Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner

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 role

The Nurse Practitioner is primarily responsible for the delivery of primary healthcare, urgent care, and occupational health services in the Crew Clinic. Working under the clinical leadership of the Lead Crew Physician, the role supports the health and wellbeing of crew and other team members while contributing to the effective operation of the Crew Clinic.

In addition to Crew Clinic responsibilities, the Nurse Practitioner provides medical support to the Hospital as required, including consultation, treatment, and care of surgical inpatients in collaboration with ward team leaders, anesthesia providers, and surgeons. While the role functions across both clinical areas, Crew Clinic responsibilities remain the primary focus and take precedence when competing clinical demands arise.

The Nurse Practitioner also participates in a shared out-of-hours on-call roster with Crew and Hospital Physicians, providing urgent medical care for crew, team members, guests, and hospital patients as required.

What you will contribute

• Report to the Crew Clinic Nurse Manager and work under the clinical leadership of the Lead Crew Physician, collaborating to ensure coordinated and high-quality medical care delivery.

• Provide medical consultations, triage and treatment in the Crew Clinic for team members (crew, land-based staff, day crew, contractors, visiting staff) and guests onboard.

• Deliver chronic disease management for crew members enrolled in Wellness programs.

• Advise crew on accessing external medical consultations or routine screenings such as mammograms and cervical smears, that cannot be managed onboard.

• Participate in online clinical case management meetings with the off-ship medical review team, including reviews of crew on medical leave and other relevant cases.

• Collaborate with the medical review team to support required medical assessments and vaccination requirements for crew members planning to extend their service onboard.

• Work closely with the Lead Crew Physician, Chief Medical Officer, and others regarding complex medical cases.

• Assigned to the ship muster list as an active member of the Emergency Medical Team, in compliance with maritime regulations and emergency management requirements.

• Conduct medical reviews, including tuberculosis skin testing and/or screening chest x-rays for incoming day crew, in collaboration with an external radiology provider.

• Provide communicable disease support, including clinical care and monitoring for crew in cabin isolation.

• In the Hospital:

• Assess and treat patients throughout the peri-operative phase, including pre-operative evaluation and optimization of chronic medical conditions (e.g., hypertension and hyperthyroidism), management of inpatient medical concerns, and post-operative medical care.

• Round on inpatients with surgeons and/or charge nurse to monitor patient progress and coordinate treatment plans.

• Consult and collaborate with ward leadership, anesthesia providers, and surgeons to develop, coordinate, and evaluate patient care throughout the peri-operative continuum.

• Provide urgent care outside normal working hours during evenings and weekends, for Crew, other Team Members, and onboard Guests.

• Provide clinical consultation and treatment for hospital patients and, when required, patient caregivers within the wards and low care unit.

• Provide on-call medical care for unwell perioperative patients residing at the off-ship Hospital Outpatient Extension (HOPE) Center who are transferred onboard for clinical assessment and review.

• Attend Emergency Team calls as the clinical lead for the Emergency Medical Team during emergency responses while on duty, coordinating patient management and overseeing clinical decision-making.

• Participate in Crew and Occupational Health review board and committee meetings and other meetings as required.

• Provide or advise on medical briefings at mandatory crew meetings, pre-sail briefings, and as required briefings such as disease outbreak updates.

• Deliver health education to the crew by advising on, or presenting, topics of interest or necessity at community gatherings.

• Prepare crew health maritime requirements for sailing (Declaration of Health, minimum sailing list requirements) in compliance with maritime laws and safety regulations.

• Actively contributes to the maintenance and continuous improvement of patient care quality standards.

• Maintain required professional licenses, certifications, and clinical practice standards.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the vessel’s Safety Management System relevant to assigned duties.

• Assist in the development, editing and review of Crew and Occupational Health policies and procedures.

For This Role, You Will Need

• Understand and apply servant leadership, work collaboratively with integrity, and demonstrate accountability.

• Clear and professional verbal and written communication skills are required.

• Ability to respond promptly to requests and to obtain, manage, and communicate information in a timely and confidential manner.

• Demonstrate flexibility and sensitivity to cultural and language diversity.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Proficiency in computer applications, particularly Microsoft 365 including Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint.

• Able to live in and contribute to community life, requiring stable and healthy interpersonal skills.

• A background check / criminal records check is required.

• Fluent in written and verbal English.

• Supportive of Mercy Ships mission and vision and committed to its core values.

• Adherence to the Mercy Ships Code of Conduct.

• Attend and participate in all official community/departmental meetings and team meetings/devotionals.

• Achieves a high level of trust in relationships, respects others, is open and honest, and admits mistakes.

• Works cooperatively and actively engages with others by sharing responsibilities and information.

• Develops rapport with Team Members and maintains positive working relationships through clear and effective communication.

• Education and Experience

• The requirements listed below are representative of the education and/or experience required.

• Successful completion of the Mercy Ships Onboarding (Gateway) program.

• Registered Nurse Practitioner, or equivalent, able to practice independently with a current, unrestricted license in the licensing country.

• Evidence of active clinical practice within the past 12 months.

• Five years of post-graduate Nurse Practitioner clinical experience is required. Specialization in General Practice, Family Medicine, or Internal Medicine is preferred; Nurse Practitioners trained in Emergency Medicine may be considered based on relevant experience and demonstrated practice pattern.

• Demonstrated pediatric clinical experience is required.

• Successfully completed, or is willing to complete:

• Advanced Life Support (ALS or ACLS) certification.

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.

• Maritime Basic Safety Training in accordance with STCW A-VI/1-1 to 1-4, as required per maritime law. Training may be offered and provided through Mercy Ships if not completed prior to service.

The 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.