[apaisRN]

I leave Wednesday, 6/15. I'm going to a camp in Maine, about 4 hours from where I live in VT. I'm going to be setting up the health center, etc for a few days, then some pre-camp orientation with the rest of the staff, then the campers come. 190 girls, full-season. My dog is going to come and be with me 24/7. I just bought him a new portable crate to be his "safe place" in the health center (which is also where I sleep) and he's curled up in it already. Very cute. I think he'll be much more therapeutic for homesick kiddos than I will!

Who else is going? When do you leave? Are you as excited as I am?

[ZASHAGALKA]

I've volunteered for a week at my boys' church camp the last 2 yrs and again this year, I'm supposed to be 'in charge' that week (which I hope doesn't mean that they couldn't find another nurse!)

Camp is very busy but a great experience. And what a miracle those youth ministers ala camp counselors perform.

One of my fav camp story: (I'm a male nurse): 13 yr old girl walks in holding her stomack and says, "is the lady nurse here?" (you have to drawl that out like a 13yr old girl would pout when she's not feeling well), "No, she went to lunch." Deep Sigh, crestfallen face, "I'll come back later . . ." --- "Would you like some midol?", "YEEEEESSSSSSSSS!" - "Well, I might be a guy, but I can reach into that bottle just as easy as the lady nurse."

or,

9-yr old, stomach ache, nothing works until she gets midol teen and a heating pad. 30 mins later, she's ready to go back to play. Lady Nurse pulls her aside and says, "you know what a period is?" --- "Oh, it couldnt' be that, I already had it" -- little girl thought it was like chicken pox, get it once, and you're done w/ it. Imagine her surprise . . .

You might have had to be there. Oh well.

~faith,
Timothy.

[nightingale]

Zash:

Cute story, thanks for sharing.

I wish I could Camp Nurse this year, alas am working Agency Nursing and my kiddos are both older teens (and not as willing to uproot). Perhaps next year???

[BabyRN2Be]

Originally Posted by ZASHAGALKA

I've volunteered for a week at my boys' church camp the last 2 yrs and again this year, I'm supposed to be 'in charge' that week (which I hope doesn't mean that they couldn't find another nurse!)

Camp is very busy but a great experience. And what a miracle those youth ministers ala camp counselors perform.

One of my fav camp story: (I'm a male nurse): 13 yr old girl walks in holding her stomack and says, "is the lady nurse here?" (you have to drawl that out like a 13yr old girl would pout when she's not feeling well), "No, she went to lunch." Deep Sigh, crestfallen face, "I'll come back later . . ." --- "Would you like some midol?", "YEEEEESSSSSSSSS!" - "Well, I might be a guy, but I can reach into that bottle just as easy as the lady nurse."

or,

9-yr old, stomach ache, nothing works until she gets midol teen and a heating pad. 30 mins later, she's ready to go back to play. Lady Nurse pulls her aside and says, "you know what a period is?" --- "Oh, it couldnt' be that, I already had it" -- little girl thought it was like chicken pox, get it once, and you're done w/ it. Imagine her surprise . . .

You might have had to be there. Oh well.

~faith,
Timothy.

That is pretty cute ZASH. Wow, I'll bet that nine y.o. was really surprised. Goodness, I'll have to say that is pretty young to start.

[travelbug]

Originally Posted by apaisRN

I leave Wednesday, 6/15. I'm going to a camp in Maine, about 4 hours from where I live in VT. I'm going to be setting up the health center, etc for a few days, then some pre-camp orientation with the rest of the staff, then the campers come. 190 girls, full-season. My dog is going to come and be with me 24/7. I just bought him a new portable crate to be his "safe place" in the health center (which is also where I sleep) and he's curled up in it already. Very cute. I think he'll be much more therapeutic for homesick kiddos than I will!

Who else is going? When do you leave? Are you as excited as I am?

Hey apaisRN, where are you going in Me.? I lived there for years and worked at a few hosp. there, my husband is from there too, we love it but it is too cold in winter for us . I'd be interested in doing camp nursing but don't know anything about it. Have fun there!

[dogsrbarking]

Right this moment I am sitting in the middle of Pebble Beach, California. My Golden Retriever is sitting just outside. I have been an ER Nurse for 15 years and was fooling around on the internet and saw an add for, "Pebble Beach, Camp RN" I answered it and here I am in the middle of paradise, room and board and full use of the entire campus for 3 weeks. There are 143 children here and so far all I have seen is alot of homesickness and a few scrapes....I am getting more $$ than in the hospital...why didn't they teach us about Camp Nursing in school? I would enjoy hearing from experienced Camp Nurses regarding liability/protocols, etc. Wish you all were here!

[dogsrbarking]

[quote=dogsrbarking]Right this moment I am sitting in the middle of Pebble Beach, California. My Golden Retriever is sitting just outside. I have been an ER Nurse for 15 years and was fooling around on the internet and saw an add for, "Pebble Beach, Camp RN" I answered it and here I am in the middle of paradise, room and board and full use of the entire campus for 3 weeks. There are 143 children here and so far all I have seen is alot of homesickness and a few scrapes....I am getting more $$ than in the hospital...why didn't they teach us about Camp Nursing in school? I would enjoy hearing from experienced Camp Nurses regarding liability/protocols, etc. Wish you all were here! Dogsrbarking

[Nur_1996]

Ok, Lets get this thread going again! Who's going to camp! OK, I'm going to a YMCA camp in New Jersey for two weeks this summer, end of July, with my 13 year old son. I have a job that I can't get away all summer, like previous summers, but I still get my "fix"

[TNUp2Jen]

I'm a new grad heading to a Girl Scout camp in Central North Carolina. I've worked at camps as a counselor all thru school but haven't been to a camp since 2002 - I'm totally psyched.

I'll be away Sunday-Friday for 7 1/2 weeks, though I get to come home mid-week for three nights if I prefer (I have a four-year old and a husband who might not survive w/o clean laundry and dishes...you all know the story there). I'll have to report to camp at 7:00 am each day and can't leave until lights-out, but it's better than being away from the family all night long. Too bad I'll be "on call!"

My camp is pretty standard - no extreme sports like skateboarding or horseback riding - just the lake, hiking, and sports. Fingers crossed, this won't be as intense as my seven-week internship in the ER earlier this year.

Any advice is INVITED and ENCOURAGED! I'm currently trying to nail down some protocols (standing med orders, health forms) etc. I can't wait to get some fun-in-the-sun and get rid of the extra holiday weight....

[Wendy79]

I am! Not sure how long it'll be--a couple of weeks in the beginning, and maybe more later in the summer, depending mostly on whether they get someone else.

Always happy to hear about more former counselors becoming camp nurses! It makes a huge difference. Are you going to the same camp where you were a counselor, Jen?