I have three sons who are all camp appropriate ages. I found a great (and very expensive) camp not far away who wanted nurses for as little as a one week committment. In our initial e-mail exchange, they told me that I could bring two kids for free and that would mean forfeiting pay. I thought this was a pretty good deal as the camp fees are about $1400 a week. I figured I would pay for the third and it was still a good deal.

I made a tentative agreement over the phone with them for a week in August pending my references/license checking out. Well, they called me today and told me that they are now only willing to let me bring one child for free with a 10% discount for the other two! I could send two of them to camp right now with a 10% early bird discount without ever working there--not a good deal at all. It also makes me wonder a bit about how any other promises they make will turn out.

What do you experienced camp nurses think of this? I was thinking of telling them I want at least 35% off on the other two kids or they can try to find someone else for their job!

Thanks!

Jane

You get paid and two kids free. Do not sell yourself short. You are a professional who deserves professional pay and professional courtesy.

Agree with Bergren!

All three kids come to camp with you for free; may pay out of town trip or canteen fee. AND you get paid one weeks salary.

I started with a 2 and 5yo, another RN had 2 kids, adult infirmary aide had 4 kids; we stayed 9 weeks at sleepover camp who's cost was $5,000/ 8 week session per camper. Total 250 kids attended.

I agree do not let them sucker you into a no pay for you, and the kids have to pay also. I have had a couple of years of camp nurse experience. There are tons of camps desperate for nurses. Go on http://www.campnurse.org to see a whole listing. Every camp has differend budgets and different needs for nurses, but camp nursing although lots of fun, is WORK! I suggest you look into another camp if their not willing to work with you. At the very least the kids sould be free, if they are not offering you a salary. Marie

Thanks for all of the replies!! I faxed them a letter with my resume turning down their offer and holding them to their original deal of two kids free. They called me today and told me they would take it. I am going up next week to meet with them and discuss terms/etc. In the meantime, I e-mailed a couple other camps and may end up looking inot those as well.

I really like the original camp because they are close to home and have a great program for boys--battle bot camp. They also have a lot of very dangerous type activites such as ATVs, dirtbikes, go-carts, skateboarding, rock climbing, etc. This brings up some more questions. I realize that in a dire situation I will be more like a triage nurse than an ER nurse and there is a decent sized hospital up on the mountain that is used to treating falls, etc. Do camp nurses need a special type of malpractice insurance?? Should I expect the camp to have that??

Thanks!

Jane

You could call your insurance company and ask about camp nursing. Glad this worked out for you!

You should ALWAYS have your own insurance. Any institution can turn around an sue you if you did not follow procedures and document as such to the letter. Plus, the lawyer(s) for the larger agency will negotite a deal that is best for the organization, you will always want you own lawyer who is only worried aobut your best representation and defense.

Thanks for all of the replies!! I faxed them a letter with my resume turning down their offer and holding them to their original deal of two kids free. They called me today and told me they would take it. I am going up next week to meet with them and discuss terms/etc. In the meantime, I e-mailed a couple other camps and may end up looking inot those as well.

I really like the original camp because they are close to home and have a great program for boys--battle bot camp. They also have a lot of very dangerous type activites such as ATVs, dirtbikes, go-carts, skateboarding, rock climbing, etc. This brings up some more questions. I realize that in a dire situation I will be more like a triage nurse than an ER nurse and there is a decent sized hospital up on the mountain that is used to treating falls, etc. Do camp nurses need a special type of malpractice insurance?? Should I expect the camp to have that??

Thanks!

Jane

I have three sons who are all camp appropriate ages. I found a great (and very expensive) camp not far away who wanted nurses for as little as a one week committment. In our initial e-mail exchange, they told me that I could bring two kids for free and that would mean forfeiting pay. I thought this was a pretty good deal as the camp fees are about $1400 a week. I figured I would pay for the third and it was still a good deal.

I made a tentative agreement over the phone with them for a week in August pending my references/license checking out. Well, they called me today and told me that they are now only willing to let me bring one child for free with a 10% discount for the other two! I could send two of them to camp right now with a 10% early bird discount without ever working there--not a good deal at all. It also makes me wonder a bit about how any other promises they make will turn out.

What do you experienced camp nurses think of this? I was thinking of telling them I want at least 35% off on the other two kids or they can try to find someone else for their job!

Thanks!

Jane

Jane - I had a similar situation happen as couple of years ago when I applied to a camp that I thought would be great for my 3 kids. The original deal was kids free in lieu of salary for me as an RN.... given that the rate for the 2 weeks would have been almost $1,800 per kid, I thought it was a good deal. I was planning on taking vacation from work and thought it would be wonderful for my kids and for me.

I was about to accept the offer when the camp director called me and said they had to change the deal and that one kid could go for free and the other 2 kids would be full priced. I was so disappointed and really stewed over the whole thing for a couple of days. I finally called the director back and told him it was the original deal or me and the kids would not be coming to camp this year. He backed down and kept the original deal. I am perplexed why camps do this. Is it all about money for them too?

Good luck with your camp experience.

I will definitely be looking into malpractice insurance. Do you guys have special camp type or just the normal type? I am an L&D nurse by practice and insurance for me is about $1,000 a year. I haven't gotten it although I know I should. Basic nursing malpractice is more like $100 year.

I asked the camp person what their 'usual' salary is for nurses without children. She told me $500. I make pretty much that in one shift as a per diem NOC nurse. No wonder they have trouble filling spots!

It is quite likely the L & D will cover you. Just ask. YOU MUST CARRY your own insurance in L&D _ you could lose everything if sued. The trend is to sue everyone these days, not just the deep pockets.

Jane - I had a similar situation happen as couple of years ago when I applied to a camp that I thought would be great for my 3 kids. The original deal was kids free in lieu of salary for me as an RN.... given that the rate for the 2 weeks would have been almost $1,800 per kid, I thought it was a good deal. I was planning on taking vacation from work and thought it would be wonderful for my kids and for me.

I was about to accept the offer when the camp director called me and said they had to change the deal and that one kid could go for free and the other 2 kids would be full priced. I was so disappointed and really stewed over the whole thing for a couple of days. I finally called the director back and told him it was the original deal or me and the kids would not be coming to camp this year. He backed down and kept the original deal. I am perplexed why camps do this. Is it all about money for them too?

Good luck with your camp experience.

I interviewed for a day camp position, where my 4 year old's tuition would be $4700. They were offering me $2000 on top of that. Not for nothing, but I couldn't exactly live on $250 a week, working a 40hr week, no less. They tried to tell me how much I'd be saving with her tuition. But I wouldn't send her to such a costly camp in the first place, not at 4 yrs old. I work per-diem, so this would be all on my time, and would not be able to work elsewhere during these 8 weeks (except weekends, and after 5 days at camp, I doubt I'd want to do anything, much less work 12hr in the hospital). Maybe if I had more than 1 kid, or they were older, it would be worth it. They were not really even negotiable about part time. I'm not crazy for turning this down, right???

Absolutely not!!! Don't sell your skills short.

I interviewed for a day camp position, where my 4 year old's tuition would be $4700. They were offering me $2000 on top of that. Not for nothing, but I couldn't exactly live on $250 a week, working a 40hr week, no less. They tried to tell me how much I'd be saving with her tuition. But I wouldn't send her to such a costly camp in the first place, not at 4 yrs old. I work per-diem, so this would be all on my time, and would not be able to work elsewhere during these 8 weeks (except weekends, and after 5 days at camp, I doubt I'd want to do anything, much less work 12hr in the hospital). Maybe if I had more than 1 kid, or they were older, it would be worth it. They were not really even negotiable about part time. I'm not crazy for turning this down, right???

RUN like the wind!!

The summer camp I worked for had fees like that too. ALL camp nurses and counselors kids came to camp for FREE.

Now because my kids were 2 + 5 when I statred, I hired mothers helper, paid her $75.00/week. She got free camp accommidations too.

Now I did have to pay a trip fee and canteen fee for nightly snack: total was $250.00----big difference than paying $4,500 which was going rate for camp.

PS: ths stitches each child received at the end of camp from running into things were covered for free too by camp pediatrician. Remember to pack away first aide kit LAST at end of summer. :rotfl:

I interviewed for a day camp position, where my 4 year old's tuition would be $4700. They were offering me $2000 on top of that. Not for nothing, but I couldn't exactly live on $250 a week, working a 40hr week, no less. They tried to tell me how much I'd be saving with her tuition. But I wouldn't send her to such a costly camp in the first place, not at 4 yrs old. I work per-diem, so this would be all on my time, and would not be able to work elsewhere during these 8 weeks (except weekends, and after 5 days at camp, I doubt I'd want to do anything, much less work 12hr in the hospital). Maybe if I had more than 1 kid, or they were older, it would be worth it. They were not really even negotiable about part time. I'm not crazy for turning this down, right???

No, you are certainly not crazy for turning it down. Nurses are needed by these camps and there is no reason why a nurse should not get paid a decent wage. At least that is how I feel it.

Good luck .... check out all the camp jobs out there, I am sure you will find one that meets your needs and most of all have fun!