Any advice on dealing with homesickness?

[kdmcook]

I am leaving next Friday for camp, and our pysch counselor won't be there this year. Any advice on how to best deal (besides calling mom or dad, which does not work) with homesickness since this will now fall into the hands of the already busy nursing staff?

Thanks

Kathryn , i.e. Kathie, camp RN

[lumbarpain, ADN, RN]

I am generally just making a comment out of my own past childhood experience......it comes down to insecurity....the child has a grip on his home, some are so bad that they must be driven home to alleviate it. I STILL am homesick after moving out of my childhood home of 54 years!!!!! Call it crazy, but somewhere in the kids past life something drastic happened that made him seek security and safety. I know that was my problem and it remains with me till this day. I would investigate and get very friendly with the child, the most you can do is try to calm his/her fears. But when nighttime sets in and if they are sleeping overnight....there may be someone knocking on your office door.

[lumbarpain, ADN, RN]

I am generally just making a comment out of my own past childhood experience......it comes down to insecurity....the child has a grip on his home, some are so bad that they must be driven home to alleviate it. I STILL am homesick after moving out of my childhood home of 54 years!!!!! Call it crazy, but somewhere in the kids past life something drastic happened that made him seek security and safety. I know that was my problem and it remains with me till this day. I would investigate and get very friendly with the child, the most you can do is try to calm his/her fears. But when nighttime sets in and if they are sleeping overnight....there may be someone knocking on your office door.