Home » Library » Nursing Careers » Cruise Ship Nursing
For a nursing career with exciting benefits, one should consider cruise ship nursing. All cruise ships must maintain at least one registered nurse (RN) on staff for the treatment of passengers. Most cruise ship nurses are trained in critical care or ambulatory nursing, as they must be prepared for anything while out at sea. However, most illnesses and conditions will be minor.
One of the greatest aspects of cruise ship nursing is the ability to travel the world on a luxury ship. Indeed, any downtime enjoyed by a cruise ship nurse is like a vacation. In between shifts, one can enjoy a lounge by the pool, a scuba diving excursion or sightseeing in foreign countries. Not many American nurses can see that they went shopping in Italy during their lunch break.
The perks of a cruise ship nursing position are great, but the job isn't without its challenges. Without access to a major hospital, cruise ship doctors and nurses must rely on their skill and knowledge. They are, in essence, stranded with all of their patients. For this reason, most cruise ship companies only hire experienced nurses with advanced degrees. RNs with years of practice in the field of critical care may wish to seek out this exciting position.