Regent Street Lights Up For The Holidays/Fireworks!

The team at Continental Travelnurse is looking forward to the holidays. This year, the festivities are kicking off earlier than ever with the Regent Street Christmas Light Switch taking place on November 8 starting at 5 p.m. Yes, it's an excuse to start shopping (not that we need one), but it's also a fun free night out with loads of celebrities and musical performers. If you're in London or looking for a day trip, this is a good one.

Actor Bill Nighy is one of the hosts and the musical guests include Kelly Clarkson, X Factor winner Max Cardle (whose debut album has just hit stores), the West End Gospel Choir and the cast of the West End Michael Jackson musical Thriller. Don't worry if you can't get there on November 8. The lights are lit up every night through the end of the year.

Here's a look at all the fun of the Regent Street Christmas Light Swtich during LAST year's event. Let us know if you're going!



if you're based in or near these cities, check out the links below to find out where and when holiday fireworks (GUY FAWKES/BONFIRE NIGHT) will be celebrated on or around November 5.

HOLIDAY FIREWORKS IN LONDON

HOLIDAY FIREWORKS IN BRIGHTON

HOLIDAY FIREWORKS IN OXFORD

Our Nurses, Our Friends

Continental Travelnurse only works with the best nurses from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. They come to the UK to travel, have fun, and use their highly trained skills at the best medical centers here. So it's no surprise that virtually every nurse on assignment in the UK is valued so highly that they're offered permanent jobs. In fact, we're quite proud of how top-notch they are.

Most of our nurses love the travel and adventure, so they move on. But some do decide to go on staff. That doesn't change the fact that they'll always be part of the Continental Travelnurse family.

So when it we remembered it was Gwen's anniversary with us, we sent a note to wish her a happy day and check in, even though she's now on staff at the prestigious St. Thomas' Hospital. How nice to get this response:

Hello!

It's been so long since I communicated and I am on my bended knees apologizing!!!!! I do often think of you all in the office. I haven't been to the centre of London for months so I haven't called in. I am hoping to amend this before Christmas so will let you know a day. Please give my love to all.

Gwen

Now that's a commitment, Gwen. We look forward to catching up and hearing all your latest adventures. If you want to become part of Continental Travelnurse, check out our website for more information. You won't just gain a great opportunity and a great adventure nursing and exploring the UK -- you'll also gain friends for life.

Goodbye, Roz!

We like to think of Continental Travelnurse as a family. Here's proof. After many years of being a marvelous and essential part of our team, Roz is moving on. Her goodbye prompted a flood of emails and phone calls from current and past travel nurses and medical administrators who wanted to wish Roz the best and share their positive memories of working with her. This is just a tiny sample:

Roz,

I have found the news very sad that you are leaving Continental Travelnurse. I enjoyed the time I worked in London, mainly due to the support you and Continental Travelnurse gave me. You were always there to help, let it be nursing, carrying bags or buying a bike!

Your support and contact didn't stop when I returned home to Melbourne. The messages of birthday wishes, Christmas greetings and the NMC renewal correspondence were always unexpected and happy to be received. I will miss them. Must get onto that registration now.!

Good Luck with your return to Singapore.
Thank you again for your help and support over the past years.
I will be in touch with Continental Travelnurse at the end of this year, just to see if there are any jobs for 2012.

Gail


Hi Roz,

Thank you so much for my birthday wishes. Its really lovely to know you haven't forgotten about me. So thank you.
Wow, you're heading home. Good for you. I remember how hard that decision was to make. I'm sure you will be thrilled to go home. 11 years compared to my 3 years is such a long time and 6 yrs with Continental Travelnurse, I'm sure Leslie is very sad to see you leave.

You were great whilst i was there and still are now i have gone. Feel free to keep in touch.
I wish you all the very best for your return home. Take care and travel safe.

Bianca. XXXXXXXX


Hey Roz,

I just wanted to write a short email to thank you for all your hard work and encouragement over the past 2-3 years to finally get me over here and working (at last!!). As you are no doubt currently aware, moving to another country to work is a challenging experience, but you have made the process a lot smoother for me and made sure I was well prepared to take on this challenge. Thanks for your patience with answering all my questions and for not calling me in the middle of the night (Melbourne time) to assist me through the process. Lastly, good luck, best wishes and bon voyage! I hope you find life in Singapore is exciting and that you can rediscover old friends, family and favourite places (and some Singapore Slingers) on your trip home.
Best Wishes,

David


Hello Continental TravelNurse Team,

I arrived home today to a lovely surprise. The card was thoughtful and unexpected. I wanted to acknowledge you all for your kindness and also awareness. Sometimes your office seems far from the reality of day to day life at St Thomas's. However, today you have reminded me that there is an office of thoughtful individuals supporting us along the way.

Roz, once again. Best of luck with your endeavors. You have been very supportive with me over almost four years that I have been involved with Continental. I am sure you will be missed by the team. Big Thanks for always being only a phone call away.

I do not have all the emails of the team there. Perhaps you could both send my Thanks and appreciation along.

Have a nice weekend. And Happy Birthday for your upcoming Special Days in the next 12 months.

Sarah


Hey Roz

Thanks for sending me the welcome pack etc. i'll have a read through in the next few days. The CRB arrived quickly so that is good that it has been sent off. I am almost through the online training stuff i only have 2 more to go and have booked my BSL and manual handling for thursday 14th july.

I know today is your last day so i just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to you Roz for all your help you have given me in making my dream come true and being able to come back to the UK. I look forward to meeting the team and starting work with Continental Travelnurse. I wish you all the best in the future.

Laura

This is a wonderful tribute to Roz and to the atmosphere of teamwork and friendship that we cultivate at Continental Travelnurse. Check out our website for more information on how you can become a part of the Continental Travelnurse family and use your nursing skills to explore the UK and Europe while working in an environment where you are well valued and well paid. No one can replace Roz but we will continue to maintain the high standards she exemplified.

GOOD LUCK ROZ!

Kind Words For Continental Travelnurse

Love to get such kind words from the people we work with at Continental Travelnurse. This came in from our friend Chin:

"Just writing to thank you for looking after me for the last two years in the UK. You have been a good boss as well as a good friend.

"You took the trouble to help me with my visa application even though I wasn't working for you at the time. You have a good team working for you and they have been very helpful all this while.

"I have started work in the Cardiac Recovery Unit at Hammersmith Hospital.
I hope to be able to work with you again in the future."

If you want to explore the fun and rewarding career of a travel nurse where you can see the UK and Europe and get paid while doing it, check out our website at ContinentalTravelnurse.com.

Warm Words From The Nurses Of Continental Travelnurse

Continental Travelnurse isn't just a company. It's a family and the nurses who make up that family put a lot of trust in us when they travel the globe to come to the UK to work and play. We love hearing time and again how that trust has been repaid with memories that will last a lifetime and professional satisfaction. Here are some of the latest kind words our nurses have shared with us.

Thank you so much for the greeting. I have to confess that at times I think about returning. My experience working in the U.K. is still one of my most memorable life changing experiences, I cannot believe I did it and still have fond memories.

Fondest regards,

Jean of Toronto


Continental was one of the best experiences of my life. I just finished my Masters of Business Admin and the contract with the BMA is promoting the use of fair trade surgical instruments with the NHS for the BMA. I am at the point now where I am considering if I should stay in the UK or head back to North America to move into something else. Does Continental place other positions such as management or short term consulting roles? If so I would love to talk to you about it! I have this position until June and then will be looking again.

I still keep in touch with [the nurses I met through Continental Travelnurse such as] Ruth, Sarah, and Kelsey Tocher - whom I knew from school and referred to you! Also, Jilly and Tracy - who is living in Hawaii. Tanya is back in Oz and married and Kristi joined the army and was actually in Afghanistan for awhile. Ali is back in Calgary and getting married this summer too and Erin is married and has two kids now. We were pretty good at keeping in touch - I still see Ruth quite a bit over here.

Please say hello to [everyone on staff] for me too!

Julianne

To learn more about the opportunities you can find with Continental Travelnurse by bringing your in-demand highly regarded skills as a nurse to the UK so you can combine work with travel and fun, visit our website.

Continental Travelnurses Conquer Kilimanjaro

We always knew that the nurses who embrace travel and fun and succeed in their careers at the highest level were adventurous sorts. We've seen our nurses volunteer in war zones and donate medical care all over the world. Our nurses have been almost everywhere you can name. And if you name one of the most fabled mountains in the world, Libby Laskosky and Jennifer Martin have been there too! Well done!

Birthday Fun For Gabby

On the one hand, Continental Travelnurse loves our nurses; when it's your birthday, we try to reach out and wish you the best wherever you are in the world. When Gabby came into the office right around her latest birthday, we were delighted to belt out our best wishes and light some candles.

On the other hand, we do love cake!

If you'd like to learn more about the Continental Travelnurse family and the opportunity to travel Europe and practice your profession in some of the best medical centers in the UK where you will be respected and well-paid, check out our website!

Zero Tolerance For Preventable Errors In Medicine

A new article in Washington Monthly highlights preventable errors in medicine and how difficult it can be to even get data on hospital care or even something as simple as infections patients received while at a hospital. The author's solution? A national program of tracking each and every error and near-miss, detailing the incident and looking for lessons learned. he wants to model it on the airline industry and the pro-active way it deals with every single mistake. Even a pilot turning a plane briefly in the wrong direction when pulling away from a boarding gate is noted and examined. Last year, the airline industry had no fatal airline accidents in the developed world. Why shouldn't hospitals strive for the same zero tolerance?

Happy Birthday, Gabby!

We love it when our Continental Travelnurses pay us a visit at our offices in London. Gabby Simon came by and gave us a chance to sing her "Happy Birthday!" (and enjoy a slice of cake). If you want to be part of the Continental Travelnurse family and find out more about how you can travel the UK as a nurse, visit our website.

Ice Skating Party: Photos!

Here are some photos from the Continental Travelnurse winter party where we had fun giving a go on the ice skating rink. Thanks again to everyone who made it such a fun night.

First Annual Continental Travelnurse Ice Skating Party!

Thanks to all of you who attended the Ice Skating event at Canary Wharf recently. It was a huge success with about 30 of our friends in attendance, making a grand total of about 40 people when you include all the people from the main office of Continental Travelnurse.

It was a great night for everyone. Of course, not all of you could travel to London for the event but we hope more can make it next year. This was our second year and travelers came from as far as Oxford and Brighton. Some came to skate. Some came for the spectacular, moonlit surroundings at Canary Wharf. And we suspect that everyone was drawn in by the cocktails, canapes and camaraderie.

Many of you had a good go on the Ice and we were really impressed with everyone’s skating efforts. One person in particular stood out: congratulations Sistern! Sistern came to us from Alabama in teh US but is originally from Gambia. He had never skated before but showed real determination on the ice, helped along by his lovely new wife who encouraged him every step of the way. Perseverance paid off and he was great!

Krissy Milbradt was a natural, but we are sorry to hear that the triple axle you pulled off caused you an injury! Luckily, you were surrounded by healthcare professionals. :)
We hope you have recovered now and will get back in the rink soon.

We were not expecting a world-class skater to be at the rink and Leslie was pleasantly surprised when she was taught some moves by Christopher Smart, a world class competitor at the junior level and future Olympian.

So thank you again to everyone who attended. It was an absolute blast and we look forward to seeing everyone at our summer event which will be announced in a few months time.

Lower Costs and Better Health Care? It Can Happen

The New Yorker has a fascinating article about "targeting" high risk users of medical care the same way many cities targeted high crime areas. The results could be revolutionary. Read about it here.

Balancing "Acess" And Good Patient Care

In the UK, Dr. Christian Jessen writes in the Evening Standard that he's worried new rules to improve "access" may mean less face to face time between doctors and patients. Read his column here.

Great Accommodations And Easy Commute

Continental Travelnurse Yolanda is very pleased with her accommodations and easy travel to work! She writes us: "Good taste! I love the flat you chose for us. I feel like being in 2 cities-London and Las Vegas. I love the view vis a vis.... We have a very busy ward but it is alright for me. I like working there. Hope they would like me too.It is really nice and comfortable to use C10 going back and forth to St. Thomas. Warm regards,
Yolanda."

Check out our website for more info on how you too could become a Continental Travelnurse!

Chronic Drug Shortages In Canada For Some Generic Drugs

In Canada, people are discovering chronic shortages of drugs for depression, heart and other conditions. Why? Generic drugs with dwindling demand don't pay enough. Users are confused and worried. The Globe & Mail explains.

We Love Feedback Like This!

Here's a very friendly, unsolicited comment from a Matron at a top London hospital who was looking for more nurses she could bring in from Continental Travelnurse.

"The nurses you provide are excellent!" said Debbie, in London, explaining why she turned to us first.

If you want to join a team with the best reputation in the business, check out our website and call Continental Travelnurse today.

New Stories: iPads for Docs, Nurses Needed, Dialysis In Distress

Here are some news stories that Continental Travelnurse thought you might find interesting. You also might find interesting how in demand and valued your skills would be in the UK. Check out our website for more info on how you can become a travel nurse, see England, Ireland, Scotland and Europe and get paid to do it!

AUSSIE DOCS TO GET IPADS!

In Australia's Victoria, the new Labour head of the province detailed elaborate plans to improve the health care system. But the one detail that caught everyone's eye was his plan to provide an iPad for every doctor working in the public hospital system. Interestingly, though Apple is famous for its closed systems, of all the portable devices out there, it works best with the varied medical information systems that populate most hospitals.

WHY DON'T NURSES HAVE A BIGGER VOICE IN HEALTH CARE REFORM?

In the New York Times, a nurse writes a passionate essay about the state of health care and the many challenges facing it in the future: primarily, the sheer numbers of people entering the system while so many health professionals are leaving the system via retirement. And with all the debates, why don't nurses have a place at the table?

Nurses currently form the largest sector of health care providers, with more than three million currently registered; but few have led or even been involved in the formal policy discussions regarding the future care of patients. To address this discrepancy, the Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation assembled a national panel of health care experts that has been meeting for the last two years to discuss the role of nurses in transforming the current health care system. Their final report was published last month with no less ambitious a title than “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.”

Read the article to find out what this report determined about how nurses can play a vital role that takes full use of their skills and importance.

"GOD HELP YOU, YOU'RE ON DIALYSIS!"

The Atlantic Monthly has an in-depth article about dialysis, treatment which is provided to everyone by law and is the closest the US has come yet to universal health care. The piece details the many problems highlighted by the history of dialysis, which raise many questions for anyone advocating for a private OR a public solution to health care. Here's the sobering intro:

Every year, more than 100,000 Americans start dialysis. One in four of them will die within 12 months—a fatality rate that is one of the worst in the industrialized world. Oh, and dialysis arguably costs more here than anywhere else. Although taxpayers cover most of the bill, the government has kept confidential clinic data that could help patients make better decisions. How did our first foray into near-universal coverage, begun four decades ago with such great hope, turn out this way? And what lessons does it hold for the future of health-care reform?

Congratulations on Your Wedding!

We sent a birthday greeting to Ali, one of our travelnurses back in Canada, and received this wonderful news in reply: she just got married in September and is happily settling down in Calgary. Better yet, Ali had several of the friends she made in Scotland while working for Continental Travelnurse at the wedding. You do indeed make lifelong connections. As Ali told us, "I always have wonderful Continental Travelnurse memories!" Thanks Ali and again, congratulations on the happy news. Here are some snaps from the wedding. Thanks for sharing, Ali.

If you want adventure and fun while using your skills in a professional and satisfying environment where they are highly valued, contact Continental Travelnurse today. You'll work in the UK and have the chance to explore England, Ireland, Scotland and the rest of Europe while you do it. What are you waiting for? The friends of a lifetime are ready for you.

Another Continental Travelnurse Having A Blast

We love hearing from our nurses, like Lise, who is Danish but comes from New Zealand.

"Have secured another contract at Mark wd.which I'm pleased about. Everything is going well, going out with Nancy a lot and we are having fun. We're going to the opera on Thursday night to see "La Boheme" so will be dressing up for a change!"
Kindest regards, Lise."

To learn more about the opportunities offered by Continental Travelnurse, check out our website.

A Rave For Our Nurses In Brighton

Here is a very positive reference for one of our nurses working with a new client in Brighton. Happily, as you can tell, it's quite typical for the first-class professionals that Continental Travelnurse works with.

"I am very pleased to say that Kristen has in no way lowered the standard I am learning to expect for the nurses you have provided! Personally I would be very happy to work with Kirsten should her contract be renewed. I do hope that being invited to write this reference does not mean we are to lose her just as she settles in to our team! Thanks for your support of what has been a consistently impressive band of "real nurses"!"

Wonderful to hear and thanks for sharing your thoughts. If you want to be associated with the top-notch talent at Continental Travelnurse, contact us today. We specialize in recruiting nurses from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and placing them in first-class hospitals and medical facilities in the UK. The opportunities for work -- and to explore the Continent -- are endless. Call us.

Does Any Country Love Their Health Care System?

A columnist in Canada's Globe & Mail talks bluntly about the many ways he believes that country needs to change in order to meet its obligation of decent health care for all.

“There’s no law that says private health care is illegal. What there is instead is a whole bunch of laws that dampen the ability of private care providers to be parasitic on the public system.

The result is an oft-illogical patchwork that has left Canadians – and to a large extent policy-makers themselves – perplexed. To wit: Physician visits are covered by medicare but the drugs they prescribe are not – unless the patient is over 65; physicians cannot bill patients but they can refer them to imaging clinics and laboratories that do; private clinics can offer knee surgery but not heart surgery; a citizen cannot jump the queue for care unless they were hurt on the job and they are the responsibility of Worker’s Compensation; homecare nursing is provided by private companies but hospital nursing is not.

“There seems to be confusion about the legitimate role of the private sector in the health system,” as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development says in a recent report. That’s quite an understatement.

Rallies in Australia For Better "Nurse To Patient" Ratios

The NSWNA (New South Wales Nursing Association) has been calling for a minimum nurse to patient ratio as the strongest, most direct step to guarantee quality patient care in the national health system. And they've been rallying to bring attention to the issue. The Sydney Morning Herald has more.

Nursing As A Second Career

The New York Times has a profile of a man who became a nurse in his 40s. What prompted the career change? Caring for his dying mother. “It was rewarding,” Mr. Van Rensselaer, 45, says. “It was important for my mother to die at home. Working with hospice nurses allowed me to do that for her. And I realized, ‘I can do this.’ ”

From One Of Our Friends In New Zealand

From our friend in New Zealand who just returned home after travelnursing for us:

Hi Roz,

Yes I am back in NZ now. It is certainly a long trip back. I am missing the UK desperately but it is great to catch up with friends and family here.
Have certainly told people about your agency, Continental Travelnurse. I have every intention of coming back to the UK in about 18 -20 months time.

Please say hi to everyone back in the office. I must say that once I had
done all those courses via osmosis it was great to know that you had
everything under control at your end so thank you very much for making my experience of nursing through Continental Travelnurse a pleasant one.
Cheers,
Freda

To find out more about all the opportunities we provide, check out our website: http://www.continentaltravelnurse.com/

Want To Travel and Have Fun and Use Your Nursing Skills? Call Continental Travelnurse

Continental Travelnurse has so many options to offer. Instead of settling, go on an adventure. Come to the UK, put your skills to use immediately and fall in love with the UK and the rest of Europe, all of it cheap and easy flights away for fun weekends or during vacation breaks. You can commit to as little as three month stints at a time or stay as long as you like until your first choice is available at home, all while gaining valuable experience and memories of Europe that will last a lifetime.

Call Continental Travelnurse today. Why settle for less when you have acquired the skills that deserve the best?

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Have you seen an article online you think other nurses might be interested in? Send a link to your Continental Travelnurse contact or directly to mgiltz@pipeline.com and we might post it here.

Is Most Medical Research Flawed?

The Atlantic Monthly has a fascinating profile of "meta-researcher" Dr. John Ioannidis, who has devoted his career to exposing the flaws found at every stage of published medical research. His respected work discovers that most medical papers are upended and that even nearly half of the absolutely most rigorous studies are fatally flawed. That's why one week you'll read that salt raises blood pressure and the next week that a new study shows that it doesn't and a week later a study that confuses you even more. Read "Lies, Damned Lies and Medical Science."

A New Member Of Continental's Family Gets A Surprise

I was in kitchen baking a chocolate cake to take to work tomorrow when the door rattled. I was hoping it was the plumber! But it was the post.

Thank you for the lovely birthday card and wishes from the office. When one is away from home emails are good but old fashion mail is a more concrete link with friends.

My first day is actually tomorrow, Wed Oct 20 7am. In Australia we take cake when it is our birthday so that is what I will do at Royal Sussex.

Christine is truly lovely. I feel a bit intimidated because she keeps saying "We love our Continental girls they have all been wonderful" -- a high standard to live up to. I hope I don't let you down!

Spent Sunday giving Janine a birthday, and Monday introducing her to Brighton .
Tonight Kathy Sachs and I are going to Brighton Comedy Festival

Thank you to everyone,

Marie

When Nurses And Doctors Disagree

Registered Nurse Theresa Brown has a thoughtful column in the New York Times about the difficult dance that occurs when a nurse disagrees with a doctor. She sees herself as an advocate for the patient, one who has typically spent much more time with them than the doctor. Brown covers several true-life incidents:

1. A doctor in training who had prescribed the wrong, life-threatening medication. In this case, of course, the nurse is obligated to act immediately and work her way up the food chain of authority until the dangerous step is avoided.

2. The more nuanced case of a patient in his 70s fighting leukemia and bitterly suffering from chemotherapy.

3. A doctor who simply told her, “When you get down to it, patients come to me for care, Theresa, not you.”

It's well worth a read.


Continental Travelnurse knows what the valuable skills of nurses are worth. That's why we place our nurses only in the best hospitals and medical facilities. That's why our nurses wear staff uniforms -- they're part of the team, not a day worker who will come and go but someone who will be part of the staff for three months. And -- shhhhhhh! -- we make certain our workers get a better salary than the equivalent people on staff.

Tired of being taken for granted? Come to the UK where your skills are desperately needed and highly valuable, where you'll be treated with he respect your talent deserves and where Continental Travelnurse will help you explore the UK and Europe in a way no tourist on holiday for two weeks could ever hope to do.

Check out our website for more information.

A Nurse Taking The IELTS In Australia Says Thanks

Thank you SO much for your time, you guys are always supportive and prompt with your emails! I have been spreading the word about your agency at work and many people have heard of you and always give positive comments!

Thanks again,
Natasha

Nurses In Australia Push For Minimum Nurse-To-Patient Ratios

The Sydney Morning Herald has a story about the New South Wales Nursing Association (NSWNA) pushing for the biggest reform in decades for health care: a minimum of a 1 to 4 nurse to patient ratio.

Brett Holmes, general secretary of the NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA), on Monday said the reform had the backing of both public hospital and community healthcare nurses.

If implemented, it would be the biggest reform of the NSW public health system in decades, he said.

"The evidence from Victoria, California and other places with minimum nurse-to-patient ratios is now in and they work and work better than any other system," he said.

The NSWNA claims the health system has been plagued by nurse shortages and poor skill mix for too long, risking patient safety....

Mr Holmes said the ratio had worked well in Victoria and would help overworked nurses to cope.

"For example, nurse-to-patient ratios have existed in Victoria for ten years and have greatly improved the health system in that state and attracted many former nurses back to the profession," he said.

"If it is good enough for the people of Victoria, it is good enough for the people of NSW.

The Problem Of Look-Alike Tubes

The New York Times has a detailed, important article on an issue every nurse is aware of: the fact that tubes for different functions are interchangeable and easily confused, resulting in injuries and death every year. Those tragedies are due to long-standing defects in the design of the equipment but invariably get blamed on the nurses, who must distinguish between identical-looking tubing and attach and unattach and reattach them countless times during the day, often during high-stress moments.

Experts and standards groups have advocated since 1996 that tubes for different functions be made incompatible — just as different nozzles at gas stations prevent drivers from using the wrong fuel.

But action has been delayed by resistance from the medical-device industry and an approval process at the Food and Drug Administration that can discourage safety-related changes.

Hospitals, tube manufacturers, regulators and standards groups all point fingers at one another to explain the delay.

Hospitalized patients often have an array of clear plastic tubing sticking out of their bodies to deliver or extract medicine, nutrition, fluids, gases or blood to veins, arteries, stomachs, skin, lungs or bladders.

Much of the tubing is interchangeable, and with nurses connecting and disconnecting dozens each day, mix-ups happen — sometimes with deadly consequences.

One advocate for change said it best: “Nurses should not have to work in an environment where it is even possible to make that kind of mistake,” said Nancy Pratt, a senior vice president at Sharp HealthCare in San Diego who is a vocal advocate for changing the system. “The nuclear power and airline industries would never tolerate a situation where a simple misconnection could lead to a death.”

Nursing Homes: High Turnover Of Workers Hurts Quality Of Care

The New York Times has an article on nursing homes. It highlights a fact most people are unaware of but those of us in the industry know: the turnover rate for employees such as nurses' aides are extraordinarily high in the US. Often a staggering 70% or more of these employees quit or move on every year. Naturally, this damages the quality of care for the residents.

The solution? Treat these employees with respect, give them better training and more responsibility. That's all wonderful and vital, but a far more crucial incentive is mentioned only in passing: health and pension benefits. And one solution not mentioned at all: increasing the wages of these skilled workers which average $10.48 an hour (roughly 7 pounds).

Continental Travelnurse knows what the valuable skills of nurses are worth. That's why we place our nurses only in the best hospitals and medical facilities. That's why our nurses wear staff uniforms -- they're part of the team, not a day worker who will come and go but someone who will be part of the staff for three months. And -- shhhhhhh! -- we make certain our workers get a better salary than the equivalent people on staff.

Tired of being taken for granted? Come to the UK where your skills are desperately needed and highly valuable, where you'll be treated with he respect your talent deserves and where Continental Travelnurse will help you explore the UK and Europe in a way no tourist on holiday for two weeks could ever hope to do.

Check out our website for more information.

New RNs Feel Job Market Squeeze In US

USA Today highlights a story that impacts nurses everywhere, but especially in the US: "NEW RN GRADS FEEL SQUEEZE FOR JOBS."

As everyone in the medical community knows, there is a long-term chronic shortage of nurses that will grow and grow in the next two decades.

But for various reasons in the US, new RN grads are finding it hard to get their first choice of jobs at the moment. USA Today spells out some reasons:

1. The recession has convinced experienced nurses to keep their jobs rather than retire.
2. Other experienced RNs have come out of retirement, switched from part-time to full-time, etc.
3. Hospitals need RNs but tight budgets force them to make do.
4. Demand will be high down the road but new RNs are at a temporary surplus in some markets.

Long-term, RNs will be in extreme demand in the US. One analysis -- done before the new health care bill expanded medical insurance to tens of millions of Americans -- estimated the US will be short 260,000 by 2025.

USA Today has some good tips for new RNs: be flexible, look farther afield since nurses might be scarce in other parts of the country, consider home health care and the such.

But they miss the best advice of all: get in touch with the experienced staff of Continental Travelnurse. (And if you have a friend who is an RN and faces this predicament, call them and urge them to call us right away.)

The skills of RNs are highly valued and highly in demand in the UK. We can get you the work setting you desire, the respect you deserve and the salary you need -- and you can explore the UK and Europe while doing it.

Why commit to living in a part of the US or Canada or Australia or New Zealand that doesn't appeal to you or a setting that isn't your first choice? Why indeed when Continental Travelnurse has so many options to offer. Instead of settling, go on an adventure. Come to the UK, put your skills to use immediately and fall in love with the UK and the rest of Europe, all of it cheap and easy flights away for fun weekends or during vacation breaks. You can commit to as little as three month stints at a time or stay as long as you like until your first choice is available at home, all while gaining valuable experience and memories of Europe that will last a lifetime.

Call Continental Travelnurse today. Why settle for less when you have acquired the skills that deserve the best?

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Have you seen an article online you think other nurses might be interested in? Send a link to your Continental Travelnurse contact or directly to mgiltz@pipeline.com and we might post it here.

Should You Pay People To Be Healthy?

The New York Times has a roundtable discussion about incentives: the growing practice of paying people to be healthy, whether it's an insurer paying you to lose weight or a local government paying you to stop smoking or simply to take your pills regularly. Is this smarter than paying for hospitalization or an extension of the nanny state? Enjoy the fascinating debate here.

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Continental Travelnurse knows that smart nurses are interested in health-related articles. We link to them on our blog merely as a point of interest. Go to Continental Travelnurse to find out more about the exciting opportunities for nurses who want to work and travel in the UK.

Have you seen an article online you think other nurses might be interested in? Send a link to your Continental Travelnurse contact or directly to mgiltz@pipeline.com and we might post it here.

Work And Play In The UK And Europe With Continental Travelnurse

It's summertime and smart nurses from around the world are using their highly valued skills to work at the best hospitals in the UK and vacation in England, Ireland, Wales and around Europe. How do they do it? They contact Continental Travelnurse.

We recruit the best nurses from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States and walk them through every step of getting set up to work in the EU. Then we place them in the position of their choice with a top medical facility in the UK, along with very nice housing within an easy commute by walking or safe and easy public transport. Nurses are in high demand all over the world so it's very easy for them to find great positions where they are needed and appreciated and are part of the team wearing hospital uniforms, not treated as one-off freelancers.

Nurses commit to a three month stint, often saving money and enjoying day trips and weekend getaways on incredibly cheap airfares to Paris and elsewhere. Then, after their stay, they can re-up, take time off to have a lengthy vacation with their funds or head back home. Even their three month position is a holiday, since it gives them a chance to explore part of the UK and get paid for the pleasure.

Learn more about Continental Travelnurse. Visit our website and call us today. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can be in Europe doing the work you love and having a blast at the same time.

Nurses On Strike In US, Health Reform Stumbles In Australia and More

Here's a roundup of some interesting medical-related news from around the world.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States, nurses went back to work after a massive 24 hour strike of thousands of workers. The nurses highlighted concerns they had about hospital practices but returned to work without settling negotiations. Read the article here.

In Australia, one of many countries looking to improve health care, reform of hospitals has stumbled over the issue of control: the federal government is the main financial supporter but power resides with local states and the Australian Medical Association does not think this is helpful. Read the article here.

In Canada, the government just approved labeling of certain foods as cholesterol fighters, a major victory in a country where health claims for foods are tightly regulated. Observers say this could lead to a flood of health claims for various new food products and perhaps a change in how Canadian consumers eat and what they consider to be healthy. Read the article here.

Continental Travelnurse knows that the nurses we work with are smart and informed. They want to stay on top of the latest medical news. If you want to share a news story you believe other nurses might be interested in, email a link to your Continental Travelnurse or directly to mgiltz@pipeline.com.

As always, go to Continental Travelnurse's website for more information about the fun and rewarding world of travel nursing.

London Nurse Hailed As A "Hero" For Helping Accident Victims

In London, an off duty nurse rather new to the job proved heroic when she helped pull people from the wreckage of a car accident and administered first aid until ambulances arrived.

“I always appreciate hearing nice things from people I've helped, getting cards and thank you letters, but I'm not special," says Lucy Jay Bellinger, who works at Kingston Hospital. "I'm a nurse — I'm supposed to help people.”

Her father, John, said he was incredibly proud of his daughter.

“It's not a job, with her, it's a passion,” he said. “She would stay at the hospital all day and night if she could just to help people.

“She is a hero and she deserves the credit. She has helped so many people outside the house that it's almost like this is a second place of work for her.”

Read the entire story from the Evening Standard.

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Have you seen an article online you think other nurses might be interested in? Send a link to your Continental Travelnurse contact or directly to mgiltz@pipeline.com and we might post it here.

Based in London, Continental Travelnurse places nurses in prime hospitals with great housing nearby for three month terms -- all at the nurse's discretion. The advantages of Continental Travelnurse are endless.

Contact Continental Travelnurse today. Go to our main website for more information and complete contact info.

New Approach For Treating Early Breast Cancer

The New York Times reports on a new approach to dealing with early breast cancer: some women getting a lumpectomy may not need to have an operation to remove underarm lymph nodes. Read more about it here.

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Have you seen an article online you think other nurses might be interested in? Send a link to your Continental Travelnurse contact or directly to mgiltz@pipeline.com and we might post it here.

Why not take advantage of your excellent education and desirable qualifications to explore the world? Why not seek out work AND fun in England, Ireland and Scotland while sampling the rest of Europe at your leisure? Why not avoid the short-sighted, short-term day agencies and indeed reject agencies altogether in exchange for the long-term, goal-oriented and fun-oriented atmosphere of Continental Travelnurse, a London-based company with decades of experience in travel nursing and links to the top hospitals in the UK? Why not turn your job into an adventure?

Contact Continental Travelnurse today. Go to our main website for more information and complete contact info.

Wrestling With Bioethics At Catholic Hospitals

USA Today has an article about the complex, difficult issue of bioethics and the special issues raised when patients are at a Catholic hospital. You can read it here.

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Continental Travelnurse knows that smart nurses are interested in health-related articles. We link to them on our blog merely as a point of interest. Go to Continental Travelnurse to find out more about the exciting opportunities for nurses who want to work and travel in the UK.

Have you seen an article online you think other nurses might be interested in? Send a link to your Continental Travelnurse contact or directly to mgiltz@pipeline.com and we might post it here.

An Australian Nurse Reflects On Her Time With Continental Travelnurse

Nursing is a tough, demanding job no matter where you do it. So we at Continental Travelnurse don't downplay the challenges involved in spending time in another country and adapting to their way of getting the work done. Travel nursing isn't just an adventure: it's also work. We know the rewards far outweigh the challenges: that's why our nurses always excel and are asked to stay on at the places they work. And that's why virtually all our nurses extend their stays and sign on for new stints. In short, they love it, challenges and all.

Here are some thoughts from an Australian nurse who chose to work her entire travel nursing time at London's St. Thomas's, the oldest teaching hospital in the world. Bianca shares her feelings about the work she did there for two and a half years.

The ITU at St. Thomas's is the busiest ITU I have ever worked in and I have to say in terms of work load it is also the hardest I have worked in. But if you are willing and very keen to put your hand up and put your best foot forward you will learn so much. I miss ITU at "Tommies" so much. I made great friends and learnt so much -- so much more than I ever imagined -- but I worked bloody hard and put in long hours.

When I first started it was difficult to settle in as a new member of staff. I think that's because they don't know you and have so many untrained ITU staff that they want to check you out first. It's very stressful [for them] not knowing if a new member of staff is going to need to be carried or not, especially with how busy it can get sometimes. I personally found it great once I settled in, which didn't take too long for me.

From my point of view, if you're willing to work hard and potentially be used a little, maybe not intentionally but occasionally miss one of your breaks -- which I often chose to do as my patients were often the sickest on the unit -- you will enjoy your time there. It is frustrating, but so are all jobs. The main thing is to not go there thinking the work is like home, because it isn't. And that is probably the main key point to stress. The nursing union in OZ is pretty strong and has done a great job to get the working conditions we have. But the working conditions in the UK are not so great. The thing i liked best at Tommies is the working relationship with the Medical team; I felt my opinion was valued slightly more over there.

-- Bianca

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Bianca and giving nurses a realistic portrayal of working at St. Thomas's. That's what you can expect from Continental Travelnurse: straight talk, informed advice and a tremendously fun and rewarding experience.

Find out more at our main website at ContinentalTravelnurse.com.

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Continental Travelnurse: Explore The Possibilities

Travel nursing truly is not just a job. It's an adventure in your career and in fun: nurses can work in the UK during the week and quickly and inexpensively fly to Paris or Rome for the weekend. (Plane travel is surprisingly cheap in Europe and going from London to Paris is like going from New York to Boston, more of a long commute than a big journey). Then, between stints they can get a rail pass on the great trains and explore Europe at length. During their jobs, they will also find great attractions both in the city they're based in and the surrounding areas.

Once you try travel nursing, regular old stay-at-home nursing seems positively staid. Why not take advantage of your excellent education and desirable qualifications to explore the world? Why not seek out work AND fun in England, Ireland and Scotland while sampling the rest of Europe at your leisure? Why not avoid the short-sighted, short-term day agencies and indeed reject agencies altogether in exchange for the long-term, goal-oriented and fun-oriented atmosphere of Continental Travelnurse, a London-based company with decades of experience in travel nursing and links to the top hospitals in the UK? Why not turn your job into an adventure?

Contact Continental Travelnurse today. Go to our main website for more information and complete contact info.

Friendly Words From One Of Our Travel Nurses

It always happens to the people who work with Continental Travelnurse. Virtually every nurse we place is asked to go on staff at the hospital they're at. That shows the high quality of nurses we recruit. And so many of the nurses let us know how much they loved their time with our company and hope to travel nurse again. Here's the latest comment we've received from a nurse that one of our staff members sent an email to just checking in to see how she was doing:

So lovely to get an e-mail from you. I have been very remiss in not getting in contact before now and like you, I don't know where the last year has gone. Not a day goes by when I don't think of wanting to be back in Cheltenham. I just loved it so much and would very much like to return maybe next year. I have resigned myself to being in NZ this year as I have had two more grand-daughters this year -- four grand-daughters now in total!!!!! I want to spend this year with them and also I am re-decorating the house. Lots to do but I so miss the life I was having this time last year. -- Phillipa

Thanks for writing, Phillipa. We love to hear from our nurses. To learn more about Continental Travelnurse, visit our main website.

Happy Nurses' Day!

HAPPY NURSES' DAY 2010!!

Celebrating Nurses' Day is an opportunity for everyone around the world to remember the valuable contributions that nurses make to society.

Nurses' Day is celebrated on 12 May each year, as a tribute to the amazing work of Florence Nightingale who was born on that day in 1820. This year we have even more reason to celebrate her pioneering work as it is also the centenary of Florence's death on 13 August.

Visit Nurses' Day 2010 for more information and activities that are happening throughout the UK.

We at Continental TravelNurse want to join the friends, family and patients who are saying thank you to our nurses. Nursing is a difficult, challenging and rewarding job that is as much a vocation as it is a job. You are an intimate and valuable part of people's lives during some of the most wonderful and painful moments in their lives. That's why Continental Travelnurse isn't just a business to us; it's a chance to work side by side with the women and men who are selfless in their sacrifice and devotion to helping others.

Thank you for letting us be a part of your work.

Have a wonderful day,

From the entire team at Continental Travelnurse.

Join In The Travel Nursing Fun Now!

One famous ad slogan in the US was, "It's not a job; it's an adventure!" That could easily apply to travel nursing. People who become nurses already welcome challenging and exciting work that can change lives for the better. So it's not much of a leap to travel nursing when everyone knows that nurses are in demand all over the world. And that leap should take you right to Continental Travelnurse. (Here's a link to our main website with loads of info and contact details.)

But when top nurses in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US think about nursing in the UK -- be it London England or Ireland or Scotland -- they often google words like "nurse" and "agency" and "job." But Continental Travelnurse is NOT an agency. It's much, much better.

Based in London, Continental Travelnurse places nurses in prime hospitals with great housing nearby for three month terms -- all at the nurse's discretion. The advantages of Continental Travelnurse are endless.

Nurses who come into a health care setting via an agency are always day-to-day. They wear separate uniforms and are always playing catch up. The staff never knows if the nurse will be back the next day or in what department and treat them accordingly -- like newbies who aren't worth bringing up to speed or getting to know.

Nurses from Continental Travelnurse are part of the team. They always wear the same uniform as staff (and -- shh! -- are usually even paid more than staff). They are placed in a certain unit and become part of the team. Because they will be there every week for three months, everyone's job is easier. The nurse can be welcomed and brought up to speed. The nurse can be depended on. And the nurse can depend in turn on a stable, positive environment where they are a welcome addition, not just an extra pair of hands for a day that can be as much a burden as a help.

Nurses who come from an agency have no past and future. They can't develop a relationship with their coworkers or get into a rhythm.

Nurses who come from Continental Travelnurse are present and accounted for. They do develop a great relationship with their coworkers. In three months, they can both get into a rhythm and keep in mind the pleasing knowledge that they'll be free to choose from any option they want in the blink of an eye. (You'll be surprised how quickly 12 weeks can pass when you're doing a job you enjoy in an exciting new environment.)

Nurses who come from an agency are rarely valued highly; they simply don't have time to make a good impression.

Nurses who come from Continental Travelnurse are always valued highly. It is no exaggeration to say that virtually every nurse we have ever placed is asked to come on staff when their three months are up. If that doesn't interest the nurse, they're asked to extend to another three months in the job. Nurses who feel they still have a lot to explore in the area are free to accept this eager offer. Nurses who want to try another region of the UK or just want to take a few weeks or months off to go touristing can do that as well.

Nurses from overseas who try to find work through an agency in London or other UK city will face daunting paperwork that those agencies simply are not equipped to help them with. They're basically on their own.

Nurses who come to Continental Travelnurse find a highly trained staff quite adept at steering them through the redtape that must be hurdled in order to practice their career in the UK. It's far less burdensome a task when you have people who've helped hundreds of other nurses dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" in order to gain the license that makes them such a highly desired asset to every health care establishment in the EU.

Travel nursing truly is not just a job. It's an adventure in your career and in fun: nurses can work in the UK during the week and quickly and inexpensively fly to Paris or Rome for the weekend. (Plane travel is surprisingly cheap in Europe and going from London to Paris is like going from New York to Boston, more of a long commute than a big journey). Then, between stints they can get a rail pass on the great trains and explore Europe at length. During their jobs, they will also find great attractions both in the city they're based in and the surrounding areas.

Once you try travel nursing, regular old stay-at-home nursing seems positively staid. Why not take advantage of your excellent education and desirable qualifications to explore the world? Why not seek out work AND fun in England, Ireland and Scotland while sampling the rest of Europe at your leisure? Why not avoid the short-sighted, short-term day agencies and indeed reject agencies altogether in exchange for the long-term, goal-oriented and fun-oriented atmosphere of Continental Travelnurse, a London-based company with decades of experience in travel nursing and links to the top hospitals in the UK? Why not turn your job into an adventure?

Contact Continental Travelnurse today. Go to our main website for more information and complete contact info.

NEW ADDRESS! SAME GREAT COMPANY!

We’re moving! Anyone who has visited the Continental Travelnurse headquarters in London knows that we have been bursting at the seams for quite a while now. Finally, after long and careful consideration, our offices are moving a few blocks away to larger quarters at 11 Bruton St.

The most important fact is that nothing has changed for our clients and nurses: you can reach us by phone and email by all the current methods and we will continue to provide you the best possible service. Too many businesses place a premium on a flashy address and posh amenities. You can always spot a new business poised to fail when a company spends lots of money on fancy digs.

Continental Travelnurse knows our most important investment is in our nurses and clients. That’s why we began in a tiny basement office and then after a year of sustained success moved into a top-floor location on a modest side street only a few steps away.

We’ve been building our business ever since and for quite a while the Continental Travelnurse staff has been cheek by jowl with one another. But our commitment has always been to managed growth: we didn’t want to move again until it was absolutely necessary and we were able to find the right location at the right price.

That time has arrived and we’ve moved a few blocks away from our current spot. In fact, we can step a few yards away from our new entrance and see all three of our past and present locations. In a way, that captures the spirit of Continental Travelnurse: we want to stay rooted in the practices that have brought us success, grow when it’s prudent and possible and always keep in sight what matters most -- the clients and nurses that are at the core of what we do.

But to be honest, it HAS been quite crowded. The previous location was a comfy spot located on the attic floor of a tiny building and had very low ceilings, which meant our voices echoed all over the room when staff were on the phones.

The best aspect of the new address? Leslie Giltz, the founder and head of Continental Travelnurse, laughs and says, “Shannon can stop hovering around the copy machine so she can hear herself talking on the phone.”

Bruton Street, like virtually every part of London, has some remarkable history. Queen Elizabeth II was born just a few doors down at 17 Bruton Street on 21 April 1926. Perhaps she’ll even come to call someday!

Go to our main Continental Travelnurse website to learn more.

Wedding Bells For Two Travel Nurses

Continental TravelNurse guarantees a great experience for all the travel nurses who want to work, make good money and see different parts of the world and have fun doing it. Of course, we can’t guarantee you’ll meet the love of your life – but it has happened. Though they both came from Australia, they’d never met before coming to the UK and working with Continental TravelNurse. Kirstie Clark (formerly Barwick) explains. (She’s pictured on the right with husband Jon.)

“I’m from a small county in New South Wales,” says Kirstie. “Jon is from Newcastle. They’re about six hours away from each other by car. We didn’t know each other and we both took travel nursing jobs in Edinburgh, Scotland.” Kirstie was looking to work at a fulfilling job in her field, save some money and travel around. Romance was not on the agenda. “No, that was the last thing on my mind,” she laughs.

“We kind of hung about with each other for a month or two,” remembers Kirstie. “We did tourist-y things like going to Edinburgh Castle. Six weeks into it, we started to get serious.” Jon loved that they both took deep satisfaction in their jobs – and having fun. “She has a keen interest in healthcare and we both feel the same way about the importance of helping people,” says Jon.

Then Kirstie describes what can only be called a classic Continental TravelNurse experience. They used the money they’d saved up during their two assignments to go skiing in Austria. During their third assignment in Oxford, the new couple took weekend trips to Paris and elsewhere. “Then we used the money we saved during that assignment, took trips to Greece and Spain and then we flew home, says Kirstie. “We came home in May 2006. I moved to Newcastle. He proposed to me on New Year’s Eve. We were going on a cruise around Newcastle Harbor when he asked me and we got married March 8, 2008.” And Continental TravelNurse was there in spirit. “I wouldn’t have met her any other way,” says Jon.

Go to our main Continental Travelnurse website to learn more and get contact information.

Our Nurses Take The Stage

Continental Travelnurse wouldn’t be the thriving company it is without the terrific nurses we work with from around the world. That’s why we always take good care of our nurses and love to hear from them. Here is some of the feedback we’ve received from our friends and partners, the nurses.

“Just a wee note to thank you all so much for your individual efforts throughout my time with Continental Travelnurse – nearly six years, on and off! You all do a fantastic job and I loved being in London."
Angela

“Just wanted to say thank you for all your help and support. You are a great company and a lovely bunch of people. I’d have no hesitation in recommending you to other nurses. All the best."
Kellie

Go to our main Continental Travelnurse website to learn more and get contact information.

Our Newest Client: Guys & St. Thomas's

The newest client of Continental TravelNurse is also one of the oldest and most prestigious hospitals in the world. Indeed, Guy’s and St. Thomas’s are two of London’s – and indeed the world’s – best-known teaching hospitals.

St. Thomas’s is old even by the standards of London, a city where a 170 year old pub can be casually referred to as “the new pub” because it replaced an even older pub on the same site. But St. Thomas’s has a 900 year history, respectable by anyone’s standards. It’s been around since the 12th century and was named after Thomas Becket (the martyred saint who stood up to Henry II) from the get-go or within its first century. A few hundred years later, St. Thomas’s was rededicated to Thomas the Apostle, hence the odd spelling of its name.

Few hospitals can claim the lineage of this institution. Florence Nightingale opened the first nursing school in the world at St. Thomas’s in 1860, just to name one notable fact. It’s been the site of filming for everything from a “Doctor Who” episode (in which St. Thomas’s was seen transplanted onto the moon) to the acclaimed zombie movie “28 Days Later.”

Guys Hospital is a relative youngster founded in 1721 (that’s about 600 years after St. Thomas’s!). But the famous doctors who have walked through its doors include people who have discovered Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Addison’s disease and -- more positively – penicillin. The poet John Keats was even a student at Guy’s. (Maybe he should have studied more – Keats would die of tuberculosis.)

Together these institutions remain vibrant, top-notch and truly historic hospitals that are a memorable privilege to work at.

Go to our main Continental Travelnurse website to learn more and get contact information.

Great Housing For Our Nurses: A Top Priority

Continental TravelNurse is the only UK travel nurse agency to offer comprehensive housing to its clients – a fact that both the nurses and the clients who hire them absolutely love. For Housing Coordinator Jane Richter, her job only gets easier once the nurses have moved in.

“Two people just moved into a flat and said it’s better than their own home,” laughs Richter, who has been the Housing Coordinator at Continental TravelNurse for two years.

“People are always concerned about housing and expect the worse. Then, when they’ve been in the location for an assignment and are about to head off on a personal trip, they try to bargain with us to make sure they get the same exact location.”

In other words, nurses are skeptical that the housing provided will meet the high standards the expect and we guarantee. And then once they’re in it, they often convince themselves it’s a fluke. “They really believe none of the other flats will be as good as what they get,” she said.

But of course they are because Continental TravelNurse knows the importance of good housing for both the nurses and the clients who use them. “The feedback from the nurses to the hospitals about how good their housing is is always good and that makes the hospitals even more confident about working with us,” says Richter.

Continental TravelNurse achieves this high standard by checking out locations personally whenever possible and by building long-term relationships with housing agents, grading each apartment continually and always keeping in mind convenient transport to work. One future innovation Richter has been building on is to create a sort of travel nurse cul de sac when she’s found a prime location, such as a site in Edinburgh. It has excellent transportation to two different clients and the flats are very nice. “We’ve got three or four flats there,” says Richter. “It’s a lot of fun for the nurses to have a bit of a community there and it just makes sense. We’ll be doing more of that down the road.”

Indeed, that communal social network is a big draw for travel nurses and Richter loves to pair off people into the same flats that she knows will get along. “Two nurses, Amy and Bianca, have become best friends and they’re on their third or fourth assignment and they always insist on rooming together.

One key to Richter’s job as Housing Coordinator is managing expectations. Ironically, nurses before their first assignment tend to have really low expectations (they can’t imagine housing chosen by someone else will be acceptable to them) and really high. “Americans are used to really big houses and Australians are used to having a lot of land around their homes,” explains Richter. “So sometimes they find housing that –in the UK – may be really high standard but doesn’t match what they’re used to. But when it’s clean and nice and in a great location for both work and fun, they soon realize what a good job we’ve done.”

And that job never ends. Richter describes a typical day where she might juggle three different issues and keep three different nurses happy as a good one. And the scope of her job is challenging and fun.

“It goes from the biggest issue to the smallest detail,” says Richter. “From negotiating a lease agreement to getting a washing machine that’s gone on the fritz replaced the very same day. It’s never, ever boring.”

Go to our main Continental Travelnurse website to learn more and get contact information.

Our Nurses Take The Stage

“It was a wonderful experience made easier by Continental Travelnurse and its support. Knowing you had a job and accommodations was brilliant as a major stress relief."
Sarah

“I had a blast! Thanks for everything! You guys are great; I hope we get a chance to work together again soon.”
Leah

Go to our main Continental Travelnurse website to learn more.