Have you ever wondered what it would be like to manage people’s health while traveling to various locations on a cruise ship?
As you probably know, a medical team is always on board to assist with any health issues that might arise as passengers enjoy themselves and the vacation.
I recently caught up with my friend Maria, a nurse on a cruise ship. She’s always got wild stories to share, from treating seasick passengers to handling unexpected emergencies. But one thing everyone asks her is, “How much do cruise ship doctors and nurses actually make?”
So, in this article, we’ll learn the roles of cruise ship doctors and nurses and their salaries.
Let’s get in!
The Role of Medical Staff on Cruise Ships
So, what do doctors and nurses do on a cruise ship? As you can imagine, their job is essential on cruise ships. They work to keep everyone safe and healthy and have different daily tasks and emergencies to handle.
Typical Medical Emergencies
No surprise, one of the most common medical issues on cruise ships is motion sickness.
During each cruise, different passengers become seasick, especially if they are traveling on a cruise ship for the first time, and they didn’t bring remedies from home.
Guess they didn’t read my list of cruise essentials.
The second kind of emergency is related to small Injuries.
With all the fun things to do on the ship, people can get cuts, bruises, and injuries. The medical staff always try to take care of these quickly.
In the article on the 13 mistakes to avoid on cruise private islands, I told you about how common sea urchin stings are, especially for those who do not wear water shoes.
Many people can also get sick on the cruise due to weather changes or any other reason. In these conditions, medical staff is always there to help them feel good and healthy.
And lastly, thankfully more rarely, there could be severe health problems like heart attacks. The medical is trained to handle these emergencies and give life-saving care.
Daily Responsibilities
Apart from emergencies, the medical staff has other daily jobs that include:
- Routine check-ups: they do regular health checks for passengers and crew members.
- Medication management: they make sure everyone who needs medicine gets it on time. Especially for people who have forgotten at home the medication they are supposed to take daily.
- Record Keeping: they keep detailed records of all medical treatments and conditions.
According to American College of Emergency Physician guidelines, ships must have medical staff on call 24 hours.
Qualifications and Requirements
To become a doctor or nurse on a cruise ship, you need to meet certain requirements. They may change slightly depending on the cruise line, but in general, they are all very similar.
Education and Experience
It is important to mention that doctors and nurses who work on cruise ships have to be trained as staff in other medical facilities. This can take several years, including medical or nursing school coursework.
They must also have some experience in hospitals and emergency rooms because anything might happen in the middle of the cruise.
Special Training
But that’s not all. The medical staff employed on cruise ships also requires specific forms of training. They have to know about health laws applied to maritime activity and understand how they can work in a small medical center aboard a moving ship.
Some doctors and nurses even enroll in classes on how to survive in the sea. This means that they remain efficient, as is the case even when the ship is crossing a storm.
Certifications
It was also noted that the doctors and the nurses on the cruise ships have to meet particular requirements; they have to be certified. These might include ACLS for doctors and BLS for nurses, but the best training program should always depend on the physician’s experience.
Such certifications show that they are capable of handling critical health issues such as heart attacks.
Specific Requirements
Working on a cruise ship is quite different from working in a hospital. Medical team members should be willing to spend several months on board a ship as they give medical services.
They also require good language skills to communicate with individuals worldwide. Proficiency in several foreign languages is a great advantage.
How Much Do Cruise Ship Doctors and Nurses Make?
Ok, so now comes the most interesting part: How much do cruise ship medical staff earn?
Well, according to different sources, the doctor’s average monthly salary is between $9,000 to $18,000. While the nurses make approximately $5,000 to $7,500 per month.
As you can see, this is definitely higher than other jobs on ships. You can check out the other salaries in the article on how much cruise ship workers make.
In addition, the ranges are quite wide. The difference depends on the cruise line, the individual experience, and the specific tasks the doctor or nurse is responsible for.
Apart from this, these medical professionals also receive different benefits.
In particular, on cruise ships, they usually get free meals, accommodation, medical insurance, retirement plans, and obviously the incredible opportunity to travel the world.
The last thing in particular adds a lot to their overall compensation package.
Medical services on cruise ships are generally very expensive. Consider purchasing travel insurance!
Challenges
Like all jobs, these also have downsides. The most common challenges that doctors and nurses on a cruise have to face are:
- Time Away from Family: It might be difficult to be away from loved ones during a contract that lasts several months (usually 6).
- Long Hours: On call 24/7, always ready for emergencies (although this can also happen in land-based work).
- Limited Resources: This job requires innovation and fast thinking, as it uses fewer tools than in a large hospital.
- Isolation: Spending months at sea on a ship can make one feel alone and isolated.
- Rough Seas: Working during rough weather can be physically challenging.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! Cruise ship doctors and nurses are important for keeping everyone healthy, and their wages are among the highest on cruise ships.
Doctors on cruise ships are among the highest earners. Above them are only the officers, some engineers, and the captain.
If you are also curious about how much the captain makes, you can find the figures for each cruise line in this article.
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