Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Cruise Ship Nurse: What Are the Jobs, Duties, and Requirements?

registered nurse cruise ship

At the same time working as a cruise ship nurse provides a very high level of job satisfaction. Cruise ships carry hundreds or thousands of passengers at any given time. As such, they require the medical staff onboard to be prepared for emergency situations that may arise unexpectedly. Ideally, cruise lines prefer nurses who have experience working in emergency medicine settings such as hospitals or trauma centers.

BSN Degree

Explore different ports while taking care of passengers and crew members while they are enjoying their vacation. If you love being a nurse but dread working in a hospital or clinic, this might be the career path for you. Cruise ship nurses typically have officer roles, receive single cabins, and enjoy deck privileges. Chief Nurses lead the entire nursing staff and report directly to the ship’s doctor. A minimum of three years of clinical experience is required for this position.

registered nurse cruise ship

Pros and Cons of Being a Cruise Ship Nurse

The specific size and capabilities of infirmary facilities can vary depending on the cruise ship’s size and the cruise line’s policies. Cruise ships with larger passenger capacities tend to have more extensive infirmary facilities to meet the needs of a larger population. Working as a nurse on a cruise ship is more than just an opportunity to explore.

How to Become a Cruise Ship Nurse: A Step-by-Step Guide

However, it does not provide specific salary information for cruise ship nurses. The cruise ship recruitment agency Pro Sea Staff assists Registered Nurses (RN) in securing employment for cruise ship jobs with the above-listed cruise line companies. All members of the cruise ship medical staff provide first class medical services to passengers and crew.

Working as a nurse on a cruise ship requires dedication, precision and experience. Working closely with your medical colleagues, you will provide both in and out patient care. Outpatient encompasses minor illnesses, respiratory and gastro-intestinal infections, minor skin complaints and accidental injuries.

Can APRNs work as cruise ship nurses?

Understandably, entry-level positions in nursing are not available with cruise companies. The high stakes involved with a medical emergency or illness outbreak occurring at sea means that only experienced registered nurses or nurse practitioners need apply. Earning a nursing degree, passing the NCLEX-RN exam, and getting licensed can take between 2-4 years. Most cruise ships require RNs to complete at least two years of clinical experience after receiving their nursing degree. Some employers only hire nurses with two or more years experience in acute care and emergency care settings.

Cruise ship life is very exciting and visiting awesome locations around the world is just one of the many benefits of working on a cruise ship. If this is your first time going to work on a cruise ship, you might be wondering what you need to pack for a cruise ship contract. Cruise ship nurses typically receive a competitive salary that is based on their experience, qualifications, and responsibilities. Salaries can range from around $3,000 to $6,000 or more per month, depending on various factors. RNs with BSN degrees or higher can expect more career opportunities and better compensation than nurses with ADN degrees. Learn how to become a registered nurse, whether you are straight out of high school or have taken some college courses.

This nursing specialty provides a broad range of medical care services to travelers and crew members sailing the oceans each year. After obtaining your license and starting your nursing career, you’ll need to gain experience in the field. Some major cruise lines require their nurses to have two to three years of experience in acute care or critical care. Others prefer that this experience take place in hospital settings rather than outpatient clinics. If an RN has worked in emergency rooms and intensive care units, they have likely gotten used to long shifts and irregular hours.

Informed Patient

Nurses who love to travel, enjoy long breaks from work, and want to experience a one-of-a-kind career could make perfect cruise ship nurses. A cruise ship nurse provides care for guests and crew as the ship sails around the world. Many RNs who choose to work as cruise ship nurses are motivated primarily by the opportunity to travel and the flexibility of short-term contracts. Cruise ship nurse salary depends on the size of the ship and the number of passengers, as well as the professional’s level of nursing experience and scope of authority. A popular recruiter for cruise positions reports starting salaries for cruise ship nurses between $4,200 and $4,900 per month. For anyone in the medical field looking to have the experience of a lifetime while working, a cruise ship position is definitely an option.

Woman pays $164K per year to live on luxury cruise ship - USA TODAY

Woman pays $164K per year to live on luxury cruise ship.

Posted: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 08:00:00 GMT [source]

To learn more about starting your career as an RN, click here to learn how to become a Registered Nurse. You can also read about other popular healthcare careers by exploring the highest paying nursing jobs. The duration and frequency of days off can vary, ranging from a few days to a week or more, depending on the contract terms and cruise line policies. These days off allow nurses to rest, relax, explore ports of call, and recharge before returning to their duties on board. Becoming a successful cruise ship nurse requires dedication and hard work but can be very rewarding if done correctly!

NH family expected to fly loved one home from Curacao after he suffered medical emergency on cruise - Boston 25 News

NH family expected to fly loved one home from Curacao after he suffered medical emergency on cruise.

Posted: Fri, 24 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Not only do they serve as first responders during emergencies, but they perform patient assessments, assist doctors with clinical diagnosing, and administer medications or tests. Their daily responsibilities are dependent on the size of the ship. For instance, an average cruise ship holds about 3,000 guests, while some of the biggest ocean liners hold closer to 7,000 passengers. In general, cruise ship nurses are not able to bring their families on board. Cruise ship employment contracts typically only cover the nurse’s individual employment, and the living accommodations and facilities provided are designed for single or shared occupancy.

You will provide basic and emergency nursing care to our guests and crew, working closely with the shipboard Doctor to attend to patients visiting the clinic. Most, if not all, cruise ship contracts require at least 2–3 years of recent ER, ICU, or other acute care experience. Cruise ship nurses perform direct care and administrative nursing duties.

A walk-in clinic is open daily to meet the basic medical needs of guests and crew members alike. Cruise companies keep equipped medical facilities on board, with critical care areas, X-ray units, lab facilities, and a store of essential medications. Nurse.org reports that Cruise Ship Nurses benefit from greater flexibility, short-term contracts, and international exploration. With the growing surge in the travel industry, the need for experienced nurses in this field will no doubt continue to grow. If you like the idea of helping others while traveling at sea, this may be a rewarding RN specialization for your career.

A cruise ship nurse is provided with Private Officers Single cabin accommodation. Housing, meals and healthcare insurance are provided by the cruise line company. The requirements to work as a nurse on board of a cruise ship include a professional degree, relevant post-graduation experience and an unrestricted medical license. Cruise nurse salaries fall below the average annual income of $82,750 for all RNs reported by the U.S. Keep in mind, however, that cruise lines provide other kinds of compensation, including free transportation for getting to and from your home base and all living expenses while working at sea. Some employers offer cruise discounts for friends and family members.

registered nurse cruise ship

Empowering healthcare professionals to find and do their best work. Accepting an offer of employment, and all terms of and conditions, will allow us to start the onboarding process. As these next steps typically take place locally in your country of residence, your application may be handled by one of our local offices.

Smaller cruise lines, such as Viking River Cruises, require only 2 years of nursing experience, yet hospitality and yachting experience is valued for the position. A work Visa will also be required when working as a nurse outside of the U.S. Depending on the nursing position and type of ship, cruise ship nurses may work hour shifts, even longer during emergency situations, and sometimes on duty seven days a week.

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