Just joined this site trying to see if there is a need for medical personnel (nurse, medic, or doc) on ships? If so what would a person have to do to get a job? Have a masters degree as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with emphasis in Emergency Medicine/Trauma. Spent 5 1/2 years Navy then the rest in Air Force with two deployments to Iraq. Working fulltime in VA ER but would like to try working on a ship or oil platform.
The UK rules were a doctor was required if there were more than 12 passengers or 100 crew. Below that they were left to my tender administrations. One look at me pulling on rubber gloves over large and scarred hands was usually enough to create a Lazarus like moment.
Paramedics are normally carried on rigs, dive and construction support vessels and seismic vessels where there are large numbers of personnel.
If you want a good even time rotation (21 days on / 21 days off) then take a look at drilling companies in the Gulf of Mexico (Transocean/Seadrill/Valaris/Noble). All of the drillships carry a Medic. You’d have to verify the qualifications required, but it sounds like you’re more than covered.
From personal experience, master/officer, 3 months on/1off rotation; Sorry, it’s been a while and I don’t remember the medical staff rotation schedule .
Last I checked it was 4 months on, 30 days off paid, then back onboard for another 4 months. Some mention was made of a concession by MSC that you could take up to an additional 30 days off, unpaid, after the 30 days of paid vacation. Otherwise, back to the ship.
Whoever puts up with these idiotic schedules, I feel for them.