Book: The Basics of Camp Nursing

Published

Specializes in Step-Down.

Has anyone read or have this book? The authors are: Erceg, and Pravda. I was looking at the sneak peak on Amazon and it looked like a good resource.

Also to prepare myself for camp I think I am going to write some possible scenarios and what would be done at camp to amend them. I think that is a good idea.

When is everyone going to camp? Countdown is on! 44 days and counting!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Camp Nursing.

It is a good resource especially for newer camp nurses, but even us returners can use a little advice. You may also want to check out the website for the Association of Camp Nurses www.acn.org if you are not already a member. They will have other resources available.

I will be up to camp around the 13th of June---always love to go a little early to have time to get settled and relax. Camp Androscoggin in Wayne, ME is my home away from home in the summer. I've been there 17 years and still loving it. Cannot wait to see my boys.

Happy camping and have a great summer.

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Specializes in FNP, Surgery.

I am going to be new to camp nursing. I bought the book, and loved it. It is a great resource, and I highly recommend it. Headed to Camp Fernwood in Poland, Maine June 12.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Camp Nursing.

Alisabeth

Hope you enjoy your time in Maine. Can't believe I will be there in 2 weeks, it has become my second home. I can't wait to see all my boys. You can contact me at Camp Androscoggin (your camp will have the number, just ask for Janice) if you have any questions or just need someone in the field to contact with. Sometimes it is nice to talk to others from the local camps. Our camps socialize together and my directors' daughter finished there last summer.

Have a great summer.

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Specializes in FNP, Surgery.

Thank you Janice! I'm definitely going to take you up on that. With all your experience I'm sure you would be a great resource. I'm so excited, but have no idea what to expect. Talk to you soon!

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Specializes in Step-Down.

Hey guys I am going to order the book soon. I just came back from camp. They had a family weekend so it was a great time to get to know the grounds and see what to expect. As you can imagine I was very busy as the only nurse for 200 and some people.

Here is what I did:

- Removed several ticks (brush up on S/S of Lyme disease- ex: bulls eye rash ect. We are going to implement "Tick Time". Luckily I know a lot about lyme disease.

- Bug bites and lots of them!! We have these sting relief swabs that contain lidocaine and they are great for sting bites!!

- Rashes- poison Ivy/oak I was told there is not many poision IVY or oak on the grounds but it is good to be prepared.

- Scrapes, cuts ect - I usually irrigate/wash with normal saline and a gauze pad then apply some bacitracin or triple antibiotic ointment with bandage. dont use alcohol.

- Allergies!! I had to dig for Claratin - we had the generic version which was good b/c one of the moms is pregnant. For pregnancy Claritin is best no Zyrtac and no benadryl.

- I organized the Infirmiry so it is somewhat put together when I got back in a few weeks.

LICE!! We are doing mandatory lice checks on ALL CAMPERS AND STAFF the first day of camp and for new campers during second session.

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I will be the Camp Nurse at a GS camp in Ohio for 3 weeks June/July. I am a volunteer trading my time for the stipends for my daughter and nieces to attend camp. I have already been hit up about rashes this season at Pre-camp. We have 3 staffers with rashes over a considerable amount of skin. What would be a good reference guide for identification of rashes, stings, and bites. I guess the one staffer tried, both oral and topical benadryl as well as calamine and hydrocortisone cream and they are still there 4 days later and still itch.

When do you call it quits and go see a doctor? The camp AD Staff doesn't want to tell them to go to the doctor, because then it will be a workers comp claim.

What type of Nursing job do you have that you can take the summer off to be at camp? I looked into some camp nurse positions, I can't believe the amount of money you can make working as a camp nurse...and even get to send your kids there for free. Now if I could just find the perfect position that lets me take summers off.

Kari

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Hello,

In response to the rashes at camp, is the staff wearing swimsuits under clothes for several hours daily to save time between events?

Possible yeast, is my guess, I read where this happened at another camp.

Good Luck and as far as a job with summers off? School nurse or college clinic, even some tourist towns that are heavy in the winter. I live in a tourist town and we have a nurse that comes to work for 3 months in the summer, and has for years.

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The rashes are on the waist area in the back, backs of legs and arms. I was thinking they were in spots that would have been affected by laying down. Someone threw out the idea of bed bugs. I don't see that though.

Thanks for the input.:nurse:

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My boss for the summer is Linda Erceg one of the authors of the book. We don't have it as a resource but we have her which is just as good!

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Specializes in camp nursing, office nursing.

RE: rash question from above. we have had incidences of swimmer's itch, also called lake itch. if you are not familiar with it do a google search. hope that helps! :)

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The authors of that book are like the queen mothers of bringing Camp Nursing into it's own as a specialty. It would behoove you also to join the Assn. of Camp Nurses, Compass Point is the publication, and is fabulous!

Heather (AKA EunHye, working at a Korean Language camp)

Hi, Saeko! where are you?

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