZ do not have the same level of responsibility or pay as in the US. In the US, nurse practitioners are taking on a lot of doctor type roles, but in NZ, they wouldn't. The scope is more limited. See here: https://nursingcouncil.org.nz/Public/NCNZ/nursing-section/Nurse_practitioner.aspx
If you're still interested, see here. You'll need an employer, you'll need to do a competence assessment program, and will have to register with the Nursing Council.
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/pathway-for-health-professionals-to-nursing-jobs-in-new-zealand
https://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/IQN
Things you should know: NZ's health system is, unfortunately, in crisis. Housing shortage are seriously problematic; depending on your income, you're going to struggle to find housing.
https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/1c7gi50/an_honest_discussion_of_the_housing_crisis/?rdt=44432
abeorch@reddit
Considered checking the New Zealand nursing council website to see if your qualifications can be transferred?
alice_is_on_the_moon@reddit (OP)
Already done. All legal and technical issues are appropriately being handled.
This question is more about the things like work life balance, providing care in a different country and culture and overall satisfaction with the experience.
jesusgrandpa@reddit
Does your license transfer there? I was looking into moving there sometime, I’m a software developer but have an old LPN license. I don’t know if New Zealand has an equivalent for LPN but an RN wouldn’t be hard to get real quick for job security.