Audrey Barnwell, a former NHS nurse, left her job in 2008 to pursue a career in Canada. She was motivated by the demanding and stressful nature of her work in the UK, which led to chronic exhaustion and concerns for patient safety. In Canada, she experienced a significant improvement in her work environment, with higher pay, more resources, and a focus on quality patient care. As a result, she has never looked back and encourages others to consider a move to North America for better career prospects and personal well-being.
Barnwell found herself suffering from chronic physical and mental exhaustion for the first time in her life due to the demands of her job. Days off became recovery time, motivation to see friends and family was lost, and colleagues were quitting the profession left and right. Long hours saw Audrey, from Thornton Health, Surrey, walk home late at night or very early in the morning, which left her feeling frightened and vulnerable, triggering thoughts of looking for a new life elsewhere.
When she arrived in Canada for the first time, Audrey could not believe the difference. Nurses and all healthcare staff were paid fairly for their work, with her salary going from £22,000 to the equivalent of more than £30,000 when she moved. In a noticeable change to her previous experiences working in London, there were more beds, staff, and machines available to help the staff better do their jobs. In the UK, she was caring for dozens of patients at a time, whereas in Canada, she can focus her efforts on just a handful, due to the larger team.
She used to be permanently exhausted coming off shift patterns in the UK, working more than 80-hour weeks. But now, every morning, she feels energized enough to get up at 4 am for a run or hike in the mountains, beaches, and trails before work with her new 38-hour-long week, finding the clean air particularly liberating. All while being able to progress her career a lot faster than she would have back home.
Barnwell now returns to the UK to highlight the benefits that can be had from moving to North America, for either short working holidays or as a long-term career move. She added: “When the healthcare system you work in is properly resourced, it makes such a difference to you on a professional level. And, on a personal level, it’s such a relief to be so much more financially secure and living in such a beautiful place. I’m sixteen years older than I was when I left the UK, but I have never had more energy in my life.”
