Mercy Ships
FAQ’s for Potential
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Maxillofacial/ENT |
Urogynecologic (VVF) |
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Ophthalmic |
Orthopaedics |
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General Surgery |
Plastic |
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RNs are preferred for most nursing positions, but we do have opportunities for other licensed personnel.
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I’m an… |
If I am able to commit at least this long… |
I might be able to serve as… |
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LPN |
1 month or longer |
Eye Care team Outpatient/Post-op Unit |
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CNA, EMT |
2-6 months |
Dental or OR sterilizer Healthcare Supply Assistant |
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6 months – 1 year |
Dental Receptionist Assistant Dental Coordinator |
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1+ year |
Dental Coordinator* Eye Field Team Coordinator* Eye Ship Team Coordinator* Hospital Secretary* Hospital Administrative Asst* Ophthalmic Field Team Med Review (EMT) |
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Pharmacist/Pharmacist Tech Clinical experience preferred |
3 months or longer. Prefer to have at least one long-term pharmacist |
Pharmacist Assistant Pharmacist |
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CRNA |
2 weeks – long term |
Anesthesia Provider |
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Biomedical Technician |
Long-term preferred. Short-term to cover vacations for long-term personnel. |
Biomedical Technician |
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Surgical technicians, ODP, ODA |
2 weeks or longer |
Position will be determined based on skills and experience. |
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Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Physician’s Assistant |
2 months or longer. Preference is for personnel available for 10-11 months (full field service). |
Specialty Care Coordinator for reconstructive surgery, orthopedics, women’s health, or ophthalmology. |
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Radiology Tech |
2 months or longer |
Radiology Tech |
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Radiologist |
Short-term, 2 weeks, around screening time only |
Consultant radiologist for first few weeks of field service, when we will perform bulk of CT scans. |
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Internal Medicine, Family Practice, or General Practice Doctors |
Need varies. Positions currently filled by long-term crew, but will need staff to provide coverage on a short-term basis for vacations, etc. |
Crew Physician Hospital Physician |
*Additional qualifications required. Educators should have some background in training. Secretary and Administrative Assistant positions require computer literacy. Coordinator positions require demonstrated leadership and organizational skills.
Yes, we have some limited opportunities for general surgeons. The operations performed most frequently are hernia repairs and non-cancerous tumor removals.
Most of our positions in the hospital require an active and valid license. Medical students often want to come for an elective session, but we do not have personnel on board to facilitate these opportunities. There are positions which do not require a license (such as sterilization assistant or central supply assistant), but they are unlikely to meet a medical or nursing student’s objectives.
You must hold an active license in good standing in your home nation. You will be asked to submit copies of your license and diploma and may have to submit passport photos and complete an additional application for registration in our host nation. If you can submit this with your application, it expedites the process.
Mercy Ships operates in a host country pursuant to a protocol in which host government agrees to hold harmless all Mercy Ships staff and volunteer medical providers (including physicians) based on due diligence by Mercy Ships to provide qualified providers and that negligence is not involved. Furthermore, legal council advises that suites brought outside of the host country are a possibility in our increasingly litigious world. Each medical provider should check with their own insurance carrier as to their exposure that results from volunteer international activities. At this time Mercy Ships is looking into options to provide this but at this time is unable to offer any malpractice insurance for volunteer medical workers.
A minimum commitment is specified for each position, based on the orientation required and need for consistency. While it is easier for a member of the surgical team to come for only two weeks, ward nurses require a more extensive orientation and therefore should come for a minimum of two months. Because of the difference in time zones, coming from the US or Pacific region for only two weeks can be harder than coming from Europe for two weeks.
Schedules vary depending on where you work. Ward nurses work rotating shifts, which will include nights and weekends. OR staff and other ship-based teams tend to work weekdays, day shifts. Some days may be long. Physicians, anesthesia providers, and OR nurses rotate evening/weekend call.
Dental personnel, Community Health Educators, Eye field team members, Mental Health team members, and Palliative Care team members work off the ship Monday through Friday. This means they are usually in a hot environment. During rainy season, you’ll get wet!
You can expect to work approximately 10 shifts in every 2 week period. You will usually receive one weekend off every two weeks. We work 8 hour shifts during the week and 12 hour shifts at the weekend. You will work a mixture of day and evening shifts, with 4-5 night shifts in a 4 week period. Night duty is expected of all ward nurses. Shift times are as follows:
You will care for 5-7 patients of varying acuity on a day or evening shift. On a night shift, you will care for approximately 10 patients. We have a busy surgical ward, so you will care for patients with simple incision lines and more complicated skin graft dressings, surgical drains, NG tubes, urinary catheters, IV fluids, IV antibiotics, naso-pharyngeal airways and occasionally tracheostomies. When you arrive, you will be given the opportunity to tell us how comfortable you are with certain skills and this will be taken into consideration when you are allocated a patient assignment. We have an ICU where ICU nurses care for ventilated and critically ill patients.
We generally are not able to accommodate families, though we sometimes may accommodate couples. This is strictly a housing issue. A final decision on couples housing, if the spouse is not filling a position in the Hospital, may be delayed until 2 months prior to the time of service. Family housing is typically reserved for long-term crew (those who have made commitments of 2 years or more).
Scrubs
are provided who are involved in direct patient care. You may choose to bring
your own scrubs if you like a bit of personal style, etc. but you would be
responsible for laundering any personal scrubs.
Mercy Ships follow the WHO recommendations for essential medicines and has its own essential medicines formulary guidelines in the form of a book and list since 2002. The latest edition can be downloaded here.
Updated 31-May-2009