3min read
RN Arnez
7 years nursing experience
Nursing burnout is a very real thing. If you’ve ever worked in a metro setting, it is likely you are familiar with the feeling, or have even taken action to break away from the damaging aspects nursing burnout can inflict.
We all relax and refresh differently, but something we can all agree on is the power of good food and a bit of adventure.
Today we’re spotlighting RN Arnez (left), who did just that! Joined by her friend Courtenay (right), they’ve been enjoying the sights and sounds (and delectable food) of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
1. How long have you been nursing for now?
I have been an ED nurse for 7 years. I started agency nursing in May 2023 where a 6 week contract on unpaid leave turned into resigning to casual back in NZ and continuing contract work. I am still loving it! It will be very hard to stop and even when I do, I think I’ll return to travel nursing later on in life.
2. How has your time been at Canberra Hospital?
Love working at TCH, it’s a great environment to work in, I have been there twice now. Very well supported with nurse educators and senior staff every shift and the entire staff are lovely/welcoming, plenty of other agency nurses too. Brand new massive ED which is equipped with everything you would expect in a new department. Good staff ratios. Digital Health Record is easy to use, everything is digital which is a nice difference from home. Once you get used to it, it’s hard to go back to paper.
Highly recommend working there even if you only have small amount of ED experience as they have a lot of support in order for people to build on their ED experience in a very safe environment.
3. What have you got up to in the ACT?
We are big foodies! We love eating out and seeing new places. We have been to the Saturday markets and eaten out there plenty of times. We loved a cheese wheel cacio e pepe at an awesome Italian spot Molto right on the lake, travelled to NSW for a Mexican restaurant and dined all around Canberra where every place we went was great. Tried the best Italian sandwich at Cafe al Lago. We have gone to a winery and spent the day having wines in the vines with a group of permanent and agency staff from the hospital.
ACT is a beautiful place to go for running with great scenery (just watch out for the magpies, they definitely do swoop!). We have visited the War Memorial Museum, Parliament House, Mount Ainsley (look out over Canberra), The Burley Griffith Lake, and they have plenty of great food and shopping all around.
4. What do you enjoy most about the travel nurse lifestyle?
The people you meet along the way. I’ve made great friends in all states I have been to so far and have kept in touch with them too. Travel nursing gives you the freedom to pick and choose where and when you would like to work, I love that I don’t have to apply for annual leave or request days off work because when I go on a contract I’m ready to work for the time period and when it’s finished I can spend quality time at home in NZ with my partner/family/friends. I love travelling and exploring new places and if I didn’t do travel nursing I wouldn’t have seen half of the places I have seen in Australia so far. I’ve worked in 4 states and have 4 more to go, I plan on working in all states/territories before I stop travel nursing and return to permanent work in NZ.
5. You’re relatively new to Affinity, what has been the highlight of working with us so far?
My first contract with Affinity was May 2023. A highlight for me has been the recruiters I have had, always going above and beyond to find me a contract that fits my preferences.
6. Do you have a favourite shot from all the photos you’ve taken while on contract? What’s the story behind it?
Favourite photo – the look out pic from Mount Ainsley, Canberra is a beautiful city! Also the pic of Court and I in fun scrubs for fun scrub Friday.
7. What advice would you tell other Nurses who want to do travel nursing?
Do it at least once in your career, you won’t regret it! You learn so much and the travel and people you meet that comes with it is the best! I was definitely burnt out before I came to do travel nursing and it made me love my job again.
Ready to rekindle your love for nursing or midwifery? Register with Affinity and take a well-earned break from metro. The freedom of travel nursing may be just what you need to combat nursing burnout!
Are you over in New Zealand and have thought about running free in Aus? Be sure to check out our special page, just for you!
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