Are you ready to discover how your skills can become the heartbeat of our mission and find the role that resonates with your calling? Join us in bringing hope and healing to the people of Africa.
Are you ready to join us in bringing hope and healing to the people of Africa?
Volunteer and Change Lives
We're searching for compassionate medical professionals to fill pivotal roles on our hospital ships in the next six months. You can be part of an extraordinary journey, contributing your medical expertise to change lives and communities both now and for years to come.
Your decision to join Mercy Ships could be the defining moment that brings hope and healing to thousands in Africa.
Volunteer and Change Lives
We're searching for compassionate medical professionals to fill pivotal roles on our hospital ships in the next six months. You can be part of an extraordinary journey, contributing your medical expertise to change lives and communities both now and for years to come.
Your decision to join Mercy Ships could be the defining moment that brings hope and healing to thousands in Africa.
"Our community of faith— that worshiping, believing, sacrificial community — is the heart of Mercy Ships. And everyone that’s come to join us has their own story of how God called them. And that's why we’re here, for a kingdom purpose."
-Don Stephens, Founder
Most Immediate Needs
Volunteering on board means more than fulfilling a role: you’ll transform the lives of every person you serve. Your specific skills will help drive our mission of bringing hope and healing where it’s desperately needed.
Senior Biomed Technician
As the Senior Biomedical Technician , you'll play a key role in maintaining and managing our medical equipment. Your expertise will ensure the optimal functioning of life-saving devices through preventative maintenance, repairs, and calibrations. Beyond technical skills, you'll mentor others and oversee equipment in off-ship venues, showcasing your problem-solving prowess and contributing to our mission of healing.
OR Clinical Supervisor
As the Operating Room Clinical Supervisor aboard our ships, you'll lead our OR department, encompassing multiple operating rooms, PACU, and the Central Sterilizing Department. Your role is pivotal in ensuring safe and efficient perioperative care, driving excellence and continuous improvement in our surgical environment. With your strong leadership, organizational skills, and commitment to quality, you'll not only uphold our high standards of care but also inspire your team to transform lives, one surgery at a time.
PACU Nurse + Team Lead
As a PACU Nurse with Mercy Ships, you are at the heart of our healing mission, providing critical care to both adults and children following surgeries ranging from maxillofacial to orthopedic procedures. In your hands, patients find comfort and safety as they begin their recovery from anesthesia, with your diligent care guiding their initial recovery. Your expertise in managing post-operative needs will make a profound difference. With every patient you help, you're not just supporting recovery; you're restoring hope and transforming lives.
OR Nurse + Team Lead
As the OR Nurse General Team Leader, you'll lead the General Operating Room, coordinating surgeries and mentoring nursing staff. Your expertise in general surgeries and adept organizational skills ensure smooth operations and impactful patient care. You're not just a nurse; you're a guiding force in our mission to heal.
Ward Nurse
(Adult, Adult ICU, Pediatric + Pediatric ICU)
As a Ward Nurse, you'll provide vital inpatient care on our 20-bed ward, attending to both adults and children post-surgery. Your role is crucial in delivering comprehensive care for various surgical procedures, from maxillofacial to orthopedic surgeries. Working alongside a dedicated team and local translators, you'll ensure culturally sensitive, compassionate care, contributing significantly to our patients' healing journeys.
Senior Infection Preventionist
Lead our Infection Prevention and Control efforts aboard Mercy Ships, ensuring the highest standards are met in safeguarding patient health. By managing crucial IPC activities and educating our crew, your expertise will significantly reduce infection risks and enhance the safety and quality of care provided to communities across Africa.
Wound Care Team Nurse
As a Wound Care Team Nurse, your specialized skills in wound management will directly enhance patient recovery and outcomes. By providing expert wound care, including dressing changes and complex procedures, you’ll ensure every patient receives compassionate, safe medical care. Your contributions will significantly advance our mission of healing and transforming lives.
45+ Years of Hope and Healing
Since 1978, Mercy Ships has been bringing hope and healing to people without access to medical care. Our hospital ships are filled with volunteer doctors, nurses, mariners, IT staff, and more. Together we provide free surgeries and care to thousands of patients each year, like Aminata who was born with a cleft lip that made eating and speaking difficult. Thanks to our volunteers, today she smiles brightly and lives a life full of promise. She’s like one of so many children whose lives you will transform on board.
Through the faithful support of so many, over 2.8 million lives have been impacted. Our volunteers are the heart of our mission. Are you ready to find your place on board?
Start your journey of a lifetime
How to Apply
What to Know Before You Go
- Our crew volunteers pay their own way
- English language proficiency is required for all positions
- Mercy Ships is a Christian organization who serves people of all faiths
Our Recruiters are ready to help you through the process so you too can find your place on board!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, all Mercy Ships ship-based positions are unpaid, volunteer opportunities.
English proficiency is required for all positions in Mercy Ships, and fluency is required for some positions. French is beneficial, but not required unless stated on the job description.
For English proficiency, while Mercy Ships does not currently require proof of examination, we use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as a reference for English proficiency. All volunteers must be at level B1 on the CEFR scale (Independent User – Threshold or Intermediate) or higher in order to join onboard.
You may refer to the full summary of each level by clicking here.
Volunteers are responsible for transportation to and from a ship’s location and personal expenses while on board. Financial support is available for volunteers serving 24+ months, or for any crew in qualifying roles.
Mercy Ships welcomes a wide range of skills and demographics – we have a place on board for you! Here are a few details to keep in mind: All volunteers must be over 18 years of age to join, must be in good health, and meet the physical demands of living on board. Married couples and families are welcome to apply!
To learn more about Medical Requirements, visit this page: Medical Conditions for Volunteers
We recommend that volunteers apply six months before their preferred service dates, but the application process can be expedited. Applications can remain on file for up to two years. For an overview of the application process, check out our How to Apply page.
Mercy Ships primarily delivers care and service in West Africa. All volunteers fly into an airport close to a ship’s port location and are transported to their ship by a Mercy Ships representative. (Don’t worry! Our team will guide you when the time comes to book your air travel.) Sailing isn’t involved unless your service dates line up with a sail – we remain in port for 10 months. For more info on our ships, visit Our Ships.
To view our Immunization Checklist, click here.