Palliative Care Nurse Team Leader

Mercy Ships is an international charity that brings hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor through state-of-the-art hospital ships. Since 1978, our volunteer crew—made up of medical professionals and skilled workers from over 60 nations—has delivered free surgeries and medical care to over 2.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming lives one patient and one port at a time. Join our global team of over 3,000 volunteers and help us change lives daily.

About this role

The Palliative Care Nurse Team Leader leads the Palliative Care team to provide holistic end-of-life care to people who are suffering of a terminal illness. By caring for those often isolated, hopeless and fearful patients and their families, this position is a living example of God’s love and compassion for the weak, lonely and marginalized members of society. You will be working primarily off-ship visiting palliative care patients in their homes.

What you will contribute

• Support terminally ill patients and their family members through the grieving process, preparing them for death

• Train and assist family members with wound care for the afflicted person

• Share basic health principles with terminally ill patients and family members in order to improve their health

• Encourage the use of local, affordable materials for wound care and locally available analgesia

• Obtain appropriate consults from the Crew Physician, about pain management and other medical questions regarding the terminally ill patients

• Reach out to local healthcare professionals who care for palliative patients, build meaningful relationships, assess their practical and intellectual needs, and assist them in sustainable and culturally appropriate ways, through mentoring and teaching

For This Role, You Will Need

• Successful completion of Mercy Ships On Boarding program

• Mercy Ships Alumni preferred

• Current Registered Nurse license in home country, and nursing experience of at least 2 years

• Experience in Palliative Care preferred or experience in similar field of nursing

• Current Basic Life Support certification is required; ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) are optional

• Previous experience of leading small teams preferred

• To be a person of integrity, with an active Christian faith

• To be compassionate, humble and willing to be an emotional, spiritual and physical support to those in need of palliative care

The experience of a lifetime is calling.

More than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations serve with Mercy Ships each year.

At Mercy Ships, we are proud to be recognized around the world for the life-changing surgeries and training we deliver. We could not achieve this without our dedicated community of talented volunteers.

Imagine finishing your shift and stepping onto deck as the sun sets—knowing that today you’ve helped transform the lives of those who need it most. Apply now to start a journey that will reshape the lives of those you serve — and your own.