Palliative Care Nurse

NursingMin 2 YearsNursing roles at Mercy Ships deliver compassionate care and healing to underserved communities, supporting patients from surgery through recovery.Please carefully read the role description below to verify that you meet the requirements. The apply button can be found at the bottom of this page.Driven to provide hope & healing.Mercy Ships is an international charity that brings hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor through state-of-the-art hospital ships. Since 1978, our volunteer crew—made up of medical professionals and skilled workers from over 60 nations—has delivered free surgeries and medical care to over 2.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming lives one patient and one port at a time. Join our global team of over 3,000 volunteers and help us change lives daily.About This RoleThe Palliative Care Nurse assists in providing holistic end-of-life care to people who are suffering of a terminal illness. By caring for those often isolated, hopeless and fearful patients and their families, this position is a living example of God’s love and compassion for the weak, lonely and marginalized members of society. You will be working primarily off-ship visiting palliative care patients in their homes.RequirementsEach role with Mercy Ships calls for a unique blend of experience, skills, and qualifications. The info below outlines what’s needed to serve effectively in this position—to meet operational standards and to help you thrive as part of the team.Commitment Min 2 YearsWhat you will contributeSupport terminally ill patients and their family members through the grieving process, preparing them for deathTrain and assist family members with wound care for the afflicted personShare basic health principles with terminally ill patients and family members in order to improve their healthEncourage the use of local, affordable materials for wound care and locally available analgesiaEncourage the family to find ways to be self-supporting and teach them about planning for the futureAssist in reaching out to local healthcare professionals who care for palliative patients, build meaningful relationships, assess their practical and intellectual needs and assist them in sustainable and culturally appropriate ways, through mentoring and teachingFor This Role, You Will NeedSuccessful completion of Mercy Ships On Boarding program Current Registered Nurse license in home country, and nursing experience of at least 2 yearsExperience in working with different cultures and in low-resource environments requiredExperience in Palliative Care or in a similar field of nursing preferredTo be a person of integrity, with an active Christian faithTo be compassionate, humble and willing to be an emotional, spiritual and physical support to those in need of palliative careAbout The TeamYou’ll be part of the Hospital Wards Team, caring for critically ill and post-op patients onboard our modern, fully equipped hospital ships. You’ll work closely with surgeons, anaesthetists, local Day Crew, and international volunteers united by a shared mission.Apply NowFull Job Description Available Upon Request.Proceed to ApplicationFrequently asked questions.We are so excited that you are interested in learning more about serving with us. These are the most common questions we receive for this department. Please contact us if you have additional questions.SCAM ALERT: Please be aware of recruitment scams. Mercy Ships will never charge any fees as a part of the recruitment process. For more info click here.What are the medical requirements to serve with Mercy Ships?Click here for a list of medical requirements to serve, including required immunizations.How long can I serve?Mercy Ships provides opportunities to serve for various lengths of time, both in shorter-term or longer-term capacities. Those wishing to serve for more than twelve (12) months must first successfully complete our On Boarding Program (including Foundations of Mercy Ships). All positions have both minimum and maximum lengths of commitment.Please note: In principle, we believe that families are important, and encourage our staff and crew to maintain a healthy life/work balance, which includes not being separated for more than a six-month period. Do I need to be a registered nurse?Yes, Registered Nurses are preferred for most nursing positions, but we do have opportunities for other licensed personnel.Can a Nurse Anesthetist join as an Anesthesia Provider?Yes, we do accept Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists or the national equivalent as Anesthesia Providers. However, they must first join as an Anesthetic Assistant.Mercy Ships is a remote environment where supervision by a physician anesthesiologist cannot be guaranteed at all times. CRNAs wishing to work as an Anesthesia Provider must understand and agree to work in this situation and be able to take full responsibility for their actions. Therefore, CRNAs need to apply for an Anesthesia Assistant position in order for Mercy Ships to assess their comfort and skill level prior to joining as a Provider.Do I need malpractice insurance?Mercy Ships operates in a host country with a signed protocol in which the host government agrees to hold harmless all Mercy Ships staff and volunteer medical providers based on due diligence by Mercy Ships to provide qualified providers who work within their scope of practice. As such, Mercy Ships does not provide or require malpractice insurance for volunteer medical workers except those who will be providing medical care to our crew (i.e., Crew Physician, Crew Nurse, Crew Dentist, etc.). We will enroll the relevant volunteers and cover the expense.What will my schedule be (night/weekends/etc.)?Schedules vary depending on where you work. Ward and ICU nurses work rotating shifts, which will include nights and weekends. Operating Room staff and other ship-based teams tend to work weekdays, day shifts. Some days may be long.Teams that work primarily off-ship, including, Eye, and Palliative Care team members work Monday through Friday. These teams are usually in a hot environment and travel to and from their locations each day.Nurses Can Expect To Work Approximately 10 Shifts In Every 2-week Period And Receive One Weekend Off Every Two Weeks. All Shifts Are 8 Hours, Including Weekend Shifts. Nurses Will Work a Mixture Of Day And Evening Shifts, With 4-5 Night Shifts In a 4-week Period And Night Duty Is Expected Of All Ward Nurses. Shift Times Are As Follows:Day: 7:00 am – 3:00 pmEvening: 2:00 pm – 9.30 pmNight: 9:00 pm – 7:30 am These shift patterns subject to change What are the nursing responsibilities in the ward?Ward Nurses care for 5-7 patients of varying acuity on a day or evening shift and on a night shift, nurses care for approximately 10 patients. Our Ward Nurses are vital in caring for the patients of our busy surgical ward – dealing with simple incision lines and more complicated skin graft dressings, surgical drains, NG tubes, urinary catheters, IV fluids, IV antibiotics, nasopharyngeal airways and occasionally tracheostomies. Upon arrival, nurses are given the opportunity to tell us how comfortable they are with certain skills, which is taken into consideration when we assign patients.Our ICU Nurses care for ventilated and critically ill patients.Looking for more information? View our general FAQs to learn about life on board, volunteering, and more.General FAQsThe experience of a lifetime is calling.More than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations serve with Mercy Ships each year.At Mercy Ships, we are proud to be recognized around the world for the life-changing surgeries and training we deliver. We could not achieve this without our dedicated community of talented volunteers.Imagine finishing your shift and stepping onto deck as the sun sets—knowing that today you’ve helped transform the lives of those who need it most. Apply now to start a journey that will reshape the lives of those you serve—and your own.Captain Perez, Africa Mercy & Global MercyRachel Lubitz, Project Assistant, Global MercyFind Your Place On BoardFaith-Led Commitment to Diversity & InclusionMercy Ships is a faith-based organization welcoming volunteers from diverse backgrounds and experiences who are committed to our mission and values. All qualified applicants will receive consideration.Beware of Imposters: Confirm All Volunteer CommunicationsVolunteer opportunities and invitations to serve will always come directly from Mercy Ships’ official volunteer engagement teams. Never provide personal information to anyone without confirming their connection to Mercy Ships.Apply NowFull Job Description Available Upon Request.Proceed to Application“I think you get lifelong friends in a different way than I’ve done back home. I like the variety of people, cultures, and views.”Maria Ekstrand — Dining Room Team Leader“The more I'm seeing peoples' lives being transformed, the more I realize this isn't me giving away two years, it's me gaining two years. For me, it's more like a gift.”Eugene Ampadu (Videographer, Africa Mercy, Senegal.)