Ski resorts are fun and exciting places to work, but there’s more to a nurse’s job than just dealing with patients. A ski resort can be a much smaller place than a regular hospital or medical facility, which means that nurses will have fewer patients per shift and less access to equipment like labs or X-Rays.
However, that doesn’t mean that being a nurse at a ski resort is impossible! You’ll just need to get ready for some changes in your day-to-day routine as well as certain aspects of your career path.
In this article we’ll discuss how nurses can adjust their skillset for working in these smaller hospitals and clinics; what kind of duties they might do on average days; what kinds of opportunities exist for advancement within the field; and more!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Nursing at a ski resort involves providing medical care and assistance to guests and staff members. |
| To work as a nurse at a ski resort, you typically need to be a registered nurse (RN) with a valid nursing license. |
| Nursing at a ski resort is different from traditional nursing roles, with a focus on sports-related injuries and specific environmental challenges. |
| Acquiring certifications like Wilderness First Responder (WFR) can be beneficial for nurses interested in ski resort nursing. |
| Job opportunities as a nurse in a ski resort can be found through online job boards, resort websites, networking, and healthcare staffing agencies. |
Nurses at Ski Resorts Can Work Different Shifts
Nurses at ski resorts may work different shifts than they would at a hospital or other medical facility.
In many cases, nurses who work in ski resort facilities are more likely to be asked to work night shifts and split shifts, rotating shifts that alternate between days and evenings, or long hours.
Because of the nature of their jobs, many ski resort nurses find it beneficial to take courses in outdoor survival techniques like first aid and wilderness medicine.
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Nurses Might Work in Smaller Facilities
If you’re a smaller facility, you may have fewer patients and less access to staff, equipment and supplies. The more remote the facility is, the more likely it is that there will be fewer specialty specialists on call.
Nurses can work at any ski resort in a variety of settings.
| Facility Size | Number of Nurses |
|---|---|
| Small | 15 |
| Medium | 35 |
| Large | 50 |
Nurses May Be the Only Person on Staff Who Can Provide Care
Most ski resorts are small, with only a few hundred employees. In these cases, it’s likely that the nurse is responsible for all of the care at that resort.
If you’re interested in working at a ski resort, but want to be able to provide more patient care than what is typical on staff there, this may not be the place for you.
However, if your goal is just to get some experience in the field before moving into nursing school (and then becoming a permanent RN), this could be perfect!
However – because most staff members at resorts do not have any medical training and do not know how to handle an emergency situation – if anything does happen during your shift or while skiing off-property with friends or family members who are visiting from out-of-town…you’ll probably be their only hope!
Nurses Might Need to Be Able to Handle the Altitude
If you’re going to work in a ski resort, you should know that the altitude can cause altitude sickness.
The symptoms of this condition include nausea, vomiting and headaches. Nurses should be able to recognize these signs so they can treat their patients before the condition gets worse and more dangerous.
For people with heart or lung problems, having an episode of altitude sickness could be a life-or-death situation. Nurses need to be on the lookout for those signs so they can help them quickly and effectively.
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Nurses Need to Be Comfortable With Bad Weather Conditions
You will also need to be comfortable with the weather, as there are many days that your shift starts when it’s still dark and ends in the late afternoon when it is still light. You might have a nice sunny day for skiing, but what about the days where you are working?
Nurses need to be able to work in bad weather conditions like rain, snow and wind. And if you’re at an outdoor resort in Colorado or Utah, then this is even more important because those two states get quite a bit of snow.
The good news is that being outside lessens some of the risks associated with being indoors during your shift as well!
A nurse who works inside all day may be exposed to germs from sick patients; however, nurses who work outdoors don’t often encounter these types of infections because they aren’t constantly coming into contact with people who are sick or contagious.
| Brand/Provider | Comfort Level (on a scale of 1-10) |
|---|---|
| Brand A | 8 |
| Brand B | 6 |
| Brand C | 9 |
| Brand D | 7 |
| Brand E | 5 |
Nurses May Not Have Access to a Lab or X-Rays
While it’s true that many ski resorts don’t have labs and x-ray machines, nurses are still able to provide care without them.
A nurse should be able to consult with a doctor if they need to, so the lack of access is not an issue. Most doctors would rather their patients be seen by a qualified professional rather than an amateur who cannot diagnose or treat conditions properly.
If you’re concerned about whether or not your nursing school will accept your transcript from working as a nurse at a ski resort, know that most schools will accept it as long as you meet all other requirements for entry into their program (e.g., GPA).
That said, if you’re planning on applying for a job in healthcare later on after graduation, keep this experience in mind when considering how best to market yourself during the interview process!
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Nurses May Not Have Access to a Pre-Hospital Care Location
If you’re a nurse and you’re excited about working at a ski resort, it is important to note that not all ski resorts have a pre-hospital care location.
A pre-hospital care location is where people can be treated for minor injuries or illnesses until they are stable enough to go home or make the trip to their local hospital.
If your ski resort does not have this type of facility, then those who are injured at your resort may need to be transported by ambulance to another hospital nearby (or possibly even more than one).
This could result in delays in treatment, which could lead to more serious health issues later on down the line.
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Nurses May Require Additional Training in Certain Areas of Care
For most people, the idea of being a ski nurse will be alluring. However, there are a few things that you should consider before taking the reins in this medical field.
You will need to get additional training in certain areas of care. Nurses may require additional training in avalanche rescue, winter sports medicine, wilderness medicine, winter sports injury prevention and first aid.
Furthermore, nurses who work at ski resorts must be able to perform CPR on skiers and snowboarders who are injured or become ill while on the mountain.
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| Area of Care | Brand/Provider A | Brand/Provider B | Brand/Provider C | Brand/Provider D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pediatrics | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Geriatrics | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Critical Care | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Oncology | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Nurses at Ski Resorts Will Likely Have Less Patients Per Shift than They Do in Regular Facilities
Ski resorts are often smaller than hospitals, and so nurses in these facilities will likely have less patients per shift than they would in a regular hospital.
This could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your perspective: It may mean that you can give more attention to each individual patient, but it also means that there’s no one else around for you to delegate care to if you get busy.
As a ski resort nurse, you’ll probably be the only person on staff who can provide care for patients.
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Conclusion
If you’re interested in working as a nurse at a ski resort, it might be an excellent opportunity. You will have less patients per shift than you do in regular facilities, but there are still some things to consider before applying for this job.
Are you willing to work long hours? Can you handle the altitude? Would being isolated from other medical professionals bother you? If so then go ahead and apply! It’s not easy work but it does pay well.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on the topic:
- CU College of Nursing: Wilderness Ski Patrol Nursing
- Learn about the role of nursing in wilderness ski patrol and the unique challenges and opportunities it presents.
- GoAbroad: Nurse as Healthcare Counsellor at International Ski Camp
- Explore the exciting possibility of working as a nurse and healthcare counselor at an international ski camp.
- Indeed: RN Ski Resort Jobs
- Find job opportunities for registered nurses in ski resorts and discover the range of nursing roles available in these unique settings.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to nursing at a ski resort:
What are the responsibilities of a nurse at a ski resort?
A nurse at a ski resort is responsible for providing medical care and assistance to guests and staff members. They may administer first aid, treat injuries, manage medical emergencies, and ensure the overall well-being of individuals at the resort.
What qualifications are required to work as a nurse at a ski resort?
To work as a nurse at a ski resort, you typically need to be a registered nurse (RN) with a valid nursing license. Some resorts may also require additional certifications such as Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
How is nursing at a ski resort different from traditional nursing roles?
Nursing at a ski resort involves providing healthcare in a unique environment with specific challenges, such as cold weather injuries, altitude-related conditions, and a focus on sports-related injuries. It often requires the ability to work outdoors and collaborate with ski patrol teams.
Are there specific training programs for nurses interested in ski resort nursing?
While there may not be specific training programs exclusively for ski resort nursing, acquiring certifications like Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or joining organizations focused on outdoor healthcare can be beneficial for nurses interested in this field.
How can I find job opportunities as a nurse in a ski resort?
To find job opportunities as a nurse in a ski resort, you can search online job boards, visit resort websites, network with professionals in the industry, or reach out to staffing agencies specializing in healthcare placements at ski resorts.
Hellen James is an outdoor enthusiast, writer, and hiker. She loves to explore the world around her by immersing herself in nature and visiting new places.
