The Perks of Traveling as an LPN Cruise Nurse
An LPN cruise nurse on
a cruise line might hold the job of second or “crew nurse”. He or she might also be the dental nurse on ships
that are equipped with dental facilities. The responsibilities are the same or similar to those in any other
healthcare environment, but the “perks” are much better.
Doctors and nurses on the ship are treated as
officers. They wear uniforms, comparable to those worn by other officers and everyone has a name
tag. The pay and the number of hours worked varies from one cruise line to the next, but if you
get the job, you can expected to be placed on a rotating call schedule.
Some ships have three cruise nurses. In that
situation, the cruise nurse rotation would require you be on call once every three days for a 24
hour period.
Most ships have clinic hours, as
well. During that time, crew members and passengers may visit the clinic for minor illnesses or
injuries. Inevitably, a passenger will forget to pack their regular medications and need to
visit the doctor to obtain a refill or prescription.
So, basically, the same things go on aboard ship that
occur in any doctor’s office or hospital. But, an LPN cruise nurse on a cruise liner is still working in a
very different environment.
In most cases, you would only be working a 4 hour
shift in a clinic. A large portion of your day can be spent enjoying the scenery or the
aboard-ship activities. You will have time to spend ashore as well when the ship docks for
sight-seeing.
Your accommodations will be free and the rate of pay
is usually higher than what you make on land. After completing a contract, many companies offer
free accommodations for your spouse, as well. Your transportation to and from the ship is
covered, too.
An LPN cruise nurse enjoys
free meals, just like the rest of the crew. Other bonuses may be offered, as well.
Other than treating the occasional case of
seasickness, you aren’t likely to run into a disease that you wouldn’t ordinarily see. So, no
special education is required. The only thing that you may need is an up to date passport or a license that is
transferable from one location to another. Most employers and services offer assistance in
obtaining the necessary licensing.
How easy is it to find this kind of job? If you are
interested in being an LPN cruise nurse, you might want to sign up with a travel nurse placement agency. Most nurses feel that a service is the
easiest approach.
Other Career Paths to Consider:
LPN Home Care Nurse
LPN Travel Nurse
LPN Crusie Nurse
LPN Hospital Nurse
LPN Military Nurse
Elderly Care Nursing
Hospice Nursing
Return to the home page for more information on LPN responsibilities.
|