[imagesource: MedAire]

You might have heard of Mercy Ships.

It’s an international fleet of ships, including a South African vessel, that sail around the globe bringing much-needed medical professionals and healthcare services to the world’s poorest populations.

Many of these people are unable to get the healthcare, surgeries or procedures that they need until a Mercy Ship docks at a nearby harbour.

The story that you’re about to read is also about healthcare practitioners on boats, sailing all over the world, only this time they’re helping people at the other end of the wealth spectrum

Take it away, Forbes:

Most yachts over 300 feet contain mini-hospitals, or secure medical rooms, and yacht nurse staffing agencies can barely keep up with the increase in demand following the coronavirus outbreak.

As yacht owners find themselves virtually isolated in their foreign locations, the need for onboard medical protection is an urgent necessity.

Numerous superyachts are already out on open waters waiting for the coronavirus to die down from the safety of their luxury decks – just ask billionaire David Geffen. He’ll be happy to tell you that we’re all in this together, from his yacht in the Grenadines.

More on the nursing staff that many yacht owners have hired to keep them healthy:

One superyacht nurse staffing agency Wilson Halligan currently advertises the nursing position as less glamorous than it may sound, since it often means nurses also act as stewardesses.

“A nurse/stewardess is expected to maintain the onboard medical ward and nursing stations. This would include stock take, ordering supplies and recording inventories.

Depending on the yacht owners’ health, they may be required for certain medical duties; otherwise, they are on standby awaiting the need for medical attention. There are often two nurses working together and sometimes even an onboard doctor on some of the much larger vessels.”

Yacht nurses are often also required to participate in housekeeping and service – and we know how tough that can be. One nurse who chose to remain anonymous tells of a yacht owner with a traumatic injury that had to be treated, but they were too far out from land to helicopter him out.

The yacht she works on has an x-ray machine and a Hyperbaric chamber. She ended up taking care of the client with medication and an IV as the yacht continued its course closer to shore for surgery and medevac.

All yacht nurses need an ENG1 Medical Certificate, and most have at least two years of experience working as a registered nurse.

Some of the most famous yachts – including the one that David Geffen is currently hiding out on – have fully staffed medical rooms with private nurses.

And now these superyachts are using support vessels for overflow equipment, and guests, as well as SOLAS-approved hospital rooms. Among them: Game Changer, McCarthur Explorer Yacht, Alexander, and Intrepid (built for billionaire Eric Schmidt to accompany his Infinity superyacht).

How nice of them.

Billionaires aside, it’s important to remember the nurses and doctors all over the world, fighting COVID-19. Not all heroes wear capes.

We salute you.

[source:forbes]