How to Become an Oil Rig Nurse

Written by: Marie Hasty, BSN, RN Content Writer

Curious about the life of an oil rig nurse? This high-paying role entails living with your patients in remote locations. You’ll need the skills to think on your feet, work independently, and have a keen eye for safety.

Oil rigs are giant machines that extract oil and natural gas from deep within the earth. While you might picture them in the ocean, oil rigs can also be located on land — you can find them wherever the oil is located. Rigs operate 24 hours a day, year-round, and are manned by crews of around 200 workers at a time.

Oil extraction is one of the most dangerous jobs, with higher rates of injuries and fatalities than other professions. Onshore and offshore oil rig nurse jobs focus on safety, occupational hazard reduction, and emergency response. Do you have what it takes to thrive in this role? Find out more about oil rig nurse pay, responsibilities, and job requirements.

What Is Oil Rig Nursing?

Nurses on oil rigs help keep workers safe and treat injuries and illnesses when they arise. They may work as the only medical personnel on a rig, or among a team of other nurses and EMTs. Medical oversight, when needed, typically comes from remote providers. Rigs stay stocked with medical equipment and basic pharmacy supplies, so that trips to shore are reserved for emergencies.

Here are some sample responsibilities you might expect on an oil rig:

Responding to emergencies and treating injuries when they occur
Coordinating care when a crewmember needs medical evacuation
Treating non-emergency illnesses on board, such as influenza or stomach bugs
Monitoring crew members’ health
Educating the crew on healthy habits and rig safety
Stocking and managing medical supplies
Mixing and preparing medications
Maintaining accurate records of incidents, assessments, and treatments

What’s the routine like for oil rig nurses? Scheduling is typically in 12-hour shifts, with two weeks working and two weeks off per month. You might also be on call for emergencies. Roles can be assigned on a contract or an ongoing basis.

Pros and Cons of Oil Rig Nursing

Are you wondering, Can I be a nurse on an oil rig? Check out the potential benefits and drawbacks of this role.

Benefits:

Income: If you’ve got debt you want to pay off quickly, or you’re just looking for a high-paying travel nurse contract, oil rig nursing offers the ability to earn a high amount of income in a short period of time.
Unique experience: How many nurses can say they’ve worked on an oil rig? While this job is certainly not for everyone, nurses looking for a unique work environment might enjoy this role.
Independence: Experienced nurses might enjoy the ability to work on their own, with oversight from remote physicians and other providers.

Drawbacks:

Isolation: Some offshore oil rigs can be as far as 250 miles from land, so this job requires the ability to be away from friends and family for weeks at a time. Crews are mostly men, so female nurses may struggle to fit in.
Safety: Oil rigs can be hazardous for nurses as well as the crew. Taking proper safety precautions can reduce risk, but this is a more dangerous work environment than others.

Oil Rig Nurse Salary Expectations

How much do oil rig nurses make? Some sources report that oil rig nurses earn about $120,000 per year. If you break this down into the average oil rig nurse salary per month, this comes to about $10k. But remember that salary varies widely depending on the role, applicant experience, and other factors. Learn more about other high-paying roles for nurses.

How to Become a Nurse on an Oil Rig: 4 Steps

This role requires a nursing license, as well as experience. If you’re not a nurse yet, it’ll take at least four years to prepare for this role.

Step 1: Nursing School

First, you’ll need to gain the basic knowledge to become a nurse. There are two degree tracks for RNs:

Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN): A 2-year program offered at community colleges and technical schools.
Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN): A 4-year program offered at colleges and universities.

The ADN is the faster and generally less expensive choice, but the BSN is often preferred by employers and may offer more opportunities down the road. Learn more about comparing ADN vs. BSN degrees.

Step 2: Gain Your RN License

After graduation, you’ll need to earn state licensure to be eligible for practice. Below are the general requirements:

Submit an application to your state nursing board, including final school transcripts, a background check, and application fees.
Pass the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN).

Step 3: Get Experience

Jobs for oil rig nurses require a high level of independent judgment and clinical acumen, so you’ll need experience in order to qualify. Most new grad nurses enter the field through a nursing residency program, offered at hospitals and large medical centers. These programs help structure your first year of professional nursing, so you can make the transition with more support.

If you’re interested in oil rig nursing, consider gaining experience in any of the following areas:

Step 4: Apply for Oil Rig Nursing Jobs

Now it’s time to check out open roles and apply. You might need to earn additional credentials or certifications before submitting your application. These may include the following:

Basic Life Support (BLS)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET)
Further Offshore Emergency Training (FOET)

Learn About Other Non-Traditional Nursing Roles

If you’re curious about opportunities outside of mainstream nursing jobs, learn more about the following unique opportunities:

Looking for Something New?

Becoming an oil rig nurse isn’t the only way to shake up your career. Credenza has unique opportunities across the country. Whether you’re looking for jobs close to home or further afield, sign up for personalized job notifications to learn more about roles that interest you.