Volunteering with Mercy Ships on a Travel Nurse across America Sponsorship
Travel Nurse across America has partnered with Mercy Ships to sponsor two volunteer nurses a year for an 8-week assignment on Mercy Ships. This philanthropic partnership coincides with the TNAA brand and mission.
About Mercy Ships: Mercy Ships mission follows the 2000-year old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor. This global charity organization uses hospital ships to provide free life changing surgeries, Dental Care, Agriculture Training, Palliative care and Capacity building to impoverished countries. Mercy Ships has been operating hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. They currently have one vessel, the Africa Mercy, which is docked in Madagascar until June of 2016.
The assignment: • Accepted nurses will serve on board Mercy Ships, Africa Mercy as a RN volunteer crewmember for an 8-week assignment. • Location is determined on where Mercy Ships is docked at the time of the nurse assignment. • Exact dates will be determined between the nurse, TNAA and Mercy Ships.
Eligibility: • Any travel nurse that has completed a minimum of two 13-week assignments with TNAA within last 12 months. - All references, license and credentials must be up to date. • Must meet all TNAA & Mercy Ship experience qualifications. - Due to maritime medical regulations and other requirements, those with certain disabilities and/or health histories may not be able to serve with Mercy Ships. - A recent physical evaluation and health history must be submitted - Travelers are required to be licensed and have 2 years of post-licensed experience. • Those who can support TNAA’s and Mercy Ships’ Mission, Vision and Values and are willing to abide by Mercy Ships Code of Conduct. • Spouses may also apply to serve but are not eligible for the TNAA sponsorship funding if they are not currently an active TNAA traveler. • Due to limited housing, no families can be accepted. Please note: Due to maritime medical regulations and other risk factors involved with serving in Africa, those with certain disabilities and/or health histories (including but not limited to diabetes, cardiac incidents, and severe allergies) may not be medically approved to serve with Mercy Ships.
How to apply: • Must contact your TNAA recruiter or TNAA’s Director of Marketing, Angie Morgan at [email protected] • If you qualify, you will be directed to complete a Mercy Ships application online. YOU MUST NOTIFY TNAA BEFORE COMPLETING THE MERCY SHIPS ONLINE APPLICATION. • Write a short essay stating why you want to volunteer for Mercy Ships and why you feel you should be chosen for the TNAA sponsorship. • Email your essay to your TNAA recruiter or Director of Marketing. • TNAA’s Director of Quality Assurance will coordinate with you on any additional information or credentials Mercy Ships requires. • TNAA will submit qualified applications (see eligibility section qualifications) to Mercy Ships for their review and possible acceptance.
Sponsorship cost: • Travel Nurse across America will approve a sponsorship for each 8-week assignment with Mercy Ships. Sponsorship amount will vary based on assignment. - Sponsorship will cover the cost of any application fees, physicals and immunizations required by Mercy Ships. Crew fees, airfare and transportation to and from the ship will also be covered. - TNAA will provide a taxable monthly stipend of $1,000 to assist in covering personal expenses while away from home. - All insurance and other personal expenses will be the responsibility of the traveler. Please note: Mercy Ships suggests all crew members budget $50/week for personal expenses, (such as souvenirs, meals out, snacks, excursions, etc.)
Acceptance: • TNAA Mercy Ships sponsorships are limited to two travelers a year. • Travel Nurse across America’s advisory board will review all completed applications and essays from interested travelers. • TNAA will submit qualified applications to Mercy Ships. • Mercy Ships has the final decision of which travelers will be accepted for an assignment based on open positions, housing availability, and qualifications. Processing is usually done in four to six weeks. • Once accepted, the traveler will receive available assignment dates (dates are subject to change based on Mercy Ships needs) and an acceptance packet. • Mercy Ships will communicate with traveler and TNAA on all assignment information and details. • TNAA will be the nurses’ direct point of contact to fulfill any additional requirements (physicals, documentation, immunizations), travel arrangements and all other processes to prepare them for the assignment.
Additional requirements: • This is a volunteer opportunity only. Nurses accepting the Mercy Ships assignment will perform services on Mercy Ships as a volunteer. At no time during any portion of the Mercy Ships assignment will a volunteer nurse be deemed a TNAA employee. • TNAA will not provide or be responsible for Life & Casualty or Workman’s Compensation insurance for the traveler. Mercy Ships has an Emergency evacuation and repatriation insurance from Talent Trust Consultants (TTc), which is included in the crew fees for crew serving less than two years. Medical benefits under this policy are only available in the event of an emergency evacuation. While it is not required for crew serving less than two years to have additional health insurance, it is strongly encouraged by Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships suggest two options for purchasing additional medical and non-medical coverage: - Option 1: Purchase the Mercy Ships Top Up Plan from TTc which includes extra medical and non-medical benefits. To add this additional coverage, go to TTc website and apply for the standard Outreach program. As long as you mention that you are with the Africa Mercy and Mercy Ships, you will automatically be given the special Top Up rates. - Option 2: Purchase short-term travel insurance. Short-term Travel insurance is available in most countries and is often offered when you purchase your tickets through a travel agent. Cost is variable depending on the product you choose and the level of coverage. • The nurse must sign a waiver releasing TNAA of any responsibility for damages, injuries, illness or death that may occur while on a Mercy Ships assignment. • Nurses accepting the TNAA Mercy Ships sponsorship will be required to keep an online journal or blog, including photos, about their trip and experiences on Mercy Ships. Blog entries should be made weekly. • Once accepted for the assignment, instructions for the online journal/blog will be sent to the nurse.
Questions: • General: - Please visit Travel Nurse across America’s website www.nurse.tv • Regarding your application or eligibility: - Contact your TNAA recruiter • What to expect on board the ship: - Watch these Mercy Ships videos. o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu73D_VCB1w o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC3qK7oVeO4 • Sponsorship questions please contact your recruiter or Angie Morgan at [email protected]