Are you ready to use your professional skills to transform lives? Then we want you to join us in our mission to bring hope and healing to the people of Africa.
Join us in our mission to bring hope and healing to the people of Africa.
Volunteer and Change Lives
We are looking for passionate nurses to help us bring state-of-the-art medical care to underserved communities in Africa. Your care and expertise will profoundly impact the lives of adults, children and families.
Your decision to serve with Mercy Ships could be the defining moment that brings enduring hope and healing to countless lives across 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.
"Everyone that’s come to join us, short term, long term has their own individual story of how God called them, of how important perseverance, sacrifice, determination and remembering why we’re here, is because of a kingdom purpose."
-Don Stephens, Founder
Most Immediate Nursing Needs
Adult ICU Nurse
As an Adult ICU Nurse with Mercy Ships, you will play a pivotal role in providing hope and vital medical care to the most underserved communities in Africa. Your will bring comfort and healing in our ICU and wards, where every patient interaction is a chance to touch and transform lives. Join us in a mission where your skills deliver not just health, but hope, to those who need it most.
PICU Nurse
As a PICU 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.
Ward Nurse
Nurses from every specialty have an irreplaceable role to play in our patient’s lives. If you aren’t an Adult or Pediatric Nurse, but want to serve the people of African nations, reignite your purpose, and bring hope and healing to those with little or no access to medical care, apply today. You’ll have the chance to work alongside a dedicated team and local translators to ensure culturally sensitive, compassionate care, contributing significantly to our patients' healing.
Preoperative Nurse
As a Preoperative Nurse with Mercy Ships, you’ll play an important role in helping patients prepare for their life-changing surgeries. You’ll work closely with doctors and other team members to ensure everything is in place, from tests to follow-up care. By guiding patients and their families through the process with compassion, you’ll help ease their concerns and make a lasting impact on their journey to healing.
Crew Nurse
As a Crew Nurse with Mercy Ships, you’ll be the go-to person for healthcare needs on board, ensuring our volunteer Crew and Day Crew receive the best care possible. From arranging check-ups to administering immunizations and offering health talks, you'll support the wellbeing of those who serve. Your role is essential in maintaining a well-functioning clinic and providing peace of mind to the volunteers who keep our mission moving forward.
Operating Room Nurse
As an Operating Room Nurse with Mercy Ships, you’ll be at the heart of the surgical team, caring for patients during some of the most critical moments of their journey. You'll assist surgeons, scrub in for surgeries, and ensure a clean, safe environment. Your attention to detail and care will make all the difference in helping patients through life-changing surgeries, giving them a chance at a healthier future.
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.
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.