A nurse who stole her friend's credit card and racked up more than seven thousand dollars in debt has been suspended and slapped with a heavy fine.

South African woman Rouchda Jacobs was living in Auckland in 2011, when she asked a friend to buy her some bedroom furniture as she was unable to get her own credit card.

She agreed to repay the $4000 worth of purchases.

Instead, Ms Jacobs then took her friend's credit card and spent almost $3600 on a pre-Christmas shopping spree.

She visited 14 different stores in Albany and Manukau, including Just Jeans, Stirling Sports, Baby City, Specsavers and Full Swing Golf Centre.

When her deception was uncovered, Ms Jacobs agreed to pay back her friend, but repaid only $580 before fleeing the country for the UK.

Following a hearing in March this year, the New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found Ms Jacobs guilty of professional misconduct.

It says she took advantage of a friend's trust for her personal benefit.

She has been suspended from practising here for nine months, and ordered to pay $7645.

The tribunal also recommended the Nursing Council of New Zealand notify the equivalent authorities in the UK and South Africa, incase she is practising there.

If Ms Jacobs returns to practise in New Zealand, she must undertake an ethics course and a period of supervision.