Posted on 11/23/2017 8:04:03 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
If you're an aspiring nurse or are already working in the profession but looking for a change of pace, becoming a cruise nurse can be an appealing opportunity. Especially for someone who isn't tied down to responsibilities on land.
Being a nurse on a cruise ship is not unlike working in a busy ER or clinic setting – except that you're in the middle of the ocean on your way to some exotic locale. If you think you might like to hop aboard a career as a cruise nurse, here's what you need to know.
Licensing And Requirements
The qualifications for working as a nurse aboard a cruise ship are basically on par with any other nursing job, along with a couple of other requirements. First, you must have your nursing license and be a practicing nurse. Any approved state license will do, as you’ll be traveling all over the world. Or, as explained on the Princess Cruise line’s website, applicants must have “current registration and licensing with appropriate governmental or provincial regulatory agencies.”
Don’t expect to get a job on a cruise ship right out of nursing school, however. Most cruise lines require at least two years of working experience (some specify 3 years), and most prefer that you’ve worked in emergency or acute care.
Finally, all cruise ship nurses have to earn their certification in advanced cardiac life support, to ensure that they are well prepared to handle such emergencies on board.
Explore travel nurse opportunities on the nation’s largest nursing job board .
Nursing On The High Seas
If you’re wondering what a day in the life of a cruise nurse entails, it has similarities and differences to a land-based nursing position.
For starters, nurses on cruises offer patient care for everything from first aid, sea-sickness, and bad sunburns to more serious issues like cardiac arrest, serious injuries, and critical care. In some instances, the main objective of the nurse and the whole team is to get the patient stable enough to transfer them to the nearest facility on land, sometimes by helicopter or small boat. In these situations, at least one nurse will likely accompany the patient for that ride.
Cruise nurses work within a small medical team consisting of other nurses and physicians, and most major cruise lines have a well-equipped medical facility on board, complete with labs, X-ray equipment, a pharmacy, and more.
What is slightly different is that there usually isn’t a big support staff comprised of technicians, aides, and other workers like you’d find in a hospital. Therefore, cruise nurses have more hands-on interaction with their patients.
Shifts are similar to what nurses might expect, usually about 12 hours, and days off will rotate. However, at sea, nurses will also have to take turns being on call.
Salary And Contract
Most people who become cruise nurses are probably not in it for the money, since the salary is typically far less than one can earn at a hospital or other institution. However, the private cabin, free meals, and chance the travel the world offset the lower compensation. Cruise lines usually cover travel expenses to get nursing staff to the ships as well.
Cruise nurses are usually hired for a six-month contract. At the end of the job, nurses will usually take off a few weeks before beginning a new contract and heading back out again. If traveling is something you prioritize along with your nursing career, we encourage you to look into Travel nursing as well!
Ups And Downs Of A Cruise Ship Nurse
Pros
If you’re someone who loves cruising, taking a job on board isn’t exactly like a vacation, but you’ll get the chance for some down time. On days offs, nurses get to explore the ports of call, as well as enjoy some ship amenities.
Some people also prefer the flexibility of a short-term contract if they’re not ready to settle anywhere in particular.
Cruise nurses also have an exciting job in that every day is different and you don’t know what to expect. Working within a small team also gives cruise nurses a lot of autonomy and more responsibility than they may get as a shift nurse in a hospital with a larger staff.
Finally, cruise nurses get to meet and treat people from all over the world, and from all walks of life.
Looking for a change of scenery? See available nursing jobs by location .
Cons
Cruise nurses have to be comfortable with being away for months at a time, something that isn’t appealing to everyone, especially if you have family ties or other responsibilities.
As mentioned above, the salary for this position is usually not comparable to other nursing jobs, but your cost of living is very low because of the free room, board, and food.
Lastly, cruise nursing jobs are not as abundant as you might think, so if you’re really interested in pursuing this field, know that the job market is competitive. One way to stand out from other candidates is if you’re bilingual, or have experience working in a multicultural setting. Cultural sensitivity and awareness is a big part of the job.
Finding Work As A Cruise Ship Nurse
If you think cruise nurse is a great fit for you, the best way to find a job is to contact the medical departments of cruise lines directly on their company websites. The American College of Emergency Physicians website has a handy round-up of contact information, but note that information may change or become outdated.
Whether or not becoming a cruise nurse is the right career move for you, it goes to show that nursing is a versatile skill that can take you places, both professionally and literally. Bon voyage!
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Did you know that cruise ships have a brig?
Found that out the hard way.
No verandah but you get bottled water.
Nopers. I do not want to be under another countries laws.
Whatever flag is on the boat is what laws you are under. No flipping way.
Back in my father’s Marine Corps days bread and water in the brig was referred to as piss and punk.
On Norwegian Cruise Lines, it’s called “An optional dining experience”.
Never ask the Captain if his last job was as a fish gutter on a herring boat.
They get all Viking.
Sounds like a story. Was alcohol involved?
Naw.....maybe a little....
I’m on the Promenade Deck promenading around when I see this hockey game.
I run back to my cabin to get my stick and join the game.
This old lady must have been the enforcer on the other team because she gives me this cheap shot.
So I hip check her. She was a goon and had it coming.
Turns out there’s this game called shuffleboard on this ship.
Totally understandable. And I’m sure she deserved it.
She was a real poor sport.
They threw me off, er, I mean, tendered me off the ship near the next port.
She’s standing there, gloating that she got me in the box so I give her a little taste of the stick as I walk by and ask her,
“How you like that toothpick, Granny?”
So they throw me over the side.
No life preserver or nothing.
Good thing I was wearing my skates.
I leave a lot of people speechless.
It’s like a gift or something.
An older neighbor of ours was a retired pastor. He was always going off on cruises with his wife as the “Chaplin”. I bet it was 2 to 3 times a year. He said that he was very lucky and had lots of connections. He could have done even more, but his wife didn’t care too much for them.
Based on the videos I’ve seen on Youtube I’d gain 30lbs in a week.
I have a daughter who worked as a traveing ER and Flight Nurse. Not as exotic as a cruise nurse, but the money was great and she did get to see parts of America she would not have ordinarily seen. Yet like anything else, boredom sets in with living on the road and she quickly discovered she was a home body.
The firefighting crew is the crew itself so they are all under extremely extremely strict rules about how much they can drink.
I think it’s like half a beer per day probably much less.
they test regularly and if you fail you’re fired immediately.
also there’s almost no access to the internet, I don’t care what the official claims are.
those are the two big ones; if you’re a drinker or you do a lot of online stuff forget it.
I think if you are caught with a passenger in the crew area you’re also fired immediately, some lines permit hanky-panky with passengers if you’re on shore.
He had so many ex-wives, he stayed on the ship.
-—or cake and wine.
I loved the Cherry Ames books. :-)
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