Medical Department

Chief Doctor / Physician Job Requirements:

• Must hold a diploma from an accredited school of medicine
• Minimum of three years of formal post-graduate/ post-registration clinical training.
• Board certification or equivalent in Emergency Medicine, Family Practice or Internal Medicine.
• Current certification as an ACLS Provider (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) or its equivalent, unless Board Certified in Emergency Medicine.
• ATLS (Trauma) Certificate and PALS (Paediatric) Certificate helpful, but not mandatory.
• Some experience or a willingness to learn simple laboratory and x-ray procedures.
• Current license, extensive experience with cardiac and primary care, trauma, internal, and emergency medicine.
• Excellent command of the English language required (both spoken and written).
• Previous cruise ship experience preferred.

Chief Doctor salary range: $8,000 – 12,000 U.S. per month, depending on the cruise line and accumulated experience with the company.

Senior Doctor Job Description:

The Chief Doctor is the highest ranking Medical Officer and a head of the Medical Department aboard the ship. He/ she oversees and supervises the work activities of the subordinate positions within the cruise ship Medical Department: Physician, Lead Nurse, Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurses (there are up to six registered nurses or nurse practitioners on a large cruise ship). He/ she reports to the Captain of the ship as well as to the Fleet Medical Director at the head office of the cruise line. The ship’s Chief Doctor is responsible for the basic and emergency medical treatment of the passengers and in some cases of the crew members (when required). He/ she deals with wide range of medical conditions – evaluation and treatment of medical, surgical, gynaecological and paediatric problems; suturing of wounds; incision and drainage of abscesses; evaluation of ophthalmologic emergencies; reduction of simple dislocations, splinting and immobilization procedures; Advanced Cardiac Life Support procedures and treatments (ACLS) including emergency airway management; administration of thrombolytic agents.

Ship Doctor Job Requirements:

• Must hold a diploma from an accredited school of medicine
• Minimum two-three years of formal post-graduate/ post-registration clinical training
• Board certification or equivalent in Emergency Medicine, Family Practice or Internal Medicine.
• Current certification as an ACLS Provider (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) or its equivalent, unless Board Certified in Emergency Medicine.
• ATLS (Trauma) Certificate and PALS (Paediatric) Certificate helpful, but not mandatory.
• Some experience or a willingness to learn simple laboratory and x-ray procedures.
• Current license, extensive experience with cardiac and primary care, trauma, internal, and emergency medicine.
• Excellent command of the English language required (both spoken and written).

Ship Physician salary range: $7,500 – 11,000 U.S. per month, depending on the cruise line and accumulated experience with the company. Possibilities for promotion to Senior Doctor position.

Cruise Ship Doctor Job Description:

The doctor/ physician reports to the ship’s chief doctor and supervises the ship’s lead nurse, nurse practitioners and registered nurses. The physician is responsible for the basic and emergency medical treatment of the crew members and in some cases of the passengers (when required). He/ she deals with wide range of medical conditions – evaluation and treatment of medical, surgical, gynaecological and paediatric problems; suturing of wounds; incision and drainage of abscesses; evaluation of ophthalmologic emergencies; reduction of simple dislocations, splinting and immobilization procedures; Advanced Cardiac Life Support procedures and treatments (ACLS) including emergency airway management; administration of thrombolytic agents.

Nurse Practitioner Job Requirements:

• Must posses a diploma from an accredited nursing school.
• Current certification as Nurse Practitioner with three years clinical experience.
• Must be able to perform BLS (Basic Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) procedures and treatments.
• Some experience or a willingness and aptitude to learn simple laboratory procedures and operation of an x-ray machine.
• Emergency Room and General Practice background preferred.
• Experience with cardiac care, trauma, internal medicine preferred.
• Excellent communication skills and good command of the English language, knowledge of additional language(s) is a plus.

Nurse Practitioner salary range: $5200-6100 U.S. per month starting salary depending on the cruise line and accumulated experience with the company.

Nurse Practitioner Job Description:

The Nurse Practitioner provides medical care to both passengers and crew members plus performing administrative duties in the Medical Clinic aboard the cruise ship. The Nurse Practitioner reports to the ship’s Chief Doctor, ship’s Physician as well as to the Fleet Chief Nursing Officer at the head office of the cruise line. She/ he is also responsible for maintaining illness, injury and diarrhoea logs of guests and crew members. The cruise ship nurse practitioner maintains and orders proper medical inventory for the ship’s clinic and is involved in first aid training for crew members. The cruise ship nurse practitioner along with the other nursing personnel aboard the ship is called first in cases of medical emergency. She/ he is responsible for maintaining first aid supplies and medications for first aid boxes and lifeboat canisters.

Lead / Chief Nurse Job Requirements:

• Must posses a diploma from an accredited nursing school.
• Current certification as Registered Nurse (RN) with minimum three years clinical experience.
• Must be able to perform BLS (Basic Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) procedures and treatments.
• Some experience or a willingness and aptitude to learn simple laboratory procedures and operation of an x-ray machine.
• Emergency Room and General Practice background preferred.
• Experience with cardiac care, trauma, internal medicine preferred.
• Excellent communication skills and good command of the English language, knowledge of additional language(s) is a plus.

Ship Lead/ Chief Nurse salary range: $4800-5800 U.S. per month starting salary depending on the cruise line and accumulated experience with the company.

Cruise Ship Lead/ Chief Nurse Job Description:

The Lead/ Chief Nurse is in charge of the nursing staff aboard the cruise ship and reports to the ship’s Physician, ship’s Chief Doctor as well as to the Fleet Chief Nursing Officer at the head office of the cruise line. The Lead Nurse is an experienced ship’s nurse who is responsible for providing and co-coordinating appropriate passengers and crew health care, appropriate functioning of the Medical Clinic and is also responsible for facilitating supervision of the other registered nurses within the cruise ship Medical Department. She/ he performs inventory control of supplies and medicines and takes care of other administrative duties, such as placing orders, arranging storage of stock, billing for medications and services, equipment checks and accurate patient record keeping.

Ship Nurse Job Requirements:

• Must posses a diploma from an accredited nursing school.
• Current certification as Registered Nurse (RN) with minimum two – three years clinical experience.
• Must be able to perform BLS (Basic Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) procedures and treatments.
• Some experience or a willingness and aptitude to learn simple laboratory procedures and operation of an x-ray machine.
• Emergency Room and General Practice background preferred.
• Experience with cardiac care, trauma, internal medicine preferred.
• Excellent communication skills and good command of the English language, knowledge of additional language(s) is a plus.

Cruise Ship Nurse salary range: $4200-4900 U.S. per month starting salary depending on the cruise line and accumulated experience with the company. Possibilities for promotion from to Lead Nurse position.

Ship Nurse Job Description:

The ship’s nurse is an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) responsible to provide appropriate day-to-day health care to passengers and crew members aboard the cruise ship. The cruise ship nurse reports and works under the direction of the ship’s lead nurse, ship’s physician and ship’s chief doctor. She/ he is called first in case of medical emergency aboard the cruise ship providing first aid care until arrival of the ship’s physician. The ship nurse performs nursing care in a proficient, calm and professional manner during routine work shifts as well as duringa crisis, increased workload or emergency situations. She/ he initiates nursing intervention for non-urgent patients, such as but not limited to ice application, dressings, splints and bandages, calculates correct drug dosage and administers medication as per physician’s prescription/order. She/ he also assist the physician with procedures/ treatments, document nursing interventions/ observations and sets up treatment rooms, checks emergency equipment, maintains established par levels of medical supplies/ medications.

The Paramedic is a part of the medical team aboard a cruise ship and works alongside experienced nurses and doctors. The Paramedic is the first line of medical care aboard, responds to emergency situations, treats the sick and injured and then continues that care in the medical center as part of cruise ship’s medical team.

Job requirements: Nationally registered paramedics with minimum 2 years of paramedic experience and current professional certifications.