Burnout to Bliss Abroad | Coleen Huie Garcia, RN

Sound Familiar?

You Did Everything Right.

The degree. The certifications. The overtime. The holidays you missed. The patients you carried home with you even after the shift ended. And somewhere along the way — you stopped feeling like a person.

You are not burned out because you are weak. You are burned out because you gave too much for too long to a system that was not designed to protect you. And now you are wondering: is there another way to live?

Yes. There is. And I am living it.

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"I am exhausted before I even get to work."

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"I make decent money but feel like I am always behind."

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"I want to escape but have no idea how it actually works."

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"I am scared of making the wrong move and losing everything."

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"I keep saying 'someday' but someday never comes."

Your Options

How I Can Help You

Whether you are just curious, ready to plan, or ready to move — there is a path for where you are right now.

Everything I wish someone had handed me before I moved. Real numbers, real steps, written by a nurse who actually did it.

Real 2026 cost breakdowns
Free DR relocation resources
Residency steps in plain English
Healthcare access, from a nurse
Weekly tips and insights

Get the Free Starter Kit

The whole move mapped out. What it costs, what to bring, and what to do in what order once you land. Written from Puerto Plata.

Real 2026 cost breakdowns
What to bring, what to leave
Your first 90 days, week by week
Housing, banking, phone, doctor
Visa & residency basics

Get the Guide — $27

Coleen and Ricardo in the Dominican Republic

RN since 1994

My Story

I Was You.

"After 30 years as an RN, I was running on empty. The system had taken everything I had to give."

I spent three decades in North American healthcare giving everything to my patients and my career. I loved nursing. But the burnout was real and it was relentless.

Then I found a different way. I met Ricardo — a native Dominican and 15-year police officer — and eventually, I made the move to the Dominican Republic. And everything changed.

Lower cost of living. Warmer weather. Slower pace. A life that actually felt like living.

And I thought: if I can do this after 30 years in healthcare — you can too.

Registered Nurse for 30+ years in North America
Now semi-retired and living in the Dominican Republic
Married to Ricardo — DR police officer with 15 years of service and local expat consultant
Founder of Burnout to Bliss Abroad

Read My Full Story

Watch & Learn

See What Life in the DR Actually Looks Like

No filters. No fancy production. Just real life — so you can see exactly what you are stepping into.

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Real Stories

Healthcare Workers Who Made the Move

★★★★★

“I have visited the Dominican Republic many times but I never knew how to make the actual move. Coleen’s YouTube channel is what changed that. It is informative and authentic, and that is exactly what drew me in. For the first time I feel like this is something I can actually do.”

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Mercedes R.

Registered Nurse · Florida

★★★★★

“I messaged Coleen while sitting at work, literally tethered to my headset waiting for calls. I did not even know what I was looking for. One conversation with her later and I had a direction. Now I am actively planning my move to the Dominican Republic. She does not just give you information. She helps you figure out your next step.”

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Tanya T.

Community Member · Arizona

Start Here. It Is Free.

The Free DR Relocation Starter Kit

Everything I wish someone had handed me before I moved. Real 2026 costs, the residency process in plain English, and what healthcare here actually looks like. Written by a nurse who made the move, for nurses thinking about it.

What life really costs on the DR North Coast, with actual numbers
The 3 residency paths explained like a friend would explain them
Healthcare quality and insurance costs, reviewed by a 30-year RN
The 5 mistakes that cost new expats thousands
Your first 90 days, as a simple checklist

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DR Relocation Starter Kit

Free download. Built for burned-out nurses and healthcare workers considering a sabbatical, a long stay, or a permanent move.

Get the Free Starter Kit →

No spam. One useful email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.

Free Tool

See Exactly What Life in the DR Would Cost You — Before You Book Anything

I built this free DR Relocation Budgeting App so you can plug in your real numbers and see a side-by-side breakdown of your life now versus what it could look like in the Dominican Republic. No guessing. Just data.

Housing, food, transport, healthcare — all calculated for you
Real DR cost-of-living numbers, not tourist estimates
Side-by-side comparison with your current US expenses
See how much you could save (or spend more wisely) in the DR
Takes 5 minutes. Completely free. No email required.

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DR Relocation Budgeting App

Free. No signup needed. Built specifically for healthcare professionals thinking about the Dominican Republic.

Use the Free Budgeting App →

Rather have the whole plan? Grab The First 90 Days in the DR for $27 →

Common Questions

You Have Questions. I Have Answers.

Do I have to speak Spanish to live or vacation in the Dominican Republic? +

No. English is widely spoken in tourist areas and the major cities, and plenty of people live here for years on very little Spanish. But a few basic phrases change your whole day. People open up when you try, even when you get it wrong. Start a free language app before you come. Twenty minutes a day for a month will take you further than you think.

Is it really affordable compared to the US? +

Yes. Significantly. A comfortable lifestyle in the DR, with a nice apartment, dining out regularly, and good healthcare, can cost 40 to 60 percent less than comparable living in most US cities. The free DR Relocation Starter Kit breaks down actual numbers so you can compare them to what you spend now.

Can I still collect my US pension or Social Security while living abroad? +

In most cases, yes. Social Security benefits are generally payable to US citizens and eligible residents living abroad. Pension rules vary by employer and plan. This is one Ricardo and I help people navigate directly, because it is important to get it right. Book a free clarity call and we will walk through your situation.

I am not ready to relocate permanently. Is there still something for me? +

Absolutely. Most people start with a week-long trip to see if they even like it, then a longer sabbatical, and then they decide about moving. Plenty decide not to, and that is a real answer too. There is no pressure here. Start with the free Starter Kit. If you want the whole move mapped out, The First 90 Days guide is $27.

Is it safe in the Dominican Republic for a woman traveling alone? +

Like any country, it depends on where you are and how you move around. I lived here as a solo woman before Ricardo, so this is not the travel-blog version. The right areas are genuinely safe and welcoming, and the wrong ones are avoidable once you know which is which. If you want the honest read on a specific town, bring it to my Sunday Live or book a free clarity call.

What makes your advice different from a general expat group? +

Two things. First, this is built for healthcare workers, so I do not have to explain to you what being short staffed for two years does to a person. Second, my husband Ricardo is a Dominican police officer with 15 years on the job, and he works as a local expat consultant. He knows how things actually work here, which is not the same as how they are written down. A general expat Facebook group cannot give you either of those.

Ready to Find Out If the DR Is Right for You?

Book a free 30-minute discovery call. No sales pressure. Just a real conversation about where you are and what is possible.

Book My Free Discovery Call Get the Free Starter Kit

You Have Spent Decades Taking Care of Everyone Else. Who Is Taking Care of You?