How to Become a Disney Nurse

Nurse Types / Disney Nurse

Nursing can be challenging and stressful at times. Depending on where you work, it also can be loads of fun! If you’re looking for nursing opportunities that take you to whole new worlds, then you may want to consider a job as a Disney nurse.

There’s a reason Disneyland is called “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Working at Disney has its perks. Disney has 12 parks located in six different resorts worldwide. This allows you the opportunity to expand your horizons in a new place while treating first aid issues.

Fewer opportunities exist to combine your love of nursing with your love for Disney.

In this article you’ll learn:

• What is a Disney nurse?
• What do Disney nurses do?
• How do you get a job as a Disney nurse?
• What are the salary and career outlooks for Disney nurses?
• FAQs

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What is a Disney nurse?

A Disney nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who works in Disneyland parks and resorts. In your role as a Disney nurse, you’ll provide healthcare services to on-site Disney employees and visitors.

Think of yourself as the first line of defense if a park employee or guest becomes injured. Your primary role is to provide first aid when needed.

Your job duties range between cleaning and bandaging minor cuts to assessing a guest or staff member for dehydration or other heat-related conditions. In some emergency situations, you may be required to:

• Assess whether a higher level of care is needed
• Provide medical support services until emergency responders arrive

One thing is certain when you’re a Disney nurse. There’s never a dull moment on the job. You’ll be working with a unique set of patients in this nursing role.

Qualities of a successful Disney nurse

Disney nurses must be compassionate and patient above all else. In your role, you may be dealing with very young children who can be difficult patients under certain circumstances.

Some of the other qualities of a successful Disney nurse include:

• Calm, friendly personality
• Confidence working alone to treat patients
• Critical-thinking skills
• High-energy
• Problem-solving abilities

What do Disney nurses do?

Be prepared to provide top-notch care in a variety of situations. One moment you might be giving ibuprofen to a parent with a pounding headache. The next, you could be calling for an ambulance because a guest has fallen and broken an arm or leg and requires more care than you can give on site.

No matter what circumstances you face throughout the day, you can expect to use your RN education and experience to the fullest as a Disney nurse.

Some of your typical tasks throughout the day can include:

• Assessing injuries and illnesses
• Documenting medical records used by the Corporate Medical Clinics
• Providing first aid, basic life support, and initial trauma care to employees and guests
• Responding to on-site medical emergencies

The best part of all is you get to work with people from around the world. Thousands of guests from across the globe visit Disney theme parks and resorts each year.

A day in the life of a Disney nurse

A typical day in the life of a Disney nurse can range from bandaging minor boo-boos to treating Mickey and Minnie for heat exhaustion (those costume get toasty!).

You don’t have to worry about donning a costume yourself. However, you may find yourself calling on a Disney princess or other popular character to help calm one of your patients during treatment.

As with any amusement park, accidents are inevitable. You can expect a large part of your day to involve administering first aid and deciding whether your patients need additional off-site medical care.

Common conditions treated by Disney nurses

Cuts and scrapes are one of the most common conditions treated by Disney nurses. Guests – especially young children – can get minor injuries during their visits. Some of the other illnesses and injuries you might see throughout your shift include:

• Chest pain or shortness of breath
• Head injuries
• Motion sickness (dizziness, nausea, fainting)
• Neck or back pain
• Seizures

Employees can experience a variety of illnesses and injuries that send them to you for first aid. Costumed workers are at the most risk of being knocked down or otherwise injured by overzealous children (and adults) excited to see them.

How do you get a job as a Disney nurse?

Disney parks and resorts are among the happiest places on earth. Vacancies for staff nurses don’t last long, so you’ll need to act quickly once one is posted.

Qualifications

Becoming a Disney nurse is easy if you have the right qualifications. First things first, you must have your RN licensure.

You can become an RN by completing an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The final step in becoming an RN is to sit for the NCLEX exam. There are many study guides including the NCLEX-RN Practice Exam (NPE) to help you pass on the first try.

According to Disney Careers, you must meet some basic qualifications once you have your RN license. They include:

•  3 or more years of occupational health or related public health field experience
• Ability to manage complex or sensitive medical situations
• Active CPR/BLS certification
• Familiarity with electronic medical record systems
• In-depth knowledge of OSHA regulations
• Physical agility and stamina to stand for long periods and respond to medical field emergencies

Overall, Disney prefers nursing professionals who are calm, friendly, and outgoing. If this sounds like you, then a career as a Disney nurse might be the perfect fit.

What are the salary and career outlooks for Disney nurses?

Disney nurses are RNs, and as such, they make a similar wage as other RNs in the nursing field. Across all Disney locations, the average annual salary for staff nurses is $68,830. Roughly 2% of the Disney nurse positions earn upwards of $170,500.

Demand for RNs in the U.S. continues to rise among all healthcare employers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for highly-skilled RNs is expected to grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031.

Job satisfaction

According to salary satisfaction survey results provided by Indeed.com, 63% of RNs in the U.S. said they think their salaries are adequate for the cost of living in their areas.

RNs working as Disney nurses tend to have a higher satisfaction level with their jobs because of the uniqueness of their work environment. They can:

• Expand their nursing experience in a non-traditional healthcare setting
• Meet new people from across the world
• Relive their childhood nostalgia

Next steps

If you’re ready to start a new adventure, becoming a Disney nurse can be the perfect fit. While you’re waiting for an opening that fits your nursing career goals, you can keep your nursing skills updated with free nursing CEUs.

Looking for nurses who have worked for Disney and can provide insight into what it’s like? Visit our community of nurses, where you can ask questions.

FAQs

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