Our program is designed to provide dialysis patients the opportunity to enjoy a dream vacation as well as offering our medical staff the opportunity to sail on the world’s most beautiful cruise ships to truly exotic destinations. Our expectations from our care givers are very high. We strive to provide the absolute best and safest treatments possible. We use Fresenius 2008K machines on all of our cruises and require that our staff be proficient in the use of these machines.
For us to achieve our goals, we seek qualified medical staff that has the same vision and level of caring as we do. The program is predicated on a system that will provide you with a complimentary cruise in exchange for your professional services. Our patient capacity for any cruise will not exceed twelve patients. We dialyze in shifts of four patients at a time in most instances, depending on the space available on each particular ship. Dialysis treatments are typically performed three days a week. Our staffing ratio is two patients to one caregiver per shift. Under normal circumstances, caregivers can expect to work approximately 24 hours in a week. Nephrologists are expected to make rounds at every shift.
Qualifications
- You must have experience in hemodialysis for at least three years.
- You must be proficient in the use of the Fresenius 2008 K Dialysis machines. If you do not have experience with this particular machine, please indicate on the application which dialysis machines you are familiar with.
- You must be currently employed in the dialysis field and working in dialysis.
- All RN’s and LPN’s must have or be willing to obtain your own medical malpractice insurance. PROOF OF INSURANCE COVERAGE MUST BE PROVIDED
Terms and Conditions
Nurses and Technicians
- Dialysis at Sea® Cruises will provide the attending nurses and technicians with a complimentary inside stateroom cabin that also includes port charges and gratuities for the particular sailing. This will be shared with another staff member of the same gender.
- All other incidentals such as transportation to and from the airport, parking and others will be the nurse's responsibility.
Proof of citizenship is required to board all cruise ships. Dialysis At Sea Cruises requires all of our medical staff to carry valid passports for European cruises or cruises that begin and end in different US ports (i.e. Panama Canal) or a birth certificate AND government issued ID for cruises leaving and returning to the same port in the United States.
Once you have completed the application, please select the cruise you may be interested in. Keep in mind that you must have sailed once in the Caribbean and once in Alaska prior to qualifying for sailing to Europe, South America, Asia or any other exotic destinations. Please have several options prepared as we may already be staffed for the cruise you may be interested in. Contact our Medical Staffing department and make arrangements to be considered for the cruise.
Approximately two weeks prior to sailing, you will receive your cruise documents as well as a copy of the dialysis schedule for the particular cruise. The dialysis schedule is set up by Dialysis At Sea Cruises and cannot be altered for any reason unless a medical emergency or equipment emergency requires it. We do not, under any circumstances, adjust the dialysis schedule to accommodate shore excursions for either patients or medical staff.
On embarkation day, you will have been granted early boarding privileges. Please find the pier manager and advise them that you are a nurse with Dialysis at Sea Cruises and are expected to check in the ship’s infirmary/dialysis rooms for a meeting with the staff of DASC. Once granted access to the ship, please proceed immediately to the ship’s infirmary/dialysis rooms. Our Dialysis at Sea Cruises' biomed technicians will be completing the set up for your cruise and will answer any questions you may have. They will show you the location of the supplies, medications and any other items you may need. You will be introduced to the ship’s medical team and will review and coordinate emergency procedures. PCT’s will work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. Please feel free to question our technician in detail until you have reached a comfort and confidence level that will allow you to provide impeccable treatments.