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While life at sea is not everyone’s first choice, if you have an adventurous spirit and a love for traveling, this may be the job for you. You can treat patients for a variety of vacation-related illnesses, which is quite different from your typical day at the hospital. Registered nurses on cruise ships can expect to earn anywhere between $4850 and $5000 monthly.
Informed Patient
Shifts can be anywhere from 4-12 hours along with the expectation of taking calls for emergencies after hours. The medical personnel, although typically considered professional staff, are not "allowed" to mingle or fraternize with the guests onboard the ship. Most cruise lines offer nurses their own cabin and meals as part of the position.
NURSES
The first step to being a cruise ship nurse is to become a registered nurse (RN). To be an RN, you must graduate from an accredited nursing program and pass the nursing board exam. Like any other nursing career, working as a cruise ship nurse comes with its ups and downs.
Licensure and accreditation to become a cruise ship nurse
Nurses generally rotate days off and on-call days with other staff. They may leave the ship if their day off falls on a day the ship is in port. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to help you learn about the role of a Cruise Ship Nurse, common duties, required skills, expected salary, and job outlook. We’ll also review the steps you’ll need to take to become an RN and advance your nursing career. The first and most important step in becoming a cruise ship nurse is earning your Registered Nurse license. This involves completing an accredited nursing program, passing the NCLEX-RN exam, and submitting an application to your state Board of Nursing.
However, if this type of experience isn’t available to you, then showing that you are willing and able to learn emergency medicine skills quickly shows you’re flexible. A career as a cruise ship nurseoffers RNs the unique opportunity to live at sea and travel the world while earning an attractive salary and saving on living expenses. These nurses work with small healthcare teams to provide an array of services, like routine wellness checks and emergency management. As registered nurses (RNs), cruise ship nurses earn an average annual salary of $77,600, with food and lodging included. They need strong communication and interpersonal skills, knowledge of maritime safety regulations, and clinical expertise. The working life of a nurse onboard a yacht or cruise ship is very different than most healthcare settings.
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Because many graduate-trained APRNs hold a broad practice authority that does not require a doctor’s supervision, they make a good fit for cruise line nursing. Many nurses should be comfortable lifting patients and performing other physical tasks. They may need to work long hours or be on their feet for most of each shift. In addition, Cruise Ship Nurses can benefit from physical experience in emergency medicine and intensive care. Unlike standard workers, cruise ship workers have month-long contracts.
What are the salary and career outlooks for cruise ship nurses?
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They maintain injury and illness logs and ensure that first aid supplies are well-stocked on the ship and lifeboats. Nurse Practitioners contribute significantly to the medical team’s capabilities. Before applying for any job on a cruise ship, it’s important to do some research on the different companies offering these positions.
Responsibilities of Nurses Working on Boats and Ships
However, Cruise Ship Nurses do not typically work on yachts or other boats. This often applies to nurses who work on vessels that are smaller than cruise ships. In most of these settings, Registered Nurses will work under the supervision of a doctor or physician. Their contracts typically range from 12 weeks to six months on a cruiseliner. Many cruise lines maintain facilities that range from walk-in clinics to fully equipped medical facilities that can handle emergency or trauma injuries.
Following are the typical steps to specializing as a Cruise Ship Nurse, including the necessary education, licensure, and experience. The working shifts for medical staff are shifts of 12 hours, 12 hours on duty followed by 12 hours off. Nurse practitioners (NPs) can treat patients with more independence, often without direct physician supervision. Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for NurseJournal.org as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.
The majority of cruise lines require a minimum of three years of post-degree fieldwork inpatient care. Depending on the employer, cruise ship nurses can make up to $5,000 a month. RNs with advanced degrees and specialties and those in leadership positions \ can earn higher salaries. These nurses also receive other benefits such as paid transportation, lodging, and living expenses. Cruise ship nurses perform basic first aid and make triage decisions. Although shifts can last hours, most cruise ship nurses work in rotation with other healthcare staff, with scheduled time off on board and offshore.
Working as part of the medical staff on a cruise ship is an extraordinary and fulfilling experience. The fast-paced environment, combined with the thrill of traveling to breathtaking destinations, creates a sense of adventure like no other. Building relationships with colleagues from around the world, exploring new cultures, and immersing yourself in the beauty of the open seas make this career truly exceptional.
Here are some of the top factors to consider when deciding whether cruise ship nursing is right for you. Well, it ranges from treating patients with seasickness to providing healthcare services to patients in critical care. Pursuing a master’s degree and becoming a nurse practitioner are the surest ways to make yourself more hireable and increase your average annual income. Maintaining your licensure through continuing education courses, including refreshing your ACLS credential, is also vital.
Most BSNs take between 2-4 years, depending on the type of program and number of credits transferred from previous college courses. At the RN level, expect to spend 1-4 years earning a diploma or degree and an additional 2-3 years working as a nurse in a clinical setting. If you’re interested in travel and adventure, and don’t mind working under short-term contracts, find out how to become a cruise ship nurse and more. Nurses who choose a career in cruise ship nursing can also look forward to career growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth for RNs is projected to be 6% between 2021 and 2031. Cruise lines require nurses to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza, and other illnesses without exception since cruise ships present a high risk for transmission.
After 15 years of practicing patient care and nursing leadership, Sarah began sharing her own nursing experiences and expertise through digital media. According to Business Insider, retention for cruise ship workers is over 80%. The medical staff live aboard the ship during their contract, which may last 4–6 months. Since they are considered part of the crew, they are prohibited from socially mingling with guests. The living quarters for cruise nurses are usually found on the ship’s lower decks.
Sarah S. Falcone, BSN, RN, is a professional Registered Nurse and freelance health content writer in Fort Worth, TX. Sarah is a passionate advocate for moving advanced levels of care to the home, where her clients can safely receive the medical treatments they need with greater satisfaction and comfort. She focuses on patient experience, outcomes, and advancing clinical models using innovative technology to serve patients better.
Most nurses flock to hospitals after finishing college and stay there for their entire careers. But what about a more exciting and possibly fulfilling career path…a cruise ship nurse. This is not for a nurse that is fresh out of nursing school, but a nurse who has been in the field for a few years.
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