A Day In Your Health Center

[campmonkey]

Would you mind sharing what a day looks like for you at camp? Last year, I was asked to set specific times for visits to the health center (which of course remains open for emergencies at all times) but it was hard to implement as everyone is very set in their own little routines. I plan on setting more specific times this year and making them clear before the campers arrive but I am still debating on what the best times would be.

Here is what I tried last summer. Keep in mind that I am the sole person responsible of all first aid. I would love to see what others do

7:00 - Up for the day!

7:30 - Campers come in for morning meds, campers also come with all kinds of little complaints (lots of headaches and sore throats), most campers take their time and there is a big rush around 8:20 (told counsellors this needed to be fixed but nothing seems to work, ANY IDEAS!)

8:30 - Breakfast

9:00 - Campers are SUPPOSED to get ready for inspections but love to stop by :), call campers who have missed morning meds (how do you emphasised just how important it is for counsellors to send their kids at the right times?)

9:00 - 11:40 - Do admin stuff, cleaning, camping prep, etc.

11:40 - Free time for campers, lunch meds and open for all booboos

12:15 - Lunch

1:00 - Nap time, lots of campers think this is a good time to visit but staff doesn't! Do you prefer to see campers before or after lunch?

Afternoon - Do admin stuff, cleaning, camping prep, etc.

5:40 - Free time for campers, dinner meds and open for all booboos

6:15 - Dinner

8:15 - End of activities for younger campers (8-13), evening meds and LOTS OF PROBLEMS :), busiest time of the day, some campers do not come and it is hard to get to them at this time and we can't use the speakers once the kids are in bed and I cannot really leave the health center at this time (once again, how do you emphasised just how important it is for counsellors to send their kids at the right times?) I have often ended up on cabin steps giving meds after having to wake some of the youngest once I was done with the other campers.

8:50 - Lights Out for younger campers (8-13)

9:30 - Staff Meeting, will often be called to give meds to older campers, homesick kids and other issues

Closing - We don't have a set time for this since the older campers don't have a set bedtime, would it be OK to ask that they come down from their activities around 9-9:30 before the staff meeting or do you prefer they finish their activities before coming to you. In the last years, a lot of health personnel has let them keep their meds but I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO DO SO!!!

We had a lot of fevers and overnight stays this summer so always having campers and staff with little problems waking in was an issue. I don't mind taking care of sore throats but it just seems like most of the kids are looking for a way out of the activities they don't like.

Thanks!

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

Does anyone else have an insane amount of bedtime growth hormone injections. We have about 20 or so we give between 8p and 10p right after evening clinic call. It takes one nurse to supervise the circus of assists, supervision, and independent GBH kids who are all in varying doses from different injectors, and varying levels of focus/desire to do the shot.

[blue bag nurse]

20?!? We have a hard time managing a handful. I feel better seeing you have that many. Even with just a few, they end up causing problems.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

I apologize I didn't give an overview of my camps day. We have four nurses on two shifts.

0730- day shift arrives, overnight nurse is relieved. Charge nurse attends morning meeting, med nurses report to lodge to pass meds. Treatment nurse and health assistant prep clinic, feed sick campers, send off early trips. Charge nurse returns by 0800. Early treatment kids should be arriving.

1000-clinic call begins. One med nurse returns to assist clinic.

1045- all nurses in clinic, clinic call is processed. New meds setup and ordered. Missed treatments called to clinic. Trips are packed as much as possible.

1250-lunch meds one nurse tracks down all lunch meds.

For the rest of the day first aid, sick kids, and the fatigued trickle in through the day. Trip packing continues (camp often has 8-10 sports trips, and can depart 3 off camp trips a day)

1400-X-ray or appointment run (no nurse accompanies, but charts and paperwork)

1500-evening shift arrives.

1700- 2 med nurses depart for the lodge. Charge and treatment continue to pack trips,need walk in's and early treatment kids.

1800- youngest growth hormone kids swing in 2 or so kids

1900- evening clinic call begins med nurse returns.

2000- all treatment kids, normal time growth hormone kids 10'or so. Sometimes 2000'doesn't happen until 2130 which runs it into the late growth hormone kids 6 or so. The bedtime meds 4 or so, and the missing treatment kids.

2300- overnight nurse arrives.

[kaufer01]

Wow! 20 growth hormone kids? We have a handful, last summer we had 4 our second session - I thought that was a lot! They trickle in with the rest of the bedtime meds. We usually (but not always) have 2 nurses on for bedtime meds just because these take so much time to set up and give.

[DeniseFLA]

Last summer we had about the same as you. We had bedtime meds, HGH injections and all kids feeling sick at bedtime come in at the same time. It was crazy. We have two nurses on at that time. This year there will be a nursing student asst'ing in some way. We have 420 kids. how about you?

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

About 550 campers age 7-15. We have four night nurses.

[tining, BSN, RN]

We have sick call after breakfast and dinner. Bedtime meds turn into a mini sick call because the kids did not want to wait while they had free time after dinner. All other hours are emergency only. This summer we are going to report to the directors - the counselor/camper that could have been seen at our regular sick calls, but chose not to come. I am hoping the threat is enough, but I imagine when the director sees that 20+ campers were seen at bedtime for non-emergency illnesses, he may have to reeducate the counselors. I am also going to have a serious discussion in pre-camp about not saying 'who wants to go to the Health Center' - like it is a treat (well it is, because they don't have to clean their cabin).

[tining, BSN, RN]

OMG Big Al, I am from Texas and travel to PA for camp - I do not think there are any children that I know of in Texas that do this. Camp is a different bird. I have around 15 and the number grows yearly. I may lose 1 or 2 due to age, but I gain 4 - 5 more each summer. We went from a tiny dorm fridge to a large soda fridge. I call it my million dollar fridge. I use my left over CampMeds boxes with their names on them to organize their supplies. It IS a circus - they all roll in around the same time and you have to watch them or they will use anyone's supplies. I am so paranoid about mixing as I have seen those vials explode in inexperienced hands, I don't let too many nurses in to this area. I am the main GH monitor/mixer/expert for my camp.

[mustangmellie]

Tining, I am also from Texas going to Pennsylvania for camp for the 1st year though.

[tining, BSN, RN]

You will love getting out of the Texas heat to be sure. Will you be around Honesdale?

[mustangmellie]

I will be about 20 miles from there. I'm from Pennsylvania but I have been in Texas since I was a kid. I have been trying to go to camp for the past 3 summers but something has always stopped me. I'm excited but nervous!

[tining, BSN, RN]

Mustangmellie,

Check your PM!