American nurses seek better life in New Zealand

American medical professionals are eying brighter futures in New Zealand, saying they're burnt out by the United States healthcare system, and the country's divisive politics.

Around 25 medical practitioners including doctors, physios, and registered nurses gathered in a Manhattan hotel in New York this week to hear about what they might be offered in New Zealand. 

The seminars are taking place across the world, thanks to the work of Christchurch nurse Prudence Thomson and her recruitment company Accent Health Recruitment.

Thomson said the majority of attendees at the New York seminar will probably have a straightforward immigration pathway ahead of them, made easier by recent Government announcements. Newshub watched as the Christchurch-based nurse was posed dozens of questions from the curious Americans.

"Are people vaccinated? Are people free to choose what they do with their bodies? There are a lot of interesting curly questions we are dealing with", Thomson said.

The recruitment drive is timely. In October, the nurses union said New Zealand needed 21,000 nurses to fill gaps in the healthcare system. Around the same time, Newshub revealed just 95 nurses had applied to come to New Zealand, 53 had been approved and just 12 had arrived.

Registered Nurse Lydia Bestul travelled across the country from Wisconsin to attend the recruitment seminar, telling Newshub she is disturbed by the American political scene, and sees a brighter tomorrow for herself in Aotearoa. 

"I don't see as much of a future for myself in this country as I do in New Zealand."

Bestul has also taken an interest in Māori culture from her home in Milwaukee.

"When you go to a New Zealand website a lot of times Māori is before English on the website, I think that's amazing. The pictures and videos are just gorgeous, I picture it as a relaxed and friendly culture," Bestul said.

America's COVID response is also a driving factor behind a decision to leave. 

One million Americans have died after suffering from COVID-19, and during the peak of the pandemic issues of school closures and mask mandates became highly politicised and divisive. 

Nurse Christina Dillon said the US system is entirely overrun, and can't see that changing. 

"It has had cracks for a long time, and COVID just kind of widened those cracks. They're patching it up, but it feels like the system is going to implode. I don't think people are realising just how sick people are going to continue to get," Dillon said.

But while US healthcare workers might see New Zealand as a paradise a world away, a quick internet search quickly reveals healthcare problems across Aotearoa. 

Nurses have long argued they are being overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. It's no secret many have left New Zealand to seek a brighter future and better working conditions, often in Australia. 

But when asked about these issues, Newshub was told they had read about these problems, but New Zealand still offered a better life than what they are being offered in the US.

"I've had a look at some of the qualities New Zealand has compared to the US, and it just blows everything out of the water", New York based physiotherapist Phil Hemmings said.

"The one thing that I looked at [about] New Zealand, and actually sold it to me, is its corruption level". 

Transparency International ranked New Zealand in the top 10, for least corrupt countries in 2022.

Bestul agreed, adding that she had been swayed by New Zealand's cost of living. 

"It's not something I'm as concerned with because the cost of living is different. Someone was saying it's about half of what we know here," she said.

Costs will vary as Bestul points out, but many Kiwis will know the harsh reality of how expensive life has become at home.

Thomson is aware of the situation at home, but doesn't feel she's recruiting nursing staff into a crisis that will make them regret their move. She instead believes they are being offered a better lifestyle. 

Thomson acknowledges the need to train more homegrown medical professionals but said international talent can make a big difference. 

"That one gastroenterologist, that one cardiologist, that one midwife will make a difference. It also really supports the New Zealand health service as well", she said.

Thomson is optimistic about the recruitment drive, particularly now nurses and midwives will finally be added to the straight-to-residence pathway after months of criticism aimed at the Government that they were not originally included. She has long called for the change to be made.

"Now that the green list has changed, it's a heck of a lot easier, probably 90 percent of the people in the room tonight were on the green list," Thomson said.

Many in the room hoped to arrive by the middle of the year, if they are able to meet the immigration requirements. 

For some, like Bestul, it can't come soon enough. 

"It's hard to feel proud of the country that I'm from and that's a really sad thing," she said.