Suppose you ever dream of a cruise ship career, the opportunity to travel the world, and many other benefits of this highly skilled job. In that case, I will try to provide some relevant and important information for you. 

Every job on the cruise ship is really hard for the hectic, demanding working environment itself, but the ship nurse job is really good for several reasons. Besides the very good salary package, the ship nurse can enjoy the special single-officer cabin, which makes such an amazing difference when you work on a cruise ship. For the people who spent some time on the cruise ship and had several different annoying roommates, you know what I am talking about. After a demanding day at work, a single cabin lifestyle can provide you with much-needed rest time, and it can give you an opportunity to refresh and get some proper rest and privacy. Indeed, that benefit is a great difference in terms of the job description of ship Nurses. 

If you're a Registered Nurse (RN) or nursing student who would like to travel, a career as a Cruise Ship Nurse could be the perfect solution for you. Not only will you receive a paycheck and voyages to worldwide destinations, but you will have the unique opportunity to live at sea, save on living expenses, and avoid the 9-to-5 lifestyle.

What is a Cruise Ship Nurse?

Cruise Ship Nurses provide one-on-one medical care for guests or crew members on the ship. Their tasks can range from common wellness checks to emergency care. Typically, Cruise Ship Nurses are part of a small but efficient team who cares for everyone on the boat. Some of these nurses report directly to a ship physician and work under the supervision of the head nurse. Because Cruise Ship Nurses are often the first line of defense, some cruise lines prefer to hire RNs with emergency room experience. In addition, nurses who speak more than one language are in high demand for cruiseliners.

What Does a Cruise Ship Nurse Do?

Cruise Ship Nurses are specialized nurses who have gained experience in the field. At sea, they care for passengers and crewmembers of all ages. They serve as first responders during emergencies, 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.

While shifts can run between 10-12 hours, many Cruise Ship Nurses rotate with other medical staff, allowing them to have scheduled time off both on board and on land.

Cruise Ship Nurse Duties

Besides assisting other medical team members, you will complete several tasks to help patients on their seafaring journey. These duties may include the following:

•Act as a first responder during medical emergencies, such as sudden injuries, heart attacks, or strokes.

•Perform medical tests, like X-rays, blood draws, and lab tests.

•Treat patients for various medical issues (i.e., seasickness or sunburn).

•Help create care plans for patients aboard the ship.

•Administer medications prescribed by the physician.

Cruise Ship Nurse Skills

Some essential qualities for a Cruise Ship Nurse include empathy, communication, and stamina. But you'll also want to continually develop your knowledge and training to stay current on the latest nursing practices. Some of the most essential skills to develop include:

Critical-thinking skills. Cruise Ship Nurses must possess critical-thinking solid skills to treat patients at sea effectively. They will need to quickly assess changes in each patient's health status, determining when to take corrective action or consult their team.

Communication skills. Not only must RNs communicate well with their patients—they need to evaluate them correctly—but it's essential that Cruise Ship Nurses communicate with other team members. Remember: These are small but mighty groups of healthcare professionals. They rely heavily on one another.

Compassion. Cruise Ship Nurses should be empathetic when they work with patients. In addition, they need emotional resilience due to human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors.

Detail oriented. All nurses can benefit from a detail-oriented nature. However, Cruise Ship Nurses must also be aware of shipboard safety procedures. Knowledge and attention to detail are vital to their success at sea.

Physical stamina. 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.

Where Do Cruise Ship Nurses Work?

As their name says, Cruise Ship Nurses work on large boats at sea. Their contracts on a cruise liner typically range from 12 weeks to six months. Many cruise lines maintain facilities that range from walk-in clinics to fully equipped medical facilities that can handle emergency or trauma injuries.

However, Cruise Ship Nurses do not typically work on yachts or other boats. Yacht nursing is a separate and lesser-known specialty. This often applies to nurses who work on smaller vessels than cruise ships. In most of these settings, Registered Nurses will work under the supervision of a doctor or physician.

How Much Do Cruise Ship Nurses Make?

The average salary for Cruise Nurses is about $6000-9000 per month, depending on the experience if you are a lead nurse. Remember that your salary as a Cruise Ship Nurse will vary based on your geographic location, level of education, and experience. In addition, salaries stretch further on cruise ships because lodging and food are often included with the job.

Cruise Ship Nurse Job Outlook

What is the Job Outlook for Cruise Ship Nurses?

Although the BLS doesn't report job outlook data specifically for Cruise Ship Nurses, they project that employment of all Registered Nurses will grow by 6% from 2023 to 2031. This means that over 200,000 job openings will become available each year. Some of the demand is due to the ongoing nursing shortage, while additional jobs will be created by those who transfer to different occupations or retire from the workforce.

If you are a compassionate, empathic person and you like helping people at sea, and you are looking for something different and unique working experience, this could be a good opportunity for you. Have a safe contract, everyone.

Photo credit: Aida Cruises