Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Red Cross Appeal For Philippines

At Continental Travelnurse, our nurses are our family and right now our family is hurting. Here's one of many moving notes we've received from one of the talented and qualified nurses we met while conducting interviews in the Philippines. Please help by donating to the Red Cross in the UK or directly to the Red Cross in the Philippines.

Hello! I never thought I'd be able to email you again after all we've been through. The super typhoon hit Tacloban City with pinpoint accuracy completely destroying our houses, buildings and more. You've heard the news on CNN and other channels; we were there literally during those times
looking for our relatives, loved ones and potable water. After days of heavy rain, wind, food shortage and rampage of crimes Ms. Jazzle and I were able to arrive here with her family at Cebu City safely earlier this 8am. My parents and other siblings are still at Tacloban City.
Thank you for all your prayers; we do appreciate them. Please continue doing so for we are in dire need of them for the death toll is rising everyday. We also thank you for the UK's help -- some of which reached me first hand. Bottled water quenched my thirst and your biscuits were truly crucial during those early days.
By the way, my hospital was also flooded out for it was near the coast. A lot of patients have died and Bethany is temporarily closed. I believe there is still hope amidst all this. Like Ms. Jazzle, I have a job interview this 21st November. I will apply for other hospitals in Manila and follow-up my other applications too while doing reviews for my IELTS.
We thank God for giving us this second life.  Ms. Jazzle and I are still hoping we will be able to fulfill our dreams of working with Continental Travelnurse.
Once again, thank you for the prayers. More power!
Sincerely;
Roque
Emergency room nurse



Remember, you can donate to the Red Cross UK or the Red Cross Philippines by clicking on their names and following the directions. It's a great way to assist others and not feel helpless in the face of a natural disaster.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Cruise Up The Thames Party!

Continental Travelnurse invited one and all to come to London and travel up the Thames on a River Light cruise recently. Here are some great photos and a recap from Lina, one of our terrific recruiters. If you want to join the Continental Travelnurse family and use your skills to travel to Europe and combine work with pleasure, contact us now.









"Despite a windy evening, many of our Travelnurses joined us on our River light boat cruise on the 11th of October. It was a beautiful cruise on the Thames! As the sun went down and the lights came on, you could see London’s riverside landmarks at their glittering best.  We cruised by the London Eye, the Tower of London, the skyscrapers at Canary Wharf up to Tower Bridge. With a glass of bubbly and canapĂ©s in hand, we started the night off with getting to know each other by playing “Celebrity Heads”. The lucky winners in this competition were Anna Forester and Greg Hays. We continued the night listening to a selection of jazz and chill-out pop songs from a live performer on the boat. Thank you so much everybody who joined us on this great cruise; it was really good to see so many familiar and new faces!"  -- Lina

Thanks, Lina! Sounds like a wonderful time was had by one and all. 

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Urgent Plea To Tell Gov't Importance Of Overseas Nurses

Everyone, this is a detailed but urgent message. Please take a few minutes to read it and act now.

To All Concerned:

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has launched a consultation on new standards they have proposed for registration of nurses trained outside the European Economic Area (EEA). New standards that aim to streamline the process, avoid wasteful and expensive bureaucracy and most importantly of all ensure nurses practicing in the UK maintain the high standards the NMC expects and patients deserve is welcome.

Keep in mind, before regulations that went into effect in 2007-2009 that included the requirement that nurses come to the UK and take a pointless 20 day course before being approved to work, the UK welcomed more than 2000 nurses a year. That number plummeted to less than 400 immediately and has never recovered. This is why it’s essential we speak out now. We need to create a system that maintains our standards without unnecessarily deterring qualified nurses from working in the UK.

However, the two alternate plans they suggest are flawed and add to waste, expense and bureaucracy. We urge you to read their proposals online, read our opinion and weigh in with your comments to the NMC. Now is the time when you can have the most significant impact in the formulation of policy and regulations that will affect you, your work and the health care quality in the UK for many years to come.

The NMC has two proposals. The first option includes an English exam, three years of university training, a board exam and an in-country clinical exam. The second option includes all of those elements plus a period of supervised practice.

Here’s our opinion; we urge you to share yours with the NMC.  Links to their website and further information can be found at the bottom.


*As mandated by the EU, overseas nurses must have a minimum of a three-year degree in nursing.
*Nurses must demonstrate competency in English; we fully support this. The NMC says all overseas nurses must take an English competency exam. We believe those nurses who have earned their degree in an English-speaking institution should be considered competent. It is a waste of time and money – for example -- to ask an Australian nurse to take an English proficiency exam. Keep in mind, all nurses will be taking a board exam in English.
*We recommend overseas nurses who did not earn their degree at an English-speaking institution take an English language exam. However, the one and only test approved by the NMC has standards set so high that most English-speaking, born and bred subjects of the UK would fail it. The NMC requires a minimum of 7 (which is the equivalent to a Masters degree) in all four areas of testing. We recommend either a minimum of 6.0 in the four categories or a 6.5 overall as a reasonable standard. This would not constitute “lowering” standards but setting them at an appropriate, high level.
*The NMC says nurses who meet the training and English competency standards will be given a board exam in their home country to demonstrate competency in nursing, including a clinical testing component. We fully agree; this practice is in place in other countries and is effective. The board exam should be robust and include critical thinking and clinical scenarios. Since this test is administered in English, it’s also a de facto English language competency exam.
*The NMC proposes a separate exam on clinical testing to be done in the UK after nurses arrive but before they’re cleared to practice. We strongly disagree. This is wasteful, hugely expensive for the NMC, time-consuming, an operational nightmare and would be made unnecessary by a properly designed board exam that was thorough and robust.
*The NMC proposes a period of  “supervised practice” – a period of many months where nurses are forced to work below their skill level and hospitals must squander precious man-hours and money. We strongly disagree. “Supervised practice” is a wasteful, extremely expensive hurdle that has led to the exploitation of overseas nurses. It fulfills no purpose and does not weed out unfit nurses. Finally, “supervised practice” is a solution in search of a problem. If it served any purpose, why doesn’t the UK require its own nurses to undergo the same time-consuming and expensive process? We don’t recommend this for doing so would not improve quality in any way and would do nothing but encourage the exploitation of newly graduated UK nurses. All nurses require orientation, whether they were trained in Sheffield or Sydney; this is already provided by their employers and “supervised practice” is a redundant and wasteful extension of what already occurs at every medical institution.

If you agree with us, it’s essential you contact the NMC and let them know right now while your voice matters most. You can email them directly below. You can cut and paste our proposals above or put them into your own words. Just make sure you influence the debate before these proposals are locked in stone and we have to live with them and their potentially damaging effects on the UK health care system for years to come.


THREE WAYS FOR YOU TO RESPOND AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD:

Email them at: consultations@nmc-uk.org

Write them to directly at:

NMC
Consultation on Overseas Competency Test
23 Portland Place
London W1B 1PZ

Take their online survey about the proposals:


(This is the least satisfying because it limits you at certain key points to their flawed plans.)


The NMC Launches Consultation link:


Now here’s the issue laid out in more depth.

THE ISSUE: Nurses are trained all over the world. The European Union has established standards for what it considers qualified training in nursing. Since every country establishes credentials in varying ways, the EU standards include requirements that many nurses in the rest of the world do not exactly match. We know from long experience that the nurses in highly developed countries have training equal to our own; indeed, the UK has recently raised its degree requirement to match the standards set before by other countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

What to do with the nurses whose training measurements invariably do not match up exactly with EU requirements?

THE NMC PROPOSED OPTIONS

As mandated by the EU, all nurses must demonstrate a minimum of a three-year degree in nursing. The NMC then states that those nurses must also pass an English competency test known as an IELTS. Those nurses that achieve these standards will then proceed to the following step.

The NMC offers two options for consideration, both of which have flaws.

Option one includes what is commonly understood as a board exam in their home country, a thorough testing of the nurse’s competence to ensure they meet the same standards expected of our entry level nurses who have just achieved their three year degree and are ready to begin working. This would be followed by a clinical testing exam in the UK.

Option two would include the board exam in their home country, the clinical testing in the UK and a lengthy period of supervised practice with standards set by the NMC.

OUR PROPOSAL

*As mandated by the EU, all nurses must have achieved a minimum of a three-year degree in nursing.
* Nurses must demonstrate competency in English; we fully support this. The NMC says all overseas nurses must take an English competency exam. We believe those nurses who have earned their degree in an English-speaking institution should be considered competent. It is a waste of time and money – for example -- to ask an Australian nurse to take an English proficiency exam. Keep in mind, all nurses will be taking a board exam in English.
* We recommend overseas nurses who did not earn their degree at an English-speaking institution take an English language exam. However, the one and only test approved by the NMC has standards set so high that most English-speaking, born and bred subjects of the UK would fail it. The NMC requires a minimum of 7 (which is the equivalent to a Masters degree) in all four areas of testing. We recommend either a minimum of 6.0 in the four categories or a 6.5 overall as a reasonable standard. This would not constitute “lowering” standards but setting them at an appropriate, high level.
* The NMC says nurses who meet the training and English competency standards will be given a board exam in their home country to demonstrate competency in nursing, including a clinical testing component. We fully agree; this practice is in place in other countries and is effective. The board exam should be robust and include critical thinking and clinical scenarios. Since this test is administered in English, it’s also a de facto English language competency exam.
* The NMC proposes a separate exam on clinical testing to be done in the UK after nurses arrive but before they’re cleared to practice. We strongly disagree. This is wasteful, hugely expensive for the NMC, time-consuming, an operational nightmare and would be made unnecessary by a properly designed board exam that was thorough and robust.
* The NMC proposes a period of  “supervised practice” – a period of many months where nurses are forced to work below their skill level and hospitals must squander precious man-hours and money. We strongly disagree. “Supervised practice” is a wasteful, extremely expensive hurdle that has led to the exploitation of overseas nurses. It fulfills no purpose and does not weed out unfit nurses. Finally, “supervised practice” is a solution in search of a problem. If it served any purpose, why doesn’t the UK require its own nurses to undergo the same time-consuming and expensive process? We don’t recommend this for doing so would not improve quality in any way and would do nothing but encourage the exploitation of newly graduated UK nurses. All nurses require orientation, whether they were trained in Sheffield or Sydney; this is already provided by their employers and “supervised practice” is a redundant and wasteful extension of what already occurs at every medical institution.

WHY THE NMC’S PROPOSALS ARE FLAWED, ONEROUS, AND EXPENSIVE

The Board Exam – this is a vital reform and long overdue. Other countries use a board exam to ascertain incoming nurses meet their standards. It should be rigorous and thorough and include critical thinking and clinical scenarios. Properly designed, it can and will weed out any nurses whose training has been subpar and does not meet the standards expected by highly developed nations, the NMC, the UK and the EU. We applaud the NMC and trust that this exam – which will be administered in the nurse’s home country and is a practical and reasonable step before coming to the UK – will offer the quality control we all desire and expect.

The Clinical Testing – This is proposed as a further test the nurses must take after coming to the UK and before being certified to practice. Any good board exam will incorporate clinical situations. Adding this step creates unnecessary expense and bureaucracy. Asking for it to take place in the UK creates an almost insurmountable bureaucratic hurdle.

Supervised Practice – this proposal that all nurses undergo supervised practice for a lengthy period (suggestions have ranged from six months to nine months) is unacceptable on many levels.

1.     Supervised Practice is exceptionally expensive – we estimate that if 2000 nurses a year underwent Supervised Practice, it would incur costs of tens of millions of pounds a year. All estimates say the UK will be 50,000 nurses short in just a few years time. So the number of nurses coming in and this expense this will incur would rise dramatically.
2.     Supervised Practice amounts to slave labor – fully trained nurses would be forced to work as nursing assistants for an extended period of time, far underneath the skill level for which they are trained. This is an opportunity for exploitation by unscrupulous employers.
3.     Supervised Practice does not improve quality or weed out poor nurses – Over time, we’ve seen virtually every nurse that has entered Supervised Practice has “passed” it, though saying they “passed” it implies some standards which do not exist. It is merely a professional limbo that no new UK nursing graduate is asked to undergo. It incurs huge costs in lost manpower, lost money and lost time; it has no purpose, achieves no goal, fulfills no need.

Everyone’s goal is to maintain the highest standards for health care. We should keep in mind that the standard we are asking these nurses to meet is the same standard of a new UK nursing graduate that is about to start their first day on the job.

All nurses must have a minimum of a three-year degree in nursing. All nurses must demonstrate competency in English, either by the fact that they have achieved that degree in an English-speaking setting or by passing an English exam.

All nurses meeting these requirements who do not meet the exact specifications laid out by the EEA must then take a rigorous and thorough board exam. Those that pass the exam to the NMC’s satisfaction will be certified as meeting our standards and qualified to practice in the UK.

Like every UK nurse, they will begin their jobs with an orientation,  a meds test and then be supervised until the hospital or other medical facility has used its judgment to determine they are competent to fulfill their duties. Those decisions are best made by the employer working directly with the nurse, whether that nurse was trained in Manchester or Manila.

These responsibilities of the employer would always be present. Therefore we shouldn’t fool ourselves into thinking wasteful, expensive and time-consuming testing and “supervised practice” achieve anything other than waste, expense and time-consumption.

A separate clinical test in the UK would be pointless with a properly designed board exam. It would add extraordinary expense and a bureaucratic hurdle few nurses would tackle.

Supervised practice achieves absolutely nothing, encourages exploitation of overseas workers and was created out of whole cloth without any need or express purpose. The simple fact that new UK nursing graduates are not asked to undergo nine months of “supervised practice” is enough to demonstrate its pointlessness. If it served any purpose (which it does not) then every UK nurse who enters the workforce would undergo supervised practice as well. That would achieve nothing other than to make them ripe for exploitation as well by unscrupulous employers.

The two proposed options by the NMC both contain major flaws. However, a board exam taken by nurses in their home country is a “best practice” instituted by other countries around the world. It is a valuable final test that can weed out nurses whose training does not meet UK standards. It is a direct and meaningful way to ascertain that nurses with training outside the EEA are competent to enter the workforce with the same certification as new UK nursing graduates.

Employers are best placed to provide the level or orientation, testing (such as the “meds” test required by all UK hospitals) and supervision necessary for EVERY nurse, whether they were trained in Stratford or Sydney.

A streamlined reform of the overseas competency test that includes a minimum of a three year degree in nursing, demonstration of competency in English (via the degree being achieved in an English speaking institution or via an English exam) and the passing of a thorough and rigorous board exam that includes critical thinking in clinical situations will achieve the essential goal of ensuring the UK’s and EEA’s high standards of training are met without inviting unnecessary bureaucracy, wasteful testing, onerous expense or the exploitation of international nurses via so-called “supervised practice.”


The NMC Launches Consultation link:


More NMC Consultation Information link:


The Full NMC “Overseas Competency Test for United Kingdom Registration” Document link:


Three WAYS FOR YOU TO RESPOND AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD:

Take their online survey about the proposals:


(This is the least satisfying because it limits you at certain key points to their flawed plans.)

Email them at: consultations@nmc-uk.org

Write them to directly at:

NMC
Consultation on Overseas Competency Test
23 Portland Place
London W1B 1PZ

Per the NMC: If you would like further information about this consultation, or information in an alternative format, please contact Anne Trotter by email: Anne.Trotter@nmc-uk.org or telephone 020 7681 5779.




Friday, September 27, 2013

Great Feedback From Bristol

Continental Travelnurse only works with the best hospitals and medical facilities? How do we do that? By only working with the best nurses, of course! Here's some great feedback about one of our nurses in Bristol from her supervisor.

I just wanted to say that SN Erin Campbell form the Continental Travelnurse Agency, who has been working on MAU for a few months and is leaving shortly has been a pleasure to work with. 
She fit straight in, took on board the differences in our culture and made the effort to learn. MAU can be very busy, but she has risen to the challenge and is always very hard working and can be relied upon. 
I would not hesitate in her working here again, and I am sorry she is leaving us but wish her very well in her future career!

Marilyn


That's great to hear. If you want to join the top professionals at Continental Travelnurse and use your valuable skills to work and play in the UK and Europe, check out our website today. 

Goodbye Party For Heather

OK, we'll admit at Continental Travelnurse that we sometimes hate goodbyes! Of course, we're doing it all the time since nurses come from all over the world, have a great time working and playing in the UK and Europe and then head home again. If you want to join the Continental Travelnurse family, check out our website to see how your valued skills as a nurse can let you see the world!

Meanwhile, we'll wave goodbye to Heather, who had a recent goodbye potluck party in Brighton (all her friends brought a dish) and then headed back to Canada! Thanks again for all your great work, Heather! Here are pictures of her flat and the great spread.



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Continental Travelnurses Conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro

At Continental Travelnurse, the only thing more impressive than the great job our nurses do day in and day out is the list of remarkable accomplishments they achieve during their vacations. Three of our nurses conquered Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world! Below are some photos and a brief overview by Anna from America of what must have been an amazing journey. Thanks Anna for sharing your story!



I actually just returned to London this morning! It's been an amazing trip.

Me, Kathleen (from New Zealand), Erica (from New Zealand), and our architect friend from the states, Mark, chose to do the 7 day Lemosho route. It is said to be one of the more challenging but scenic. We were not disappointed. Just in our first two days of the hike, we passed through elaborate jungles filled with various different plant life and monkeys! We would hike for several hours a day with scenery changing every half day! It was like you were in a new place; nothing was ever the same. 

Our team consisted of 19 men!!! They became like family in a way, encouraging us, teaching us Swahili, and laughing at us of course. One afternoon at the last camp before the summit day, we needed to ease our stress so the Barufu games were born. We would challenge our guides, porters, and cooks to push ups, back bends, who was more flexible, and who could walk on their hands! It was my absolute favorite moment on the mountain. So priceless. 



The summit day was by far the most challenging. We woke up at 11 pm after no sleep and started our long journey to the peak. It was freezing, and we were exhausted. The only thing we could see was the little flicker of lights trailing up the mountain for miles. 

There were times I didn't think I'd make it. I ended up last, while the others pushed ahead. My guide Stanley, wiped my nose with his hanky and hand-fed me crackers and encouraged me to go on when I wanted to give up. After many hours of dark, cold hiking, we reached "Stella point" at around 6 am, near tears but so elated. Our guides danced and sang to us to keep us going. They told us we made it this far and we had to continue on to the peak. 



So Erica, Kathleen, and I reached the summit, Uhuru peak, together just before 8 am, exhausted but crying with joy. I couldn't believe I did it. It was an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and just proof that the mind can overcome the most uncomfortable situations. That and surrounding yourself with positive people who have the never-give-up attitude will get a person through nearly anything this life throws our way.


  

I return to work on Tuesday and will check my schedule. If I am not scheduled to work, I'd love to attend the October river lights cruise. I'll let you know!

-- Anna


Thanks Anna for sharing your amazing story and congrats on conquering Mt. Kilimanjaro! If you want to join Anna and other remarkable people at Continental Travelnurse, contact us today. 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

A Wonderful Thank You!

We love getting great feedback from hospitals on the nurses who are part of the Continental Travelnurse family. It makes us feel good and let's us know we're making the right choices when we decide who will be a great addition to any team and a credit to our company. But even more we love to hear from the nurses who put their trust in us, travel around the globe to work with us and have a great time doing it. It's wonderful to know we've created some memories that will last a lifetime.

Here's a terrific note we just got from Dominique in Australia:


Thanks again to you and your wonderful team over the last two years. Both Rohan and I found you as our recruiter to be very supportive and great at giving advice. As an agency overall, you were very flexible with our travel plans and work needs. We couldn't have had such an amazing two years of traveling if it wasn't for you and Continental Travelnurse. Please pass on our sincere thanks and if we ever return to the UK, you will definitely be our first point of contact for work! I hope all your hard work doesn't go unnoticed and would like to say thanks again.

Thank you Dominique for taking the time to let us know what a great experience you had. 

Brushing Elbows With Royalty

At Continental Travelnurse, we attract top-notch nurses with a sense of adventure -- people who want to live and explore a new city, a new country and get easy access to all of Europe. They constantly astonish us with the places they go, the people they meet and the wonderful things they do from volunteer work in far-off lands to skiing in the Alps!

But we know some of the most memorable moments will happen right on the job. That's certainly true for Maree from Australia. She's working in Oxford and not only did Prince Andrew come to her hospital to open a new chemo unit, but Maree even got to get up close and take this snap when he was giving a speech to her and other attendees!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tiffani In Ireland

More great travel stories from our Continental Travelnurses! Tiffani shared some photos and a quick rundown of her fun adventures in Ireland.




I stayed two nights Dublin, two nights Cork, two nights Galway, and then one more night in Dublin as my flight was the next morning. In Dublin I saw Kilmainham Gaol, St Patrick's Cathedral, St Michan's crypts (and rubbed the finger of an 800-year-old mummy - for good luck!), and walked through St Stephen's Green.
I did a "Food, Fairies, and Folklore" event at a pub - it was a 3-course dinner with a speaker teaching us about the history of food and superstition in Ireland. It was so neat!
In Cork there was a bit of bad weather - rain, wind gusts up to 100kph. But the following day was nice and I went to Blarney Castle (loved it! SO beautiful!), Kinsale, and Cobh (and saw the Titanic exhibit). I didn't see too much of Cork, as it is much smaller and is more of a place to live as opposed to visit. So 2 nights was enough.
Galway -- I went to the rugby game on the Friday, and then on a tour through the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher on the Saturday. We saw fairy trees and a fairy fort (which is good, since I had learned about them on Tuesday night). Sunday I was back in Dublin, and met up with a girl I had met on Tues - we went to the Whelan Bar, which is featured in the movie P.S I Love You. I was traveling alone the entire time, but I made a few friends in every city I went to. -- Tiffani by email


Sounds like a great getaway. If you want to see where your valuable nursing skills can take you, contact Continental Travelnurse today to see about living and working in the UK for as little as three months or as long as you choose. 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Philip's Travels

At Continental Travelnurse, our nurses come from all over the world to work in the UK, become part of the community and then explore the country and Europe as much as they want. But not everyone comes from overseas. Philip was born in the UK, but has also lived and worked in Australia for many years and is now back here doing sterling work at St. Thomas. Clearly he has wanderlust and a great eye, as you can tell from these photos he shared with us. You can see Philip at Stonehenge, in Edinburgh and gorgeous Austria.







What great photos. But Philip is an even better nurse. Thanks for sharing these images, Philip. And thanks for being part of the Continental Travelnurse team. If you want to learn more about Continental Travelnurse and how your valuable skills as a nurse can take you wherever you want to go, check out our website and then call us today. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

A Patient Writes In With A Wonderful Thank You!

Our nurses often tell us what a great experience they've had with Continental Travelnurse. Our hospital clients always tell us how great our nurses perform. But it's pretty uncommon to receive a note from patients -- probably because as soon as they're out of the hospital, they want to forget all about it. The next time you or someone you know is in hospital and gets great care, take a few minutes to write a note and say thanks. It will mean a lot to them. Here's a wonderful note one of our nurses received from a patient.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I was admitted to St. Thomas's on 23/03/13 via A&E with suspected appendicitis. I had recently moved to London and had no friends or family living locally. As I had become acutely ill when visiting the city on my day off, I only had the contents of my handbag and the clothes I was wearing with me. I was in a lot of pain and had fever and obviously felt very vulnerable. After the shock of my admission had subsided I felt rather scared and alone at the thought of facing several days in hospital and a possible operation. My phone battery and died and I had no way of contacting my father back home in Birmingham.

First of all, I want to say that every point of care during my stay was unmatched and the care and service I received from all your staff was impeccable. I was seen promptly by the medical, surgical and gynaecological teams. They treated me with dignity, spoke to me honestly and openly and kept me informed of my situation at all times. The gynaecology SHO on call on the night of the 23rd (Ben, I think?) was extremely helpful and I owe a huge thank you to the Crohn's Consultant Andrew Williams who addressed my fears regarding my Crohn's and talked me through the exact process of the various investigations I would have done.

Secondly I want to point out the First Class care I received from a particular nurse Hanna S----- on the gynae unit throughout my stay. I would appreciate it if you could please relay this to her and her nurse in charge/ward manager if possible. I arrived on the gynae unit on 24th March and by this point I was exhausted and feeling very sorry for myself! I could not have asked for anyone more diligent, caring and professional. She got me a phone charger so that I could contact my family and made sure the relevant teams were informed of the progress of my scans. She listened when I was worried and made sure I had everything I needed. In a time when nurses are receiving such bad press, I think it is essential to recognize good care. Hannah was the perfect nurse and I am extremely grateful for her going the extra mile with regards to my care.

I would recommend your hospital to anyone who would listen. The care was outstanding. My condition was investigated thoroughly and I am now feeling 100% better thanks to your teams.

Yours faithfully,

Rosalie

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Renee Will Be Missed

Continental Travelnurse only recruits the best nurses and partners with the best hospitals. How lovely when that professionalism and passion for their work is recognized. Here's a personal, handwritten letter our nurse Renee received when saying goodbye to her job in Eastbourne. It's not from her immediate supervisor and it's not feedback we requested from the hospital. It's a note that one of the doctors she worked with took the time to deliver to Renee unbidden.

Dear Renee,
It is with great sadness that you are leaving. I say this not just because you are a fellow Aussie...but because during your time here at Eastbourne you have set a standard for your work in nursing that would be hard to surpass. You combine excellent nursing practice with trustworthiness; along with that, you have the gift of being able to touch the lives of the children and their parents with compassion and understanding of their difficulties.
Enjoy your travels in Europe Renee! And when you get home, remember you will not be forgotten here.
Very best wishes,
John

What a wonderful gesture and a great tribute to Renee. It's a good reminder we should let the people we value highly know it. If you want your nursing skills to be highly valued while living and exploring the UK and Europe, come to the Continental Travelnurse website for more information.


Julie On Camel; Julie And Friends At A Cathedral

Check out the Continental Travelnurse website today. You'll discover that your nursing skills make you highly valuable in the UK. You can come and work, live and explore the UK. Every day is like a holiday when you're discovering a new part of the world. Even better, the rest of the UK and Europe is readily accessible for weekend jaunts and holidays. Many of our nurses work a while, save up money, explore Europe and then come work some more. Here is one of our nurses, Julie, on a camel.



And here's Julie in front of Salisbury Cathedral with fellow Continental Travelnurses Ashley and Tiffany.



Come visit the Continental Travelnurse website today and see where your nursing skills can take you.

Megan In The Alps

Our nurses never stop. Join Continental Travelnurse and you become part of a family. Megan from South Africa described bonding with friends in the UK and doing some wonderful work in the local community on her off days. Then she shared her adventures in the Southern Alps in France and then on a bus tour with a travel group. Great stuff and with some valuable tips. Here's just a sample of her photos and story.


I am SO glad that I went. What a beautiful part of our planet it is! With tiny villages nestled in valleys between peaks towering 3000m into the sky, and a blanket of snow at least 60cm deep, it was like a whole different world to me. I stayed in a guest house run by a wonderful couple, Stephanie and Laurent. They speak English and they are pretty much the only ones who do. So there I am, a citizen of the Southern Hemisphere, alone in snow country where no one speaks English. Kind of funny really… but with a view like I had, my book, a pair of snow shoes and Stephanie cooking, I was very happy! I arrived early evening when it was already dark, so you know that surprise when you wake up in the morning and see where you are. That first day was Sunday and there was a big cross country ski race finishing on the door step of the guest house. So plenty of entertainment for the day, aside from watching the skiers and the their last spurt of competitive spirit before they cross the finish line, a race is a race no matter the sport and there are always plenty of colourful bystanders to watch. The guest house dining room/bar was extended with a marquee and all participants and supporters where served a hearty lunch. I found myself caught up in the buzz and having to smile politely once or twice in response to friendly Frenchies trying to strike up a conversation, shjoe… what an experience! My plan to go for a long walk and explore that afternoon abruptly ended when I put my nose out the door and realised there was white fluff falling from the sky, a lot of it, and it was wet! Who knew… so instead I stayed inside and read in between watching the snow.



Undiscovered Alps is a 5 year old company and very successful, but its only made up of a British lady, Sally, and her French Husband, Bernard, just for clarification. Anyway, so the two of them took myself and another British couple ice climbing for the afternoon. I think it’s safe to say that those were the by far the best six hours of my entire trip. They drove us to a different valley, parked the car, and after gearing up we had a short walk up to a frozen waterfall. Bernard rigged up three leading ropes and we spent the afternoon taking turns on them. You have an axe in each hand which you slam into the ice, and crampons on your feet which you dig in toe first as you go up. It took me a few minutes to get used to the weight of the axes and get over the idea that the whole waterfall may crumble under me. But once I got the hang of it, it really was so much fun.  On Tuesday I attempted cross country skiing, which is very different from the widely known downhill skiing. It was less fun but probably because you need more than a day to learn to stay upright. I had a two hour lesson with an instructor. Her name was Sophie and she was great, I think I enjoyed her more than the skiing. My last day in the Alps I spent with Bernard, he took me snow shoeing up a hill and this too was an incredible experience. As I said before, it is all so different to anything I have ever seen before, and walking uphill in the snow obviously has completely different dynamics to it. My senses were completely overloaded with natural magnificence and I was in awe that whole afternoon. The wind creates pretty patterns on the snow slopes, the same way it does in the desert. Bernard has lived his whole life in the area and so is a wealth of knowledge. He told me so much about the mountain range and the different peaks, knows all their names and altitudes. He told me about the wolf packs in the area and pointed out spoor and droppings of Hare and Foxes, also about the weather and the risk of avalanches. I had a running commentary all the way. All this was again in Frenglish… but still, it was all so interesting. After our walk he dropped me in Gap where I spent the night, and the next day took four trains in twelve hours back to London. It really is a spectacular part of the world, and with 300 days of sunshine a year and summer temperatures between 28 and 30, I can only dream of going back at a different time in the year with a pair of hiking boots and a mountain bike. Hmmm… perhaps one day.




The bulk of the trip was obviously the Contiki tour that I did, and quite different from everything that I have just described. It was a dash through some of the best cities in Europe and jam packed with attractions, tours, lots of good food and night life. There is simply too much to describe. It was all so wonderful. Doing a big bus tour like that has its advantages and disadvantages. The down side is that you are always part of a big group, which tested my sanity at times. Your schedule is pretty much planned for you, and you feel a lot like a tourist and less like a traveler. Having said that, there is absolutely no way that I could have done even half of what we did on my own, or for the amount of money that I did it on. It really is value for money. There are so many things that I would never even have known about, let alone had the resources to do them. So I am very glad that I did it. Let me tell you that the Australians are wonderful people and very similar to South Africans in many ways. But they are EVERYWHERE. My incorrect perception was that if I booked with a British based company like Contiki rather than the rival company Top Deck, I would have an opportunity for more variety. Clearly, a moment of naivety. We were a group of 44, more than half were Aussies, including the tour manager. Lucky for me, they were a great bunch of people to travel with. The tour manager, Jason, was absolutely outstanding as well and made the trip all the more wonderful. He has been doing this job for 5 years and carries around a stuffed Meerkat as a mascot. It was given to him by a South African girl on his very first trip because she said he reminded her of a Meerkat. This is the best way to describe this guy. He is like a Meerkat on a sugar high with an Aussie accent, wearing a psychedelic collar shirt. Behind all that though, he has a wealth of knowledge on every city we visited, from Prussian history in Berlin to the closest public toilet in Rome, it was both interesting and handy to have him as a tour manager.



We did so much and saw so much and ate so much, it would take ten pages to tell you one tenth of it, but here is the just of it. We spent a very unique Christmas eve and Christmas day in Amsterdam. My second visit to Amsterdam, and how I love that city! Berlin blew me away, it is such a great city. The highlight of the visit was most certainly a walking tour that we did with a local guide. I’m sure you know this city has a colourful history, from ancient Prussia to WW1, the fall of Germany and her rearmament, WW2 and eventually the Berlin wall. All this leading to Germany’s current democracy and policy of transparency. And oh my, the food in Germany! From there we went to pretty little Prague, again indulged in some amazing food and took full advantage of the Christmas markets. From Prague to the Beer capital of world, Munich! A beer hall in Munich is a marvelous experience and has an atmosphere that cannot be described, but can only be experienced. We saw the New Year in in Munich, which turns into little Baghdad with all the fireworks… I’m serious! It’s completely crazy, I couldn’t help thinking of all the emergency nurses working in Munich that night. From there we left Germania and drove to Venice… well, drove to nearby Venice and then took a boat to Venice the next day. It poured all day, as if the city needs more water??! But when you have an umbrella and good shoes, who cares! It certainly didn’t ruin the day. This crumbling Italian City is wonderful to visit! From Venice to ROMA! Wow, talk about a window into the ancient world. If I had to pick only one place to go back to, to see more of it would most certainly be Rome. From to Rome to the affluent north, a quick stop on a Tuscan wine farm for some cheese, wine and olives, and on to Florence. My highlight in Florence, Michelangelo’s statue of David carved out of a single block of marble. ClichĂ© I know, but I feel like I never have to look at another sculpture in my life again. From Florence we headed back to the Germanic region of Lucerne Switzerland. If Rome is the city I would chose to go back to visit, Lucerne is the city I would choose to live in, if I had a lot more money of course. The tour ended in Paris and with Moulin Rouge on our last night, it was certainly a spectacular ending. And that, dear friends, was my Month in Europe.

-- Megan

Wow, what an amazing time. Thanks for sharing, Megan. Where will your nursing skills take you? Find out today by visiting the Continental Travelnurse website. 




Stargazing In The Sahara

At Continental Travelnurse, even your job is an exciting adventure because you get to live and truly know a part of the UK. But many of our nurses also take the opportunity of living and working in the UK to save some money and then take a grand vacation. Tiffani certainly did that. She shared her adventures in the Sahara with us, including a great travelogue and some amazing photos. Here is Tiffani's story



I took a week to explore Morocco with a tour group. My friend and I found a 2-for-1 deal with Travel Talk, which was 7 nights and included the Marrakech markets, camping in the Sahara Desert, and trekking in the High Atlas Mountains.

Marrakech
DJ and I landed in Marrakech at 11:00am and met a few others from our group in the airport. Since the 6 of us had the afternoon to ourselves, we decided to venture into Jemaa El-Fna for a bit of pre-tour culture shock.

We were the only tourists around, it seemed, and the market was relatively empty. People approached us from all angles trying to sell us knick-knacks or put monkeys on our shoulders. One girl from our little group was led away from us from a woman who insisted on drawing henna on her arm. DJ followed to make sure she was okay, and when the rest of us joined them we saw that DJ was also having henna drawn on her arm. Before I could choose a design, my arm was being drawn on as well. I tried to negotiate a price, but the women joked around and avoided naming a price until they were finished - which ended up being 400 dirham (equivalent to 40 euros, at the time). The women refused to bargain with us, so we ended up leaving them with our wallets empty and our arms dazzling with henna and glitter. We wandered through the souks, which is a labyrinth of shops, selling clothing, food, and all sorts of shiny objects. It was quite mesmerizing. That evening we met with our tour group, and set out the following day for the desert.

When we returned on day 7 of the tour, myself and a few other girls went to a hammam - the most talked about spa treatment in Morocco! We sat together in a sauna, had our skin exfoliated and our hair washed, and then relaxed with a 1-hour massage. We could have paid 500 dh to go to the hotel hammam, but our tour leader had a friend who charged us only 300 dh each. By the time we left, night had fallen, and Jemaa El-Fna was alive! It had completely transformed from when we had seen it on the first day. Food stalls were everywhere, people were dancing and singing and doing magic tricks, and the atmosphere was completely relaxed and enjoyable. This is the Marrakech that everyone talks about when they go home.




The Sahara (Zagora, Chigaga, and Tamegrout)
The desert was the highlight of the trip! Our tour leader, Abdul, loved telling us all about Morocco and the difference between the Arabs and the Berbers. We walked through a rural Sunday market on our way to our camp. Each night was spent gathered around a bonfire, under the stars, and in the calm of the Sahara. We dined on chicken tagine and fresh fruit. We rode jeeps through the sand dunes, and had a picnic in the beautiful oasis. Our tour leader arranged a private tour for us through the rural village of Tamegrout - and we even sat in the main room of a local's house, drinking sweet mint tea (a.k.a "Whiskey Berber").



On the fourth day, we rode camels! It was incredible. We were informed that it was mating season, so all the female camels were kept very far away from the males we were riding. Otherwise, we may have raced off into the distance for an experience none of us wanted to have. Since the sun was beating down from a cloudless sky, we were given scarves and taught how to tie them like turbans. This was to prevent nosebleeds and syncope. I absolutely loved riding the camels. But for anyone who hasn't ridden a camel before: bring paracetamol! Our bodies were aching afterward.


The High Atlas Mountains
The final part of the tour involved resting in a Bed & Breakfast in the village of Imlil. We trekked up the mountain one morning, which wasn't easy after riding the camels. There was snow on the ground where we stopped for lunch, so we had a snowball fight. Once we were back at the B&B, one of the staff was walking with her toddler, who tripped and gashed his forehead open. Since everyone on the group knew I was a nurse, they came looking for me. I had to improvise with the dressing supplies on hand, but first aid is called first aid for a reason. I assessed the child and bandaged his forehead while he sat calmly on his mother's lap. It is moments like these that truly bring out the nurse in me.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable trip, which I would recommend to everyone. Abdul was amazing and taught us a lot about Morocco: politics, religion, culture, and education. As I write, I am remembering the tranquility of the Sahara, the sun on my skin, and the humble reminder than I am just one person on such a vast and diverse planet.


-- The Travel Diary and Photos of Tiffani

What a great adventure Tiffani! Thanks for sharing with us. If you want to see where your nursing skills can take you, come visit the Continental Travelnurse website. 


Stonehenge, Paris...Where Will You Go?

At Continental Travelnurse, we get vicarious pleasure out of the many weekend getaways and holidays our nurses enjoy when not using their valuable skills at UK hospitals. Here's Kirstin outside the Moulin Rouge in Paris!


And here's Tatcheva at Stonehenge!


Where will your nursing skills take you? Come to the Continental Travelnurse website and discover the  many opportunities your talents can bring you.


Lauren On Tumblr



Our nurses aren't just highly skilled at their jobs; they also reveal hidden talents when exploring the UK and Europe. Lauren shared some great photos she took while traveling throughout Europe and Spain specifically, as well as working in the UK. Check them out!



Wonderful photos, Lauren. You can see more of her work and descriptions of her travels on Lauren's Tumblr site called Bandaids and Backpacks.  If you want to enjoy adventures in Europe while using your highly valued skills in the UK, check out the Continental Travelnurse website.



More Great Feedback From Our Nurses

Join the Continental Travelnurse family and you can have an adventure while living and working in the UK. Many of our nurses also take weekends and holidays in the rest of Europe -- they're a quick and easy (and very inexpensive) plane or train away. Travel nurses are bold and fun, but they're also putting their trust in us and it's great when they let us know their trust was rewarded.

Deb sent us a lovely note after getting back home:


I'm back in Australia now! Nice to be home but I do miss London life and Farah heaps!

Thank you for all your help in the last year. Your support, right from the beginning when I first called, has been greatly appreciated. CTN should know you are a great asset to their company.

If I'm ever in NY or maybe London again, I'll let you know :)

Deb

The hospitals also put their trust in us. They know we only work with the best, but they're always happy to let us know that we've met the high standards they expect from us again and again. Here's feedback from a hospital manager after a nurse's stint with them. Jacquee is a New Zealand nurse who chose to work in Overnight Intensive Recovery for one year. They were sad to see her go.


‘Jaquee was hard working, a good team player, and had excellent team rapport. Nothing was ever too much trouble for Jaquee!’ 

Nurses who join Continental Travelnurse have great adventures, make friends for life...and sometimes even more. Over on Facebook, Shannon had this to say:

"If it weren't for Continental Travelnurse, I wouldn't have met my husband or have my two beautiful children!" -- Shannon

Congrats again, Shannon on finding more than you ever expected when coming to the UK to work with Continental Travelnurse. If you want to see where your nursing skills can take you, check out our website.