i'd like to become a camp nurse when my kids have grown and moved. i was a gs leader and loved taking my troop to camp and also love camping with my family.
i am currently an lpn with little experience and am awaiting acceptance letters to rn schools here in so calif. i could possibly be a camp nurse while in school as the programs i've applied to have summers off. (that's if i and when i get in!)
what recommendations would you give as far as education/job prep to fulfill my dream?
i'll definitely be checking out that book someone posted about in another thread as well as the association of camp nurses...but, what else?
Please note that I had said "LPN to CRNP". The person who interviewed me wanted someone with any sort of nursing license. But he did want an actual nurse and they did take a copy of my license and CPR for Medical Professionals certificate.
You called yourself a "camp nurse" in your first note. I only can go by what you said. Had you explained better that your position is "healthcare coordinator" in the beginning of our dialogue, we would not be having this conversation.
I would not send my children to a camp with no nurse at all. I would be very wary of a camp that didn't think it was important to have someone with formal medical training. My children are the most important thing to me in the world and their safety and health are of utmost importance. I would confidently assume most parents feel the same way. Your cavalier attitude indicates to me that you do not understand the gravity of this situation you are in. Hopefully, you also forgot to mention that there are licensed nurses on your team. If not, I hope someone trained you well when you got there, and that you are carrying lots of personal liability insurance.
I could not agree more, especially at a sleepaway camp!
so long as every time you hear the term "camp nurse," from a camper, staff, or parent, you say, "i'm not a nurse, i'm the healthcare coordinator," you're good. but if one kid has an adverse outcome and the parents said, "the nurse said..." there's trouble brewing. have fun and know your scope.
Definitely join ACN!! And read Myrna and Linda's book! ACN members also offer a one day class, Intro to Camp Nursing, offered in different places around the country. They also have a yearly symposium in conjunction with ACA National Conference. Compass Point, the quarterly magazine, is chock full of good stuff, too!
At my camp we have 2 nurses; one is a school nurse and I am in the ER. It seems like this is a pretty good combination because I am more familiar with wounds/emergencies and she has more experience in getting the kids to take their meds. Our camp is for special needs kids so I appreciate her tremendously.
Nurse Connie
244 Posts
I could not agree more, especially at a sleepaway camp!