rnabroad2017

I have been with Continental for some time now, and I can honestly say that working with them and having them sponsor my visa was a huge mistake! I love the UK and am so glad I came here, but if I had to do it over again I would sign up directly with my hospital/the NHS rather than go through any kind of agency. The NHS is desperate for nurses (8,000 vacancies in London alone) and I have had several hospital trusts say they were completely ready and willing to sponsor a Tier 2 visa. Despite the fact that nursing in the NHS is generally far inferior an experience to nursing elsewhere in the western world and is well-known for its poor pay, Continental manages to give its agency nurses even less than the NHS. To lay it out explicitly, you will be paid 14 GBP/hr for day shifts, 16 for nights and 18 for Sundays and bank holidays (while Continental reportedly charges nearly triple this hourly rate to the NHS) and you will have housing, taxes, and other costs deducted from this rate- leaving you with precious little left over. In addition to the terrible pay, you don't receive annual leave (the 1 week of penalty-free housing per 13 week contract hardly counts as annual leave) or any other benefits package, and you receive no ongoing education aside from the annual mandatory training that you pay for yourself. There are no opportunities for advancement and there will never be a pay raise even if you provide stellar service for years with Continental. In addition to the terribly poor compensation, Continental never misses an opportunity to nickel-and-dime you at every possible opportunity for services both real and imagined. Aside from the clear financial issues, Continental has a poor track record of high turnover of recruiters (I've had three since being with the company- only one of which was helpful, honest, and supportive), poor and allegedly dishonest communication with both nurses and hospitals, and alternate harassment/neglect of their employees. There is a clear and distinct lack of respect, understanding, and concern for their nurses and I would never recommend this agency to any nurse wishing to come to the UK. Continental has limited opportunities at very few hospitals in the south of the UK, and those opportunities are becoming crummier by the day as Continental's reputation within the NHS declines because of its mismanagement and money-grubbing. If you must come to the UK, come on your own terms or come as part of the NHS. Continental is not a good option, in my experience.