Job Description

Healthcare Assistant

Department: Medical

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Global

Reporting To: Senior Nurse

We are hiring Healthcare Assistants to work onboard our global fleet of cruise ships. This is an essential role in the medical department, supporting the practice with clinical and administrative tasks while working closely with the other medical staff on the team. They assist in providing basic patient care and attend to crucial administrative work during routine care in daily clinics and emergency cases. Healthcare Assistants often serve as the first point of contact for the medical department to guests and crew, contributing to the delivery of excellent customer service standards.

IMPORTANT: Please download the Procedural Skills List PDF file listed on the documents section of this page before clicking apply. You will need it in the next step before submitting your application.
Patient Care Responsibilities

• Performs diagnostic testing, such as laboratory tests, EKGs.
• Assists with basic triage, including assessment of vital signs, verification of patient details, allergies, and documenting the purpose of the visit.
• Assists with administrative tasks during General Ship Emergency Alert events, Medical Response Team events, such as timekeeping and note-taking as directed by the team leader.
• Where permitted, operates medical equipment appropriately and safely, reports discrepancies and malfunctions to Senior/Lead Nurse.
• Ensures health records are accurate, concise, timely and complete.
• Shows the ability to function as an effective medical team member by completing allocated tasks appropriately and promoting a harmonious working environment.
• Facilitates the sale of over-the-counter medications.
• Supports the medical team with providing non-specialized clinical care under supervision, to include but not limited to:
  • Collecting specimens such as blood and urine
  • Processing laboratory tests and documenting test results.
  • Performing ECG’s.
  • Assisting medical staff with wound care.
  • Assisting with patients’ transfer onboard or ashore.
  • Assisting patients with basic activities of daily living such as feeding, dressing, hygiene, and oral care.
  • Assisting medical staff with manual handling, transferring, holding, and positioning patients for procedures.
  • Providing basic life support care in collaboration with other medical staff as directed.

Patient Experience

• Interacts and communicates with guests and crew in a professional and empathetic manner.
• Consistently demonstrates sensitivity to every patient’s culture, age, gender, ability, and socioeconomic status.
• Listens attentively, is respectful and considerate, and uses non-technical language when communicating with patients and caregivers.
• Adheres to Company's Procedures on safeguarding children and vulnerable individuals. Reports any concerns to the Senior Doctor.
• Participates in regular reviews of patient feedback to continually improve patient satisfaction.
• Promptly and effectively assists in the evaluation of patient complaints; participates productively in service recovery strategies.
• Provides telephone support, and physically welcomes patients in a responsive, friendly, and caring manner; registers patient demographic details in SeaCare, and billing authorization.When foreign language proficiency is needed for patient care, provides translation support.

Professional Responsibilities

• Routinely demonstrates appropriate time management and organizational skills.
• • Recognizes limits of own abilities and knowledge, asks for help, and escalates as needed.
• Seeks, and readily accepts feedback.
• Changes practice and behavior as appropriate in response to feedback, suggestions, audit findings and performance reviews.
• Handles conflict constructively and effectively; recognizes own strengths and opportunities to improve.
• Stays up to date with Company required credentials; uses Company Learning platforms to complete Company mandated training and competencies (PDR's)
• Shares knowledge with others; assists with teaching team members in meeting required competencies.
• Analyzes own self learning needs and develops personal learning plan; is receptive to learning new skills; uses online learning and reference resources; participates in on board learning opportunities.
• Complies with continuous quality improvement standards of the medical service.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Actively participates in departmental meetings.

Public Health and Infection Prevention and Control Responsibilities

• Adheres to Medical Center Infection Prevention and Control measures.
• Undertake outbreak response tasks as directed by the Senior Doctor and Senior Nurse. Work as part of the Medical Team on the management of infectious diseases outbreaks onboard.
• Assists with preventative health and educational programs, and crew participation in wellness programs.

Medical Center Administration:

• Assists with processing patient bills, as directed by medical staff and per Medical Center procedures.
• Assists with inventory management, including counts, orders, and restocking office consumables and supplies.
• Assists with routine facility, equipment and supplies checks per Company Policy, assists with continuous maintenance requirements, and reports any deficiencies promptly.
• Effectively performs administrative tasks associated with day-to-day operation of the medical center, including scanning, photocopying, archiving, filing, and electronic or physically posting and delivering documents, as necessary.
• Schedules and coordinates patient visits, and follow-ups, health screening and wellness visits and vaccination programs.
• Proficient in the use of all IT (Information Technology) systems applicable to the medical service and role requirements.

Safety and Compliance

• Adheres to the guidelines, policies, and principles of his or her applicable professional registration body.
• Routinely performs General Emergency Organization duties as directed in the Ship's Emergency Response Plan.
• Ensures compliance with MLC (Maritime Labor Convention) hours of Rest; demonstrates flexibility and workload adjustments to meet operational needs.
• Stays up to date and complies with all applicable Company Procedures and standards in Global HESS, Operating Line procedures, other Company policies and relevant governmental regulations, and integrates them into practice.
• Identifies and reports any potential patient safety risks, and assists with investigations to analyze root cause, identify learning opportunities, and suggest corrective actions where necessary.

Corporate Culture

• Demonstrates commitment to the Company’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Acts as a Company representative and portrays a positive image to all guests and crew.
• Establishes and maintains professional, effective, and motivated working relationships across all functions and disciplines, considering differences in cultures, backgrounds, and individual personalities.
• Supports the overall welfare of the crew and regularly encourages strong and enthusiastic participation in the crew activities.
• Actively promotes a safe and harassment free culture within the department.

Application requirements

Successful candidates must hold the following:

• Qualifications Healthcare Assistant, LVN, LPN, Nurse Assistant, Enrolled Nurse, Emergency Medical Technician, or any qualification above those.
• Experience and background at least three years of practice in any accepted qualification roles, with current or recent experience.
• Basic Life Support certification is obligatory before joining a vessel and should remain valid throughout the employment.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential; other languages are an asset.
• Computer literacy and proficiency with Microsoft 365 in the Windows operating system are essential.
• Electronic Health Records experience and proficiency are essential.
• Personality outstanding interpersonal, customer service, and communication skills; ability to work cohesively in a small, diverse team.
• A valid passport for at least six months
• Eligibility to be issued a United States C1/D Visa (not applicable for US and Canadian citizens)

Job highlights

• An international work environment with learning opportunities
• Access to the ship's amenities and entertainment
• Discounted prices onboard shops and SPA
• Free gym access and crew welfare program
• Cruise benefits for self and friends and family
• Travel expenses to join a vessel and return home, utilities, accommodation, meals, uniforms, laundry and stewarding are included.