FAQs

How do I become a Continental Travelnurse? We'll walk you through every stage of the process. The first step is to contact us with your basic information and interests. We’ll set everything in motion to get you going on your UK RN registration. What kind of registration do I need in order to practice nursing in the UK? Naturally, you must be a Registered Nurse in your home country. And for the UK to offer you their registration you must have practised for a year.  The UK has just one licensing board - the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You must register with this board to be eligible to work in the UK. We'll show you how.

Are there any fees involved?
Not from us, of course. The nursing council charges a licensing fee, which is unavoidable. And if you have never applied for another licence, getting registered can seem to be a complicated process. We assure you it isn’t and we can help you through every step. There are three distinct steps to UK registration – An English language test, application and acclimation. But that's why you are so valuable when you arrive in the UK. We make the procedure as painless as possible and then the day you're registered, your stock will soar.

How long does the process take?
There are many variables, such as how long it takes your Board of Nursing to send the necessary papers. But in general, you should allow six months from the time you decide to explore travel nursing and your first assignment. Obviously, nursing is a highly skilled, highly in-demand profession. UK countries very much want your talents, but they also must maintain certain standards. Continental Travelnurse only works with nurses who have received the best training in the world. That's why our reputation is sterling and why you will be so in-demand.

How fast can I secure a position?
Again, once you are licensed in the UK, we can place you very quickly. As you probably know, there is a chronic nursing shortage around the world. Your services are very in-demand.

Can I bring my family? My pet?
Yes to both. You can bring your family -- and spouses are allowed to work in the UK. (That's how desired your skills are!) Pets used to be very difficult indeed. But now you can obtain a pet passport. The ease of this depends greatly on the type of pet you have. These decisions will also affect your housing. Most of our travel nurses come alone and without pets.

How do I get from the airport to my lodgings? We know it can be disorienting to arrive in a strange place after a long flight, so we make sure that if you fly into London, we meet you on your arrival. Then, depending on your assignment location, you will either be taken there or all travel arrangements will be made for you. If you haven’t already received it, upon your arrival you will also be provided with all the necessary paperwork to enable you to settle in as a Continental Travelnurse employee in your first assignment.

What is the housing like? I'm not looking to rough it. We seek to provide up market places in nice neighbourhoods with good public transport links. We aim for housing that is as close to the hospital as possible. How much will I earn? Travel nurses are typically paid slightly more than the staff nurses they work alongside in the hospitals. And of course your excellent housing is subsidised. You can expect your take-home pay to allow you plenty of funds to enjoy yourself while you explore Europe.

How will I be paid?
Your pay will be direct deposited into a UK bank account every fortnight ( i.e. every two weeks) . We'll help you set up that account.

Do I have to pay tax in two countries?
Unfortunately, you can't avoid paying taxes. However, most countries have tax agreements with the UK. The taxes you pay in the UK may be credited to your home country -- in other words, you won't be taxed twice. A number of countries -- including the U.S. -- also offer serious tax breaks to their citizens working overseas. You'll need to speak with a tax consultant in your home country for how this may or may not apply.

How many hours a day will I work? How many hours a week?
Twelve-hour shifts are not common, and straight shifts are almost non-existent. You may find that the level of responsibility is less than you are used to (a very nice thing indeed!). The working week is 37.5 hours long. In most assignments, specialty pay and/or charge pay may be added. However, as a traveller, being in charge of your floor is the exception rather than the rule.

What about travel money?
Every thirteen week assignment carries with it some travel money – designed to help get you from one assignment to the next. Remember: travelling from the south of England to the north of Scotland takes less than eight hours by train, so it’s never a strenuous journey. The travel money is paid at the beginning of your assignment but is earned upon completion of the thirteen weeks. Should you stay in the same location and extend for a further assignment, you will earn another full allowance.

What kind of uniform will I need?
As part of the local hospital team, you wear the uniform of the regular staff (which is supplied to you by the hospital), and work on the same rotations as the “regular” staff. On the other hand, there are the rather old-fashioned black shoes and black stockings most Hospital Trusts require that their female nursing staff wear. It could be worse -- nursing caps were phased out of public hospitals just about 15 years ago!

Are there unions?
All our nurses are offered membership in the Royal College of Nursing, considered the UK voice for nurses.

Is there any continuing education offered? Yes. Talk to us about further details. What other benefits are there? As if a attractive hourly rate, a short-term commitment, up market accommodations and even travel money aren’t enough, as a Continental Travelnurse employee you will receive twenty four days paid vacation annually, statutory sick pay, professional indemnity insurance coverage and help with registration costs.

Can I take time off to explore Europe and then do another assignment?
Absolutely. And you don't need to wait for a break. Getting to Europe is a breeze: flights are very inexpensive and flying time is about an hour and a half to more than a dozen countries. Combine a cheap, quick flight with clever shift scheduling and you can easily find yourself in Paris or Rome on a three or four day excursion. If you’re coming to the UK with the desire to take extended time off to see the rest of Europe, Continental Travelnurse is ideal. You can work an assignment, save up some holiday money and then take a few weeks or even months to travel around the Continent. (We’re always ready to offer travel suggestions and helpful tips as well.) Then you can return to the UK for your next assignment with Continental so you can “top up” your bank account.

How did travel nursing begin?
Travel nursing as a method of staffing started in the United States in the late 1970s. It was a response to the seasonal surge of elderly people visiting Florida and other southern states during the winter months and the consequent rise in the need for hospital beds and nurses.

What began as a seasonal phenomenon quickly developed into the preferred way to work for hospitals with chronic staffing shortages and adventurous nurses. The participating hospital gets the benefit of experienced competent nurses who are part of their team for at least three months, not simply fill-in agency nurses who are ‘here today and gone tomorrow’.

For their part, travel nurses enjoy great pay rates and benefits as well as the opportunity (if they want) to experience four different places in one year, for example the countryside, the seaside, a college town, and a city. And Continental travel nurses can even sample three different countries: England, Ireland and Scotland.

I still have more questions.
Please call us! We can answer every question you have and help you discover the exciting possibilities of working for Continental Travelnurse.