Travel nursing while cruising

[johnnybago]

I am interested in anyone's experiences with cruising lifestyle and working part time as a travel nurse.

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[Kenomac]

That sounds like a good idea, I'm also a registered Nurse in the US. But unfortunately, here in the Mediterranean EU the pay rate is less than minimum wage in the US due to socialized medicine and national salary caps. So it's a no go over here in the Med. Nobody here even wants to be a nurse.

I inquired in Italy and spoke to a few former nurses, thinking it would be a good way to learn to speak Italian. 18,000 euro annual pay cap for a cardiac care nurse... no overtime pay.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, johnny.

[Crew of Turning]

Just one comment because my Admiral has her own Nursing practice. Can you obtain dome form of malpractice insurance that will travel with you? You may be helping people for sure but, there are still vengeful creeps out there.

[johnnybago]

Thanks for your input. Our cruising plan takes us to the Caribbean and we are researching travel nursing in various islands. Our dilemma is taking a travel nursing position for 3 months then cruise for 3 months. Will taking a 3+ month break between travel nurse job's be a problem. How much demand is there for travelers in the Caribbean? We have also considered volunteering for a medical mission during our travels.

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[Paul L]

Trying to line up a job that also lines up with cruising plans and cruising seasons can be tough. My wife works a few months a year. She is in nursing education and usually ends up traveling to Africa for portions of each job.

[kmcshane]

There is Schneider Regional Medical Center in Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas that has had openings for medical personnel. You might try there because they seem to have needs on part time basis. One caveat, a friend worked for several months without a paycheck, then was payed a lump sum towards the end of the contract. Lots of trauma, I'm told, which seems surprising, and very busy. Competitive US salary and short term contracts might be a good fit.

[TOPGALLANT32]

I am a sailing travel nurse. Been doing it since 1997 and havent looked back !
the best of both worlds.

[Bleemus]

I met some nice nurses from the UK in Antigua. They were doing 4 months at the hospital and then moving on. Going around the world one hospital at a time.

[roverhi]

The lesser travelled areas always have need of medical expertise. You are talking very poor people, however. They will pay you in food and goodwill which is more than enough to keep you going with a basic cruiser lifestyle and ingratiate you into the local milieu but won't pay for the yacht. Would assume that any permanent job will mean staying in a more or less permanent location which doesn't lend itself to a cruising lifestyle.

[gypsea67]

That is our plan in two years. Looking at cruising the Caribbean and finding jobs along the way. We have also considered working 3 months in California as many hours as we can and cruise the other 9 months.

[amiller]

Originally Posted by kmcshane

There is Schneider Regional Medical Center in Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas that has had openings for medical personnel.

This is true, there always seem to be listings for positions at Schneider. My wife is an ER doc, and is considering some shifts when we cruise through the area. It appears to be a similar style of medicine, although the pay is somewhat less and--as another commentator pointed out--sometimes irregular.

There is another hospital in St. Croix, also chronically short staffed that has a regular need. We have a friend that worked there; he reported frequent equipment shortages and technology outages, but he enjoyed working with the rest of the staff.

A quick google search should take you to Schneider's job postings...

[jenders]

Hello Topgallant: My partner is entering the nursing field with the idea of doing travel nursing while we cruise. Would you be willing to share with her your experiences? Thanks and regards, John

[Kenomac]

Travel nursing usually or rather always requires several years of working in an acute hospital setting before hire. A traveler is expected to be able to perform all duties required with little to no orientation. Any graduate brand new out of nursing school can expect to spend some time working in a nursing home, then two to three years in a hospital before they need apply as a traveler.

[TOPGALLANT32]

sure,
pm me and we can do it via email