Accent Health Recruitment is seeking experienced Mental Health Nurses for opportunities across New Zealand, with roles available throughout both the North and South Island.
If you’re looking for more balance, a supportive healthcare environment, and a lifestyle surrounded by beaches, mountains, lakes, and vibrant communities, New Zealand could be the perfect next step.
Applicants should have recent mental health nursing experience and be eligible for registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
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My name is Cody. I am a community-based (outpatient) hospice Registered Nurse. I came to NZ in August 2025 from Seattle, Washington, USA. The process to come to NZ took me 15 months.
The easiest part of the process was getting my credentials verified through CGFNS, the first step of the process of getting RN licensure in NZ. I’ve been through this process previously for Canada, and it was a nightmare in comparison! NZ overall has streamlined many parts of the process in ways that far surpass lots of other countries I considered.
The most challenging part of the process was the wait for paperwork to be processed and the wait through the actual job search.
ACCENT recruiters have great connections, and the NZ nursing job market seems like the sort where you would really want to have ACCENT on your side. My recruiter was Hayley, and she was fantastic. She was not only helpful for locating an interested organisation, she was able to talk me through how things work in this country as it pertains to the job hunt.
The best parts of NZ are – so much! The culture, weather, climate, scenery, food, the healthcare system, my improved access to healthcare for myself, my increased sense of safety and well-being, my improved work/life balance, the opportunities for outdoor activities, the mindfulness of waste and the environment. I could go on.
My initial impression of where I’m living is that it’s not shockingly different at first glance. A lot of culture shock I’ve experienced has come through the process of living and integrating, coming to be familiar with the culture and the finer details of daily living in NZ.
I’m living in Wellington, which in many ways is very similar to where I lived in the US before my arrival. It’s a beautiful country. Driving on the right-hand side of the road hasn’t been as scary or challenging as I assumed! And the people I’ve met have been impressively patient, kind, and welcoming.
I like the area I live in because it’s exactly what I wanted and hoped that it would be. It’s like a baby foreign cousin of Seattle. Small but compact, big steep hills, lots of green space, interesting and cool (temperature-wise) weather, forward-thinking people, universities present with young minds filling the city.
Where I plan to visit is Rotorua – it is one of the first on my list. Since moving to Wellington, I’ve discovered and gotten very into mountain biking. We’ve got a wonderful mountain biking park here. Rotorua has the largest mountain biking park in the country, so I’d really love to check that out.
The work/life balance has made a tremendous difference to my life. A better balance is ingrained into the culture here, and to a great extent it’s actually legislated!
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be prepared for the wait and trust that your recruiters are doing a wonderful job.
I could honestly write an entire dissertation in an attempt to answer questions about the differences between my current role in NZ and my previous role in the USA.
What I will say is that yes, it is massively different. However, it is navigable and similar enough for me to feel as though I’m easily translating all of my skills and experience.
I’ve noticed that a smaller number of years nursing in the US seems to translate into a greater amount of experience in NZ. This is something I’ve heard from other immigrant healthcare professionals as well, particularly those coming from much larger countries or cities.
Another big and relatively simple difference to explain is that the culture of healthcare here is more humble compared to what I’ve experienced across the US (Texas, Arizona, California, Washington state). For example, doctors I’ve come across as a nurse and as a patient largely prefer to be called by their first names (I still struggle with this one).
My experience here has also been that it seems to be more open to change on an administrative/operational level. Some of the processes aren’t as refined, but it’s been much easier for me to propose and implement practical improvements.
Whereas in the US, I always felt like I was up against a much bigger, more rigid, and more complex machine.
There are pros and cons. I’ve had some pressure points here. I think that’s to be expected. But by and large, I am much happier working here, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Cody
My name is Kelty. I am a registered nurse (operating theatre). I came to NZ in August 2025 from Colorado, USA. The process to come to NZ took me six months. The easiest part of the process was obtaining my New Zealand nursing license. It was a very straightforward process, and this was achieved quickly.
The most challenging part of the process was getting all four pets imported (two dogs, two cats). There were strict vaccination timelines to adhere to, and our fur babies had to quarantine for ten days at an approved facility south of Auckland. It took a lot of coordination between NZ animal imports, our export vet, the pet travel company, and the quarantine facility.
I cannot say enough about how helpful Hayley from ACCENT Health Recruitment has been throughout this journey. She guided me through the nursing license transfer process, contacting employers, interview preparation, and guiding us in obtaining our straight-to-residence visa. She even helped my wife and me find a rental home in New Plymouth. She still checks in on me to make sure I am settling in well into my new life in New Zealand!
My first impressions of NZ were how friendly everyone is. New Zealanders seem to be very conscientious overall. What I specifically like about NZ is that it is a highly diverse landscape packed into such a small country. New Zealand is roughly the same land area as my home state of Colorado.
I think the best parts of NZ are the diverse landscape. Being from Colorado, my wife and I love to do summit hikes. I didn’t realize it would be possible to climb a mountain and walk on the beach in the same day. We could even ski and surf in the same day if we wanted to.
What I like about the area I live in is living near the beach. I’ve lived in landlocked places my whole life and have always wanted to live near the coast. Now that I live in New Plymouth, my wife and I can walk our dogs on the beach for hours without running into another person.
What I miss the most is our close friends and family from back home. It is sometimes difficult to connect with them due to the time differences and international phone plans. I have put measures in place to help support what I miss, such as staying connected with friends and family through social media and doing regular video chats to keep up with everyone.
I plan to visit Kapiti Island. My wife and I would really love to see a kiwi bird in the wild. We have a strong appreciation for wildlife. During our time in Colorado, we encountered a mountain lion, bobcats, bears, foxes (including a black fox), elk, and countless moose in our own backyard.
The work/life balance made a difference to my life because my hospital closes for three weeks over the holidays, which is unheard of in the U.S. This allowed my wife and me time to recharge and to get out and explore the country.
The biggest difference between my current role in NZ and my previous role in the United States is having a more clearly defined role. My last position in the U.S. was a night shift charge nurse role, and I helped run the operating theatre department with only one other coworker. I was used to wearing many hats, as I was also responsible for gathering instruments/supplies and setting up theatres for the following day. The setting was similar to a public hospital, so my theatre background revolved more around emergent-type cases. I’m now in a role primarily for outpatient-type procedures. The circulator role is very similar to what I was used to doing in the U.S., so this aspect has been a fairly easy transition.
While I have scrubbed a few surgery cases in my theatre nurse career, the scrub role in the U.S. is primarily reserved for a scrub tech (a two-year degree). It’s a new concept to me, working with all nurses who can divide the workload with the same skill set. So I’m also grateful to have a lot more help in theatre lists, and learning to scrub has helped to foster my drive to be a lifelong learner.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to bring a really nice camera and binoculars and always bring a rain jacket with you.
Thank you,
Kelty, BSN, RN, BA
My Name is Jeff, I am a Family Nurse Practitioner. I came to NZ in May from United States of America (Ohio). The process to come to NZ took me 8 (months).
The easiest part of the process was the job interview. The most challenging part of the process was having to go into pretty significant detail about my marriage for immigration as well as having to drive to Chicago for the medical exam (6 hour drive).
ACCENT Health Recruitment did an amazing job of walking my whole family through the process including understanding the steps and answering any and all questions. We had Hayley Cullen, and she was amazing!
My first impressions of NZ were – Wow! How can someplace be this gorgeous. We also found the people to be very friendly and willing to help.
What I specifically like about NZ is the calmness of the people and serenity of the landscape. We often find ourselves looking around or seeing something new and going “Holy crap! We live here!” I think the best parts of NZ are the mountains, rivers, and ocean view. What I like about the area I live in is the view of the Hutt River on the mountainside.
If I miss anything, it would be my family. That and the cheaper lumber prices. I do call my parents at least once a week and we started a blog to catalogue our experiences. I generally don’t miss living in the states.
I would love to see various places where Lord of the Rings were filmed, especially on the South Island. I also plan to see multiple beaches, the volcano, and all the nature that NZ has to offer (which is a lot).
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is that if you are coming from the states, it is going to feel like “opposite world” for a bit. You will drive on the other side of the road, there are no mammals outside of pets and farm animals (and the occasional pest), it can be sunny and randomly start to rain. Things are also a bit more expensive, so living simply is helpful. One of the reasons we wanted to come to New Zealand was to live more simply and find more peace. We have found that. I would also say it is going to bring an open mind and a mind willing to learn, especially about the culture and the many people here.
The work/life balance made every difference. I feel like our family is more able to focus on the important things, the simple things. Our activity level is tremendously better.
The biggest difference currently is that I cannot practice fully as a nurse practitioner initially. I currently have the role of “senior nurse” and there are some hoops to jump through to get back to my level of expertise. That being said, there seems to be less documenting, less worries about billing, bigger focus on the patient, and cultural sensitivity is not only encouraged but required. I personally love that, especially as the current US policy is going the opposite way.
The medications used are similar, but less varied and different. You also cannot order most CT scans and no MRIs without specialist approval, which is very different from the US.
I have always worked in community medicine, so many of the same principles that have guided my practice in the states seems to be blending well with working in New Zealand. At the end of the day, people are people and if you listen well, show care, and respect them it will always go a long way. Also, a bit of humor still goes a long way in New Zealand like it did in the US.
Universal health care is one thing done differently in New Zealand that I appreciate, and I wish could be utilized in the US. This allows us often to not be so focused on the EMR and all the extra crap that goes with it as it is often more of a billing program anyways, especially in the US.
If you want a fast-paced life with a lot of material stuff, New Zealand is likely not your jam. If you feel the need to slow down, experience God’s green earth, and a better sense of peace then New Zealand may just be your jam.
Jeff
My Name is Claudell. I am a Registered Nurse-Theatre. I came to NZ in June 2025 from South Africa. The process to come to NZ took me 2 years.
All aspects of the immigration process have their challenges and are stressful in their own way for various reasons, for me personally, I would say the easiest part of the process was the admin associated with obtaining my nursing registration with NZ Nursing Council. Although this process included a series of steps and is quite tedious and time consuming, Hayley from Accent outlined the process for me in detail and offered support and reassurance at every step which I really appreciated.
The other aspect that was easy was obtaining our visa with the help of NZ Shores. Charlotte took all the stress off us and handled the entire visa application process from start to finish.
The most challenging part of the process was:
1. Waiting for feedback from NCNZ regarding their decision on issuing my license to practice. This took approximately 6.5 months.
2. Obtaining prospective job interviews – it was quite difficult to secure any interviews offshore and I received heaps of rejection emails. All interviews that I sat for prior to and including the one that lead to a successful job offer were via ACCENT.
ACCENT Health Recruitment and recruiter Hayley were instrumental in my immigration journey to New Zealand. From day one, Hayley was amazing – she answered all my questions in detail, provided all of the information I needed and supported and reassured me every step of the way. Prudence also stepped in over the holidays to help me prepare for an interview. She checked up on me and was readily available to assist with whatever I needed.
When I landed with my family in NZ – Hayley was waiting for us at the airport with a care package and the biggest smile and hug. Her gesture of kindness made all the difference to us on that first day being here and meeting Hayley in person for the first time felt more like a reunion with an old friend.
Hayley continues to check in with me periodically to make sure I’m okay and I appreciate this more than words can express.
New Zealand is beautiful. So far, this place has surpassed all my expectations. Kiwis are the friendliest and most helpful people you will ever meet. I was pleasantly surprised at how supportive people have been to us since we arrived and how everyone was willing to help with whatever we needed in our first few weeks settling in.
The best parts of NZ are definitely the breathtaking views. We are in the South Island and literally just a walk around the corner and there’s views of the snowcapped mountains. Pictures just don’t do justice to what I’ve seen in the past month 🙂
I like about the area I live in because it’s so peaceful here, there’s no traffic and traveling anywhere within town takes no more than 5-10 minutes. Shops and work are all within walking distance.
We miss our family and friends in South Africa, but we video call often to keep in touch with everyone. I brought heaps of spices from South Africa, so we aren’t missing our Durban curries just yet! For now, we plan to tour the South Island as much as we can because there’s so much to see and do. We hope to be able to travel to the North Island soon to visit our family.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be patient – it’s not a quick process and at times the waiting and rejections can become extremely demotivating but keep the faith and remember why you started.
The work/life balance made a difference to my life because my days are much less rushed, and I have more time to spend with my kids and partner as well as time for myself. I feel much more relaxed and calmer than I used to be.
Claudell
My name is Fran, I am a Registered Nurse. Angel (who is also a nurse) and I came to NZ in July 2024 from the United States.
The process to come to NZ took me from December 22 to July 23 from documents to APC. (Delayed move for son to finish school) February 24- July 24 Job hunt, offer, and move. So 12 months.
The easiest part of the process was Accent Health finding positions for us to interview for. The most challenging part of the process was gathering all the necessary documents for the straight to residency visa and documents to submit to CGFNS. Very time consuming.
Our recruiter was Hayley. Accent was instrumental in preparing us for all steps of the process. We had several zoom calls to discuss the process prior to starting everything. Then many check ins along the way. When it was time for interviews Accent helped prep us for what to expect. Accent followed up with employers leading to multiple job offers in multiple locations. Upon arrival, Accent checked on us shortly after we arrived and even gave us some common Kiwi groceries for our first days.
My first impressions of NZ were that everyone was so nice and the clean fresh air. It definitely smells different. What we specifically like about NZ is; Fran says the coffee is fantastic. Angel likes the overall sense that the culture is about the “we” instead of “me” where we came from. There is such a sense of community.
One of the best parts of New Zealand is that we were able to go from standing in the snow on the top of a mountain to walking on a black sand beach in the surf all in the same day.
We live in Wellington. It is so full of arts, culture, diversity, amazing food, and have we mentioned the coffee.
We miss New York Style Pizza and Bagels. If you’re persistent in looking for what you want, you will find something to satisfy your craving or what you’re missing. After trying many different pizza places, we found one that is the closest. We also make our own pizza now with fresh dough from a local Italian shop.
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We plan to visit more of the South Island as it is so beautiful and
really gives us a getaway feel without large travel times.
We have already visited the South Island. We flew into Christchurch and rented a car, drove through Arthur’s Pass (iconic and must do) to Fox Glacier where we had a lovely few days in the mountains and seeing the mirror lake.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to start the process early. Be patient and diligent in following what is needed to meet requirements for visa and APC. Take it one step at a time. It is overwhelming and not a fast process. Trust the advice that you are given and the guidance because these are people here in NZ with the experience and knowledge of inner workings of the Job and Healthcare system here.
The work/life balance made a difference to my life because I’m no longer mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted after work anymore. I am able to come home and enjoy time with my family before bed on workdays and truly enjoy my days off. I’ve been able to be more consistent with health and wellness goals as well as just do things I enjoy on a daily basis without having to have recovery days.
Accent Health was a huge part of our move being successful, but also in settling in as they have checked in and put us in touch with others that have been through or are starting this process. NZ has been everything we hoped it would be for our family.
The major differences between my current role in NZ and my previous role in the US. Is that Nurses have so much autonomy here. You are able to use your nursing judgement and practice within your full scope of practice. The emphasis is truly on the patient and not on numbers, patient satisfaction scores, or profits for private companies.
The technology used for advanced therapies in the ICU are just as modern here so it was an easy transition. The respect and care that is given to palliative patients and how culturally sensitive we are in day to day practice is something that is specifically done differently in NZ and has interested me and the way I practice my profession!
Fran and Angel
My Name is Yoon-Hai and I am an registered nurse who came to NZ on the 1st Feb 2024 from Singapore. The process to come to NZ took me around a year and there was no easiest part of the process 😀 The most challenging part of the process was my English OET test.
My recruiter was Kristin McNaughton, she did amazing job to help me to get the NZ nursing license and get a job interview. I used New Zealand Shores as my Immigration Advisers.
My first impressions of NZ was the nature, which I love, and the friendly, kind people. I specifically like the work life balance in New Zealand! I also like the idea that if you work hard, you get more.
I am based in Hamilton, and like that its near to all other cities in the North Island. I am looking forward to traveling to the South Island in the future.
I miss my friends and family. I dine at authentic places and call family regularly on video. Back in my previous workplace, I was working 6 days a week. After I moved to NZ , I am having 2 days off a week which has meant I have more free time to travel around and meet my partner.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to keep trying. Sometimes it does not go the way that you want it to – but don’t give up!
Yoon-Hai
Winter
Autumn
Spring
The process of relocating to New Zealand started around 6 years ago, listening to Prudence on webinars & researching. When we made the concrete decision to take the plunge, I contacted Kristin at ACCENT Health Recruitment to assist with employment opportunities. She was amazing throughout the whole process, she stayed in regular contact, providing advice & really listened to my areas of preferences. I only had 1 interview for a surgical ward in Whangārei & was offered the position almost immediately. I’m sure Kristen’s pre-interview coaching helped significantly.
I came to New Zealand 4 years ago with my husband & 2 children. We came during the first COVID lockdown in the UK, so it was a bit hit & miss whether we were even going to make it. We had sold our UK property & were all in by that point, so not making it work wasn’t really an option for us.
We had to do 2 weeks in managed isolation, where we finalised a rental property, my husband’s job & schools for the children.
Eight months into my employment there was a job opportunity in my most recent specialty of oncology, it was an ACNM position so I was doubtful due to being in NZ less than 1 year, however I was over the moon when I was successful. Now I am the CNM of Cancer & Blood services, Te Tai Tokerau.
We love being in NZ & are now permanent residents. We still have so much more exploring to do around this beautiful country, but it was definitely the best move for our family.
Sarah
My name is Evonne. I am a Registered Nurse. I came to New Zealand in June 2024 from Singapore. The process to come to NZ took me one year.
The easiest part of the process was having ACCENT Health Recruitment as my recruiter and the job interview, they helped arrange for me!
The most challenging part of the process was getting the CGFNS application and license to practice as a nurse in NZ. There was a lot of waiting.
My first contact with ACCENT was with Prudence, who was introduced to me by an ex-colleague. Prudence helped him secure a job in NZ previously and when he heard I have intentions to move to NZ, he highly recommended Prudence to me. From the 1st contact I made with Prudence; she has never failed to make me feel so assured in my NZ application process. Prudence has been in this line for many years and has a wealth of experience helping healthcare workers move to NZ. Though there are hiccups and difficulties along the way, Prudence and her team are always there to lend their help and advice. I can’t thank them enough!
My first impressions of NZ began when I went to the South Island for a holiday in 2023. It was my 1st time to NZ and I fell in love with the place and people immediately. Everyone is friendly and nice. Everywhere is a beautiful display of nature and space. That started my dream of moving to NZ and here I am now.
Entrance of the hospice I work in
I don’t feel a sense of racism here at all. Everyone is so pleasant, friendly and helpful even though we come from different places/cultures. Everyone is respected and respectful.
New Zealand has abundant space to be admired and explored. The pace of life is slower here, compared to where I came from. So, I really appreciate the opportunity I have to enjoy work life balance and truly live a life here.
I like the area I live in because It’s a balance of nature and city life. I’m glad I managed to find accommodation near my work and the train station. There’s even a small supermarket nearby. So, it’s really convenient for me to settle in.
I miss the accessibility and variety of take away food places in Singapore, which is rare here, so I have to end up cooking most of my meals every day. I check out new recipes/what to cook from recipes books or online to get more ideas.
NZ is so big. I hope to explore NZ and go for walks and beaches to admire the beautiful sights and sounds. It’s winter now so I am really looking forward to embracing the other seasons to come. I managed to make a short trip to Martinborough recently and it’s beautiful.
I definitely feel more relaxed and at peace now in NZ because of the wonderful work life balance I experience here. I have time to rest and care for myself, not just work and work, rushing here and there. I feel I am really living my life well now.
Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in Singapore? Previously I was working in the community, now in NZ I work in the hospice in patient unit. There are not much differences, except I have to work shift hours now. The other major difference is as the RN in charge of my patient, I do everything for them, I do not have an enrolled nurse to help me. Having said that, I really appreciate the personalized care I can provide for my patient, given the lower nurse to patient ratio here so I really enjoy my work. I find it meaningful and gives me job satisfaction knowing I’m able to care and bring relief to my patients in their last days. Medications used here are slightly different from where I came from but it’s easy to learn and pick them up.
English is the official language in NZ and where I came from, so communication is straight forward though at times the slang/accent is a bit different.
Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession? When a patient dies, they are not rushed out of the facility immediately. Family are encouraged to take time to grieve and be with their loved one, give them a wash, etc. I think this is a very meaningful practice of humanity in life and death.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to come quick! There is totally no reason to deter you from coming to this beautiful and pleasant country.
Thank you ACCENT Health Recruitment for all your help in making my dream come true.
Evonne
My name is Jasmine, I am a Registered Nurse. I came to New Zealand in November 2022 from Canada. The process to come to NZ took me 1.5 years. The easiest part of the process was booking my flight. The most challenging part of the process was getting my nursing license in NZ, and the visa application requirements.
Hayley from ACCENT was so helpful with support and advice for every step along the way — from applying for my license, to getting an interview, and following up once I started my job.
My first impressions of New Zealand were that the nature is so different, and the culture is beautiful, and most of all no snow 🙂 What I specifically like about NZ is the work life balance, lots of annual leave, so many beautiful places to explore, and very friendly people.
I live in Wellington. I love that Wellington is easy to get around, lots going on in the city and also feels close to nature. I most miss my friends and family — having regular video calls and sending pictures really helps to feel close to them, as well as trying to go back to visit once a year.
The main difference I noticed in my first job is that the role of Labour and Delivery nurse doesn’t exist — or looks very different — in NZ, due to the structure of the maternity system, which is midwife based (amazing!). The scope of practice for nurses is mainly limited to postnatal care. Something that surprised me here is many of the nursing jobs only do 8-hour shifts. Also, learning that many of the medication names are different here!
I really appreciate all the help that ACCENT Health Recruitment and Hayley gave me to get me to New Zealand. Since living in New Zealand I have transitioned to Oncology nursing and am loving it.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to research the different cities to see what suits your needs best — public transport, population, job opportunities, community groups and activities available.
Jasmine
My name is Shima! I’m a Singaporean perioperative registered nurse. The most challenging part of the process was obtaining all the documents for CGFNS and then getting the residence visa. When we actually got to NZ the toughest part was actually getting a suitable rental for our family – we went to over 30 houses within 3 weeks and finally got one which was perfect for us.
My recruiter is Prudence (together with her wonderful, amazing team) – made it all happen for us right from the very beginning and we will forever be grateful. ☺❤️
Six months in now and I think we’ve made the best decision moving to New Zealand. The work culture is so much better than I expected and most importantly, I have more time with my family. Knowing that you have nurse managers and seniors at work who have your back when you need it is a total game changer.
We enjoyed summer because there’s so many fruit-picking opportunities (cherries are so yum!). I’d say the only thing I miss about Singapore is perhaps the accessibility to a wide variety of halal cuisines. We’ve visited a couple of beautiful places around the South Island and are planning to venture out more soon!
Shima
My name is Ed, I’m a nurse on Medical ward at Timaru hospital. I came from North Devon in the UK. We arrived in September in 2022 after procrastinating moving to New Zealand for a few years!
I arrived with my wife and 4 kids, 2 being teens who were up for the challenge of moving across to the other side of the world!
The process took me about 18 months from getting the documents ready for CGFNS (this was the hardest and longest part which took 11 months) to flying to our new home.
We had been in contact with Kristin the whole way and she guided me through every step and prepped me for interviews. This was definitely the easy part of the process!
We knew we didn’t want a city as the kids had never lived in a city back in the UK and we were determined on the South Island. After a few discussions, I settled for Timaru. Although, apprehensive at first, Timaru is a great location. 2 hours to Christchurch and 2.5 hours to Dunedin. This was great for the Women’s World Cup! Our favourite place to visit is Caroline Bay and the social club opposite our house! One of the best things about Timaru is the community feel and the little blue penguins we get to visit. The kids enjoy the carnival in the Summer and the adults get brews on the bay festival too once a year!
We don’t really miss the UK, but I do have an adult stepson that I miss but we FaceTime and, in the future, he will come out and visit us.
Nursing is better in New Zealand, I do 8 hour shifts here and although I work the same number of hours, I feel like I have a better work life balance.
If you’re considering coming to NZ, my advice would be to do it. We came with the attitude “let’s give it a go and if it fails, we can go back”. Luckily, we’ve all settled in, and we don’t see ourselves going back any time in the future.
To start the process, we used New Zealand Shores as our immigration advisers and ACCENT Health Recruitment to help me find a job. From one nurse to other medical staff, give it a shot because it might just change your life!
Ed
My Name is Jing. I am a Registered Nurse. I came to NZ on the 2nd March 2023 from Singapore. The process to come to NZ took me 7 months.
The easiest part of the process was always having support from Hannah in terms of any doubts. The most challenging part of the process was getting the documents verified with CGFNS.
ACCENT Health Recruitment helped my process to come to NZ because Hannah was a great support throughout the process that she felt like a ray of hope in my life. She gave me hope to have a change in my life and my environment. She provided me guidance from the start till the end, with my never-ending emails with questions. I am very grateful to have been in contact with Hannah. These kept me going and excited for myself that I could make a good change for myself.
My first impressions of NZ were that there were loads of space and land, and everyone was kind and friendly. What I specifically like about NZ is the kindness, friendliness, and supportive community. I like the area I live in because it is quiet and safe, and convenient from the city and work. I think the best parts of NZ are travelling.
I definitely miss my family and friends back home the most. I do video calls or voice calls real often when anyone wants. I message my family and friends too, like the close ones almost every day.
I plan to visit the South Island. I really loved the tour that I went for in November with the Wild Kiwis Adventure tour group and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I would love to go back to cover more little towns in the different seasons and be able to experience the South in a different view.
The work/life balance made a difference to my life because I am able to pick up hobbies I always wished to learn (for me, ICE SKATING). I am able to have more time to read and organise my life and trips that I will take in the future.
Job scope wise, my current role allows me to have control over the ventilators whereby in Singapore, we have respiratory therapists. This allows me to learn more on ventilator settings and adjustment of them to aide in my patient’s recovery and this expands my professional knowledge inevitably. Things are done quite similarly which helped me to settle in easier, but it did take a while to get used to the policies and the practices here. But, slow and steady, we will get there one day!
The blessing of bedspaces after a death has been done in NZ and not in Singapore, and this brings me peace and closure on my part as a nurse for my patient.
I would like to say to leave the views and perceptions of the working culture where you have been the moment you fly, have an open mind, be receptive to learning and have fun learning in a new environment. You will be surprised how supportive the environment can be! I do hope everyone is able to experience the kindness and friendliness I have felt, and I am very grateful for the whole time I have been here!
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to have an open mind, heal well and have fun!
Wishing all the best to all applicants in finding peace and harmony wherever they go!
Jing
My name is Priscilla. I am a Registered Nurse. I came to New Zealand on November 10, 2022, from the USA. The process to come to New Zealand took me around 6.5 months. The easiest part of the process was getting a position and the actual registration for the nursing license and APC. The most challenging part of the process was getting all documents to CGFNS and getting their authenticity approved.
ACCENT Health Recruitment helped me find a nursing position fast! And when I wanted to change to another hospital, they were quick to reach out on my behalf. Hannah Jenman is amazing!
My first impressions of New Zealand were that it is a beautiful country with incredibly kind people. What I specifically like about New Zealand is the work and life balance, decent paternity leave, safe country to live in and raise a family, simplicity in day to day, not over-commercialized, universal.
I think the best parts of NZ are the gorgeous outdoors. I live in Wellington, it has a lot of delicious places to eat. You will never run out of places to try. Coffee is amazing! What I miss the most is my family and friends, ease of finding what you need in stores/online, Mexican food! My mom came and stayed with us for almost 6 months and that was a huge help. We were able to find some very good Mexican spots. We are staying close to new friends we made online prior to moving to NZ which helps. My advice if you are planning to come to New Zealand is to stay organized, prepare early, and keep an open mind when you arrive. Be prepared to miss your family/friends a lot but focus on finding new friends to help fill that void.
The work/life balance made a difference to my life because I just had a baby recently and I cannot say how wonderful it is to be able to stay at home with her for 6 months. It’s been a huge blessing. Registered Nurses have more responsibilities such as managing everything respiratory. There is a bit more autonomy as nurses in patient care. Working with doctors here have been a lot easier and more team focused. There is less access to supplies and technology is a bit behind.
What helped me orientate/ transition easily is that I remained in my specialty, NICU, which has been a grounding thing.
I would not suggest changing specialty until you have been here for at least a year. As mentioned, there is a lot more responsibility and autonomy and that has completely changed how I practice nursing. It allows me to focus more on what I can do and have more critical thinking than before.
ACCENT Health Recruitment really made the process of moving to NZ very easy. Couldn’t do it without them.
Thank you Priscilla
I think the best parts of NZ are the gorgeous outdoors. I live in Wellington, it has a lot of delicious places to eat. You will never run out of places to try. Coffee is amazing!
What I miss the most is my family and friends, ease of finding what you need in stores/online, Mexican food! My mom came and stayed with us for almost 6 months and that was a huge help. We were able to find some very good Mexican spots. We are staying close to new friends we made online prior to moving to NZ which helps. My advice if you are planning to come to New Zealand is to stay organized, prepare early, and keep an open mind when you arrive. Be prepared to miss your family/friends a lot but focus on finding new friends to help fill that void.
The work/life balance made a difference to my life because I just had a baby recently and I cannot say how wonderful it is to be able to stay at home with her for 6 months. It’s been a huge blessing.
Registered Nurses have more responsibilities such as managing everything respiratory. There is a bit more autonomy as nurses in patient care. Working with doctors here have been a lot easier and more team focused. There is less access to supplies and technology is a bit behind.
My Name is Misty. I am a hospice nurse. I came to NZ in January 2023 from the USA. The process to come to NZ took me 6 months. The easiest part of the process was getting the job in hospice. The most challenging part of the process was waiting through the paperwork process to get my nursing license in New Zealand. You send the things in, then you wait to hear back, then you send more things in, and then you have to wait to hear back again. You’ll learn patience really quick.
My recruiter was Prudence, and she was phenomenal. I asked her to help me find a nursing job in hospice which is my passion, and she was able to do that. She also helped my husband through the process of getting a nursing license and job since he hadn’t worked as a nurse in about six years. He had to go through a special program which she helped us navigate into. She also helped us with any questions we had about immigrating here beyond just nursing jobs.
I definitely feel less stressed here in New Zealand. There’s a great work life balance that I feel I was missing. Everything seems so easy-going here, everyone is extremely friendly.
We are living in Wellington. Wellington has a lot of opportunities for fun things to do yet it feels like a small town at the same time. I think family is what I miss most but we are able to call texts and video chat often. It does help that my husband and two sons were able to come here with me.
We hope to visit all parts of New Zealand eventually. Our first stop will be Rotorua and Hobbiton.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is just do it don’t hesitate. It was a scary experience at the beginning, moving to a whole different country but now that I’m here it’s been wonderful and I’m glad I took that first step. The work/life balance made a difference to my life because I definitely feel less stressed here both at my job and in life. I am used to having to take medication to help me sleep at night, now no longer have to do that.
Hospice in both the United States and New Zealand are the same. It’s all about what can we do for patients and their families at the end of life. How can we make them comfortable? How can we help them with what matters most to them at this time.
There are very many differences mostly just medication names. New Zealand has some medicines that we didn’t have in the US, and they don’t have some medicines that we did have in the US. I feel there’s less rules and regulations here about hospice than in the United States, which is great, because we are able to truly care for people. The nurse to patient ratio is lower here which allows me again to really truly care for patients in a way that they need, which may be as much emotional and mental as physical.
I felt like part of the team very early on. All the staff are very caring for not just their patients but for each other, it didn’t take me long to feel like I have been working here forever.
Misty
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is just do it don’t hesitate. It was a scary experience at the beginning, moving to a whole different country but now that I’m here it’s been wonderful and I’m glad I took that first step.
The work/life balance made a difference to my life because I definitely feel less stressed here both at my job and in life. I am used to having to take medication to help me sleep at night, now no longer have to do that.
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