Nurse for Royal Caribbean Cruises

Nurse for Royal Caribbean Cruises

Department: Deck

Employment Type: Contract

Location: Shipboard

Description

Position Summary:

This person is expected to provide medical nursing services to all Guests and Crewmembers who need it. The Nurse shall assist the Staff Captain, Senior Doctor, Doctor and Chief Nurse in all shipboard health‑related matters including outbreak prevention and illness reporting as required by international, national and Company policies. To consistently exceed guest expectations and provide the highest levels of product and services, additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Required Documents:

• STCW Documents
• Basic Training: Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting/Medical First Aid/Personal Safety and Social Responsibility, Personal Survival Technique, Security Awareness
• Seaman’s Book (Continuous Discharge Certificate)

Upon Boarding, Nurses must bring the following documents or their photocopies: Nursing School Diploma, ACLS, BLS, and professional license certificates that are valid for the entire length of their contract. It is the responsibility of the Nurse to take the courses and tests that are necessary to keep these licenses valid, along with any necessary post graduate credits.

Qualifications:

• Current and in good standing Register Nurse licensing.
• Minimum of three (3) years recent experience in the fields of Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Critical Care Unit, or Trauma Unit.
• Intermediate to Advanced verbal and written level of English.
• Must provide a chronology of all medical activities since graduation from nursing school.

Education:

• Diploma/degree from an accredited nursing school or university.
• Valid nursing license from country or State/Province of origin.
• Current certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support with renewal every two years.

Key Responsibilities

• The Nurse shall understand the Safety and Quality Management System (SQM) and carry out the policies and procedures appropriate for his/her position.
• Provide administrative assistance to the Doctor and Senior Doctor including completion of medical forms/reports.
• Ensure confidentiality of medical information.
• Provide first‑aid instruction for crew members as directed by the Doctor, the Staff Captain and oversee the operation, good order and cleanliness of the Medical Center and Secondary Medical Space.
• Assist the Doctor in carrying out his professional responsibilities and duties.
• Provide nursing care for minor and major emergency situations for passengers and crew.
• The Nurses need to triage every patient. It is the responsibility of the Nurse to immediately inform the Doctor when she finds or suspects that a patient has a life‑threatening condition or abnormal vital signs.
• In addition to assisting the Doctor with patient care, the Nurses have a variety of administrative responsibilities in relation to care of guests and crew and management of the Medical Facility and pharmacy.
• All Nurses become fully versed with the policies and procedures of the ship. Each Nurse will serve at scheduled times on a medical “on‑call” roster each day and assist the Doctor on duty.
• When any member of the medical staff receives a telephone call or otherwise becomes aware of a potentially serious guest or crew medical issue outside established office hours, that contact should be followed‑up by an in‑person visit with the patient by a member of the medical staff, which should then be documented accordingly in medical records.
• The Nurse must participate in all lifeboat and emergency drills held on board unless excused by the Staff Captain.
• The Nurse must also assist in maintaining a proper inventory level of pharmaceutical and medical supplies.
• Risk Management and the Director of Medical Operations should be advised of any substantial missing items or supplies.
• The Nurse must follow company’s policy for inspection of diagnostic and life‑support equipment for proper working order.
• The Nurse must ensure that all expired medications are removed from the shelves and are disposed of according to environmental policies or, if applicable, returned to the vendor if a medication has any refund value.
• Test the water samples delivered to the medical facility using the method designated by Public Health (such as Colisure) and maintain a log of test results. The Nurse must report any positive or negative findings immediately to the Doctor and the Staff Captain.
• While on duty, the Nurse must answer the telephone in the Medical Facility. Personnel should always answer politely: Medical center, Nurse (name), speaking.
• The Nurse is involved in the provision of medical care to crew members who are injured or ill while in service of the ship. The Nurse will request appointments for shoreside referrals via the Crew Medical Department.
• Maintain current medical records for all crew members.
• Schedule appointments for the regular shipboard medical examinations of crew members enrolled in the wellness program.
• The Nurse’s daily work schedule is determined by the chief nurse. The duties may include the following:
• Ensuring proper inventory, maintenance, and sanitation of the Medical Center.
• Completing accident reports and maintaining Crewmember physical examinations.
• Maintaining Acute Gastroenteritis logs for U.S.P.H. or port health authorities and reporting as required.
• Executing Code Alpha / Star Code procedures regardless of being on duty or not.
• Executing air and land evacuation procedures.
• Training and leading stretcher teams in fire and lifeboat drills, and first‑aid training for crewmembers.
• Sterilizing surgical instruments according to company policy.
• Providing first aid supplies for first aid boxes.
• Proper accountability and disposal of hazardous wastes and used sharps.
• Overseeing cleanliness of the Medical Center.
• Actively participating in crewmember education and training programs.
• Maintaining records and narcotic counts.
• Properly filling out and distributing all forms associated with the medical department.
• Performing other related duties as assigned or directed. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning logically related duties.
• Advising the Doctor when patient waiting times increase or higher than usual patients are waiting to be seen, possibly calling another Doctor to help improve satisfaction.
• Maintaining all first‑response bags and secondary medical space bags.
• Cooperating and following infection‑control office instructions regarding infection control and public health matters.

Dimensions

• The Nurse on duty will, at all times, carry a two‑way communication device or hand‑phone, ready to respond to emergencies.
• The incumbent must be able to work in a multi‑cultural environment and adjust to changes in schedules, assignments and deadlines.

Attributes

• Maintain a positive behavior with Guests and Crewmembers.
• Work well with Medical Center team members.
• Passionate about hospitality and customer‑service driven.
• Have a professional appearance and good hygiene.
• Respect all co‑workers and guests.
• Impeccable behavior aboard the ship.
• Maintain decorum outside the medical center to the highest standards.
• Alcohol intake is unacceptable while on duty.
• Pride in your work by creating positive energy, excitement and fun.
• Able to work 7 days a week.
• Demonstrate positive behaviours; smiling, being polite and courteous.
• Able to develop camaraderie with team members.
• Ability to live in close quarters, share limited space with other cabin‑mates.

Physical Requirements

While performing the essential functions of this job, all team members are required to stand; walk long distances on the ship; use hands to touch, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk, hear, taste and smell. All vessel positions require repetitive motion of bending, climbing, going up and down stairs and being able to lift up to 50 pounds. This job requires specific vision abilities including close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. All team members must be physically able to participate in emergency life‑saving procedures and drills. All vessel positions require full use and range of arms and legs as well as full visual, verbal and hearing abilities to receive and give instructions in the event of an emergency, including the lowering of lifeboats. Work within different temperature changes—indoors to outdoors. Able to pass basic safety course. This is a minimal description of duties; other work requirements may be necessary and assigned as business or maritime law dictates.