Kathmandu, Jan. 14 -- Mamata Baral from Pokhara has been in Australia for three years. After completing PCL nursing, she worked for four years at two hospitals in Pokhara, earning Rs18,000 a month.

"Forget household expenses. Even buying basic things meant thinking ten times," she said.

Baral now works in aged care in Australia. "Everyone wants to work in their own country. I did too. But after investing so much in education, the pay was not what we expected," she said. "Now, at least, money does not stop me from thinking about my family's needs." She said low pay and lack of professional security are forcing nurses to leave Nepal.

Kriti Napit from Chitwan works as an ICU nurse at a trauma centre in the US. She arrived there three mont...