New Zealand Herald: "Loans drive nurses out"

June 18, 2003 -- Today the New Zealand Herald ran an article by Martin Johnston about how heavy student loan burdens and relatively low pay rates encourage Kiwi nurses to work overseas, or even leave nursing for higher paying jobs, exacerbating the nation's nursing shortage. The piece focuses on a young Starship hospital nurse who is reportedly planning to take a nursing position in the United Arab Emirates in order to reduce her school debt, and in the longer term is considering taking a more lucrative position as a drug company representative. The article points to a recent study backed by the Nurses' Organisation and the University Students Association suggesting that student debt may be the most significant factor pushing young nurses to work overseas. It also describes proposals to address the problem through increased government funding of nursing education.

See the New Zealand Herald article "Loans drive nurses out"