Malou Docto spent nine years in Canada working below her potential, watching her nursing license gather dust while she struggled through a system that wouldn't let her practice. She had the education, the drive, and the dream, but not the pathway. Until her husband asked one question: Are you happy doing this?

Today, Malou is a member of the liver transplant team at UVA Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. She works with robots, scrubs in on complex cases, and recently presented to over 100 nurses on breast specimen protocols. She's also building her parents' dream house back in the Philippines. But none of it came without fear, sacrifice, or a willingness to leave everything familiar behind.

This is a story about what happens when you stop waiting for permission and start trusting the timing.

Key Timestamps: 

[00:00:00] Introduction

[05:09:00] Fear of Living Alone

[09:29:00] Settling Into Charlottesville

[11:43:00] Waiting for Her Husband

[13:44:00] Finding Filipino Community

[19:03:00] NurseMatch's Culture of Care

[20:54:00] Working With Robots

[25:26:00] CNOR & Clinical Level 3

[30:05:00] Take the Leap of Faith

Memorable Quotes:

"One time, one of my co-workers said, why did we wait so long to come to the U.S.? And I said, probably because we haven't heard of NurseMatch." [00:15:03] – Malou Docto

"I think we just have to take that leap of faith. That's all we can do because we can never know what's on the other side of the fence if you don't go there." [00:27:44] – Malou Docto

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

Natallie Gallier made a promise to her three-year-old son: if he moved to the United States to play D1 basketball, she'd follow. Twenty years later, after building a 26-year nursing career in Toronto, she finally did. The move became a chance to return to the work she loved, reconnect with the faith she’d rediscovered, and pursue a life she couldn’t build where she was.

In this episode, Natallie talks about what it took to leave a leadership role and return to critical care, the financial and cultural surprises of nursing in Texas, and the moment at her mother's grave when she knew she was supposed to go. She also shares what happened when her paperwork fell through at the airport, why she ugly-cried to her recruiter on a Saturday, and how a headstone became a sign.

This is a story about timing, faith, and what it means to choose yourself after decades of choosing everyone else.

Key Timestamps: 

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:01:58] Why Natallie Left Canada

[00:03:18] Baptized Before Her Interview

[00:04:46] Meeting Her Husband

[00:06:59] When Snow Shut Down Texas

[00:08:11] The Cost of Moving to the U.S.

[00:11:22] The Shock of U.S. Healthcare

[00:14:39] Canadian vs. U.S. Critical Care

[00:16:40] The Truth About U.S. Nurse Pay

[00:17:58] Returning to Bedside Nursing

[00:19:38] Praying With Patients

[00:20:11] The Paperwork Delay and Ugly Cry

[00:21:38] The Headstone Sign

[00:22:23] Delay Is Not Denial

Memorable Quotes:

"I said to my pastor, I was like, this is my purpose. This is me going to be able to nurse and take care of people in their most vulnerable states in their lives." [00:04:11] – Natallie Gallier

"Delay is not a denial. Delay is definitely not a denial." [00:20:58] – Natallie Gallier

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

Mussie Tekle left a comfortable nursing career in Canada for something harder, something uncertain, and something driven by love. He traded mandatory coffee breaks and paper charting for four-to-six patient ratios, electronic records he'd never seen before, and a healthcare system that stretched him in ways he didn't expect.

But Fort Wayne, Indiana surprised him. The people, the pace, the faith-based community he didn't know he'd find. And Lutheran Hospital gave him something he hadn't anticipated: the chance to grow, to advance, and to build a life that includes a new home, a baby girl on the way, and a nursing career that finally feels like it's moving forward.

This is a story about resilience, adaptation, and what happens when you say yes to the unknown. Mussie talks about the overwhelm, the breakthroughs, and the moments that made him realize he was exactly where he needed to be.

Key Timestamps: 

[00:00:00] Introduction[00:03:45] Why Mussie Moved to the U.S.

[00:06:12] Relocating to Fort Wayne

[00:10:17] Patient Ratios & Adapting

[00:14:28] The Coffee Break That Never Came

[00:17:46] Financial Stability & Fatherhood

[00:19:54] NurseMatch & Faith-Based Support

[00:24:36] Advice for Nurses Considering the U.S.

Memorable Quotes:

"I just need to let everyone know that you do not need to come here with that idea or that perspective, it's going to be easier. It's not, but it gets better with time." [00:10:56] – Mussie Tekle

"NurseMatch is not just an agency that just brings one person, like a person to their location for work and then they wash their hands. No, NurseMatch not only, brings you to that place, they help create that environment where you can still go back to them." [00:21:25] – Mussie Tekle

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

Van Agno and his wife were both working full-time in Toronto, crunching wedding numbers, and facing a hard truth: even with multiple jobs, they'd be house poor the moment they bought property. So, he took a calculated risk. A short travel contract in Tampa. A two-year commitment in Naples. And now, a new chapter in California where one income supports what two couldn't back home.

This isn't a story about chasing the American dream, but about a nurse who wanted career pathways that didn't exist in Canada, procedures he'd never heard of until he crossed the border, and the autonomy to practice at a level that felt impossible under a different system. Van talks about Watchman devices, EVDs, higher acuity with more resources, and what it's like when your spouse can't work for two years while you build a life in limbo.

He's still asking himself if he made the right call. But he and his wife treat it like a long vacation, and so far, they're not looking back.

Key Timestamps: 

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:01:41] Why Van Chose the U.S.

[00:02:21] Life in Toronto

[00:03:08] Researching the Move

[00:05:10] The Visa Process

[00:10:28] U.S. Hospital Surprises

[00:14:08] Patient Ratios in the U.S.

[00:15:47] Career Growth in the U.S.

[00:17:16] Workplace Culture & Misconceptions

[00:19:59] Working with NurseMatch

[00:21:56] Advice for Nurses Considering the Move

Memorable Quotes:

"There's a lot more availability of services in terms of options for surgery, and it's much more advanced." [00:10:18] – Van Agno

"One of the reasons why we did the move is that eventually, once I get my PR, then I can advance more in the career. I can be a nurse anesthetist." [00:15:57] – Van Agno

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

Ann Ocampo has been a nurse since 2003. She started as a live-in caregiver in Canada, worked her way up to LPN, then RN, and now serves as a clinical director of infection prevention and control. She's built a career, raised her kids, and survived Toronto winters that hit minus 31. But for four years, she's been stuck between staying and going.

Her friends are already in the U.S. They tell her the same thing: their only regret is not moving sooner. Her family is there. The opportunities are there. The work-life balance is there. But so are the fears. The headlines. The unknowns. The immigration issues that almost derailed everything. And then there's the agency that didn't give up on her when it would have been easier to move on.

This is a conversation about what it takes to finally decide. Not just to relocate, but to trust the process, empty yourself out, and take the leap when everything you've built is on the line.

Key Timestamps: 

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:01:34] Why Canadian nurses consider the U.S.

[00:02:34] The moment everything changes

[00:03:34] Ann’s role in infection prevention

[00:04:18] Why she’s drawn to the U.S.

[00:05:08] Fears about the move

[00:06:24] Why Ann chose Nurse Match

[00:08:42] How Nurse Match supported Ann

[00:10:15] Returning to bedside nursing

[00:11:48] Her five-year vision

[00:13:12] Advice for nurses considering the move

Memorable Quotes:

"If you're a nurse and if you say, ‘Oh, I know everything,’ I think that's the stop of your learning. You really have to empty yourself out in order for you to learn new things." [00:11:31] – Ann Ocampo

"To all nurses thinking about moving to U.S., if you decide to take this step, choose an agency that will truly stand by you." [00:12:28] – Ann Ocampo

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

Megan Swidley was making less on paper. Dollar for dollar, the U.S. offer looked like a pay cut. But when she factored in what she could actually keep, what she could save, and what kind of life she could build, the math changed completely.

This is the story of a psychiatric nurse who spent 11 years in Canada's system, loved her specialty, but couldn't escape the pre-shift anxiety or the financial strain. After attending a NurseMatch hiring fair in Toronto with her husband by her side, she made a decision that would take her from Alberta to the Texas coast, from emergency psych overload to a structured inpatient role where she finally feels supported.

Megan talks about the visa process, the border crossing with a rabbit and a bird (spoiler: only one made it), the green card waiting game, and what it's really like to work in U.S. healthcare when you've been told your whole career it's all about profit. She also shares the one thing every nurse can do this week to shift the culture wherever they are.

Key Timestamps: 

[00:00:00] Introduction

[01:14:00] Megan's nursing journey

[02:16:00] The Toronto hiring fair

[03:04:00] What financial freedom meant

[03:52:00] Psychiatric nursing in the U.S.

[04:30:00] U.S. healthcare myths

[05:56:00] Why employer values matter

[06:41:00] Canada vs. Texas living costs

[08:08:00] Earning more by making less

[09:26:00] The TN visa experience

[10:32:00] The bird that stayed behind

[11:22:00] The green card journey

[12:42:00] Support from the immigration team

[13:43:00] Being "the Canadian"

[14:24:00] Life without pre-shift anxiety

[16:20:00] Overcoming imposter syndrome

[17:19:00] Advice for nurses

[18:41:00] What poisons workplace culture

Memorable Quotes:

"I'm able to live comfortably on my income, plus save for the future. Being able to buy a house, there's land for sale that's actually affordable. When you look at my wage, dollar for dollar sort of, I'm technically making less in the U.S., but what I take home is more." [00:06:56] – Megan Swidley

"Since I came down here and started with Ocean, I'm not feeling that pre-shift anxiety." [00:14:17] – Megan Swidley

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

Most hospitals are still playing the same staffing game: agency rotations, transactional recruiting, and constant turnover. But there's a pool of experienced, grateful, ready-to-go nurses just across the border that most U.S. hospitals have never tapped into.

Lisha Crytzer and Kim England, co-founders of NurseMatch, break down the Canadian nurse recruitment model they've been running for 25 years. They talk retention rates that hit 97%, the simplicity of the TN Visa, and why these nurses show up with something most hospitals are starving for: an attitude of gratitude and a commitment to stay. 

If you're expanding, struggling with agency dependency, or just tired of the churn, this episode lays out a strategy that's working while everyone else is still scrambling.

Key Timestamps: 

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:03:33] Canadian vs. international recruitment

[00:04:43] How the TN Visa works

[00:06:10] Green card pathways & retention

[00:09:20] Why these nurses stand out

[00:10:39] 97% nurse retention rate

[00:11:28] Accessing experienced nurses

[00:14:00] After the job offer

[00:16:39] Nurse start timeline

[00:18:05] Why culture matters in recruitment

Memorable Quotes:

"These nurses are so very grateful for the opportunity that you're giving them. It literally impacts the attitude they bring to work." [00:09:04] – Lisha Crytzer

"Our retention with our hospitals is sitting at 97 percent. That's unheard of in our industry, and it's because they are looking to stay." [00:11:10] – Kim England 

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

For 25 years, the same four factors have quietly shaped one of healthcare's most consistent patterns. Canadian nurses aren't just chasing higher pay. They're chasing something deeper: career ladders that don't take decades to climb, education they don't have to fund themselves, and the ability to own a home without reapplying for their mortgage every five years.

Lisha Crytzer and Kim England, co-founders of NurseMatch, pull back the curtain on what actually drives nurses across the border. This isn't about which system is better, but about choice, stability, and the kind of opportunity that changes not just a career, but a life. If you're a hospital leader wondering why your Canadian hires stay, or a nurse weighing whether the move is worth it, this episode gives you the unfiltered truth.

This is more than two decades of pattern recognition and hundreds of stories that all point to the same thing: when nurses feel seen, supported, and given room to grow, they don't just survive. They shift the culture around them.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:01:32] Hospitals & Canadian Nurses

[00:02:18] No Perfect Healthcare System

[00:03:12] U.S. Career Opportunities

[00:03:48] Faster Path to Leadership

[00:05:12] Education & Certifications

[00:07:10] Financial Opportunities

[00:08:14] Beyond the Paycheck

[00:10:27] Working Multiple Jobs

[00:11:27] Rotating Shift Challenges

[00:12:49] Lifestyle & Weather

[00:14:09] Homeownership in the U.S.

[00:16:27] Green Card Sponsorship

[00:17:51] Switching Specialties

[00:19:14] Top U.S. Locations

Memorable Quotes:

"If you're solely want to come to the United States just to make more money, I would say you just need to stay put. Just because I just don't think the financial advantage is that significant." [00:09:01] – Lisha Crytzer

"I know a lot of our nurses are even working rotating shifts, which I know just from visiting with them, that just the struggles they have physically, one week working days, the next week, working nights." [00:11:32] – Kim England

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

Lisha Crytzer and Kim England each put $200 into a bank account and bet on something most people thought was crazy. But long before that moment, a series of unexpected events changed the course of both their lives.

This is the origin story of NurseMatch, told by two women who've been business partners for over 25 years. It's about a nurse in a pink dress who said the quiet part out loud. It's about career fairs that don't work, Canadian nurses who do, and a faith-based model built on relationship over resume. And it's about what happens when you refuse to let a nurse's spark fade on a desk.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to build something that lasts, or why some recruitment feels different, this is where it starts.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction

[04:06:00] How Lisha and Kim Met

[06:52:00] The Oklahoma City Bombing Story

[08:30:00] Entering Hospital HR

[12:07:00] The Pink Dress Inspiration

[16:30:00] Exclusive Nurse Recruitment Events

[17:14:00] The 2020 Pivot

[22:31:00] Faith-Driven Recruiting

Memorable Quotes:

"Career fairs, you walk by, you exchange your resume, and you move on. But to be able to sit down for 20 to 30 minutes and make a connection and find out what they're looking for, let them ask questions. You just take the relationship to a whole nother level." [00:13:52] – Lisha Crytzer

"I can't tell you how many times we've had the honor of praying over the phone with these nurses and even the girls that work for us have that opportunity. And that just takes that relationship to a deeper level." [00:20:23] – Kim England

Connect with us:

Website: https://nursematch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.match

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NurseMatchCareers/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ce-health-careers/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NurseMatch

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

The Culture Shifters is a podcast that celebrates the people redefining what it means to care. Through honest conversations and inspiring stories, hosts Lisha Crytzer and Kim England, co-founders of NurseMatch, spotlight nurses, healthcare leaders, and changemakers who are transforming the culture of care across borders and in the moments that matter most.

With more than 25 years of serving the healthcare community, Lisha and Kim have helped nurses pursue their dreams while partnering with hospital leaders to build stronger, more sustainable cultures of care. Each episode explores stories of courage, purpose, leadership, and innovation from those creating meaningful change in healthcare.

Whether you're a nurse, healthcare professional, leader, or someone passionate about making a difference, The Culture Shifters offers conversations that inspire, challenge, and remind us that lasting change begins with people who are willing to lead with heart.