camp nursing for a new RN?

[nurseerin126]

I was a camper and then counselor at a music camp in CA. I have been a counselor there for the last 8 years and know the ins and outs of how the camp runs and feel like it's my second home. I just graduated from nursing school and got my license in May. I've always wanted to go back to camp as the nurse. I started on a med-surg unit last week and also work at a LTC facility. Camp is two weeks long (last two weeks of July) and caters to kids from 6th to 8th grade first week, and 9th to 12th grade second week. There is only 1 camp nurse and there are usually about 90-100 kids each week. I would truly love to be there as the nurse, but I'm nervous, being a new nurse! My question is, by the time I would be able to start as the camp nurse next year, will I be ready and prepared?

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

Well I think you have a lot going for you. Your familiar with camp life and seem to have the right attitude for camp. This means a lot, really it does. The length of the program is good for you as well, a lot of sub acute problems really don't have to be addressed strongly when the camper is going home in two or three days, a simple call to the parents to agree on the plan will do. The small size of the camp really works in your favor as well much less chance of someone falling though the cracks when you only have a hundred or so to look out for.

Experience is of course your major concern. You will have some, but most likely none of it pediatric. This compounded with the fact that it sounds like you will be practicing alone without another nurse to bounce issues off of is concerning. It's not a deal breaker most of camp nursing is what would mom do type of stuff, but knowing and acknowledging your limits, and working to address them is the first step to success here.

If you asked me could you do it? Sure why not.

If you asked me should I do it? I would ask how you plan to educate yourself in pediatrics and first aid, or get some kind of hands on pediatric practice. Then I would probably say go for it.

I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings

[kaufer01]

I went to camp as the Camp Nurse the summer after I graduated with my degree for the entire summer. Sessions were a week long at most and had between 60-120 kids per session. The camp was fairly healthy. I was the only "health person" at camp with the exception of a few first responder level trained folks. I just made sure I was really confident in my basic first aid and assessment skill beforehand. I also met with the physician who signed off on our standing orders and met some of the office staff so I had a few resources in my pocket before summer started. Turned out to be one of the best summers ever and was pretty pivotal in my career (I'm now the supervising nurse at a semester school/ summer camp).

Figure out how you're going to prepare yourself, know your resources and your limits. I'd say go for it!