Anyone willing to fill out a survey abt camp nursing?

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2017

Camp nursing was such a great experience for me last summer - looking forward to this summer:)

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1. how long have you been a camp nurse? 1 week last summer
2. How would you describe your camp? (co-ed, sport, fine arts, etc) general
3. How was scheduling done? Did you work a set shift daily? Sunday afternoon - Saturday morning; on duty the entire time... however 2 nurses on site, we split the duties evenly so each had "down time" daily (but would be available in case of an urgent need).
4. What was the most difficult aspect of your job? Initial organization of the meds
5. How many nurses work at your camp? 2 volunteer each week
6. Was there a doctor/NP/PA on premises at all times? No provider at all, but we did have contact info for one.

7. Does your camp reimburse the cost of your license? no - but I also didn't inquire if this was available

8. describe your living arrangements. (private room? shared bathroom? hall bathroom?) shared room and bathroom along with a living area. Nice, clean, air conditioned accommodations.

9. what was the most challenging part of your job, related to nursing? None really - my co-RN and I had a great balance of skill sets. Clinic was well stocked with the basic equipment and supplies.

10. what was the most challenging part of your job, non-nursing? None that I can think of.

11. what is the best perk of being a camp nurse? (no cooking! no cleaning!) Seeing the kids having a great time with all the activities. Food was awesome. Lots of international staff, interesting to learn about their countries and their cultures. Fun to do something completely different in a different environment. Time to read. Sunsets and nature.

12. what would be a deal breaker if you were looking at a new camp to work for the summer? I would have lots of questions to make sure the camp and I were on the same page. I knew this camp because it's in the community I live in and the one that I worked at 25 years ago as a kitchen staff.

13. were there any non-nursing functions required of you? (driving campers to games, babysitting, chaperoning, etc) We were the judges for an evening activity one evening and got to help the kitchen staff decorate the Friday dinner cupcakes.

14. Is there anything you feel like a nurse needs to know about a camp before taking a job there? I got so much info from joining the Association of Camp Nurses http://www.acn.org. Camp nursing was a great experience for me.

blue bag nurse · Dec 14, 2017

thanks so much! It sounds like you had a wonderful experience and your camp sounds great!

PeakRN · Dec 14, 2017

1. how long have you been a camp nurse?

2 years during the summer

2. How would you describe your camp? (co-ed, sport, fine arts, etc)

Adolescent oncology

3. How was scheduling done? Did you work a set shift daily?

You are available at all times, however I cannot ever recall having my sleep routine disrupted

4. What was the most difficult aspect of your job?

Balancing when we can do treatments at camp and when I need to take the kids to the hospital

5. How many nurses work at your camp?

We staff one RN and one paramedic at a time

6. Was there a doctor/NP/PA on premises at all times?

No, our medical director was available 24/7 by phone. We have extensive EMS protocols and non-EMS standing orders.

8. describe your living arrangements. (private room? shared bathroom? hall bathroom?)

Private room

9. what was the most challenging part of your job, related to nursing?

Giving chemo, keeping the kids from having to go to the hospital

10. what was the most challenging part of your job, non-nursing?

The clutch on one of our ATVs is particularly tight

11. what is the best perk of being a camp nurse? (no cooking! no cleaning!)

Seeing kids who can be kids for the first time in years

blue bag nurse · Dec 15, 2017

Lol.....I love that the most challenging part is a tight clutch! Thanks so much!

LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN · Dec 15, 2017

1. how long have you been a camp nurse?

5 years

2. How would you describe your camp? (co-ed, sport, fine arts, etc)

All-boys, residential, rustic (campers have no electricity), plethora of sports, hiking, camping.

3. How was scheduling done? Did you work a set shift daily?

There is usually 2 nurses, so we just eyeball a rotation that makes sense based on need and volume.

4. What was the most difficult aspect of your job?

High-volume if their is an outbreak of something and kids have to stay in the infirmary, because they can't be left unattended, so we're also sleeping in there (in private room), but it's still tough to be out of your living space.

5. How many nurses work at your camp?

2-3

6. Was there a doctor/NP/PA on premises at all times?

No. We did have an NP visit 2-3x a week, but she wasn't available last year, there is an Urgent Care we go to within 15mins

7. Does your camp reimburse the cost of your license?

I am come from out of state, and non-compact, so yes.

8. describe your living arrangements. (private room? shared bathroom? hall bathroom?)

I have my own cabin. The options for nurses are attached to infirmary or one unattached. Depends on if a spouse comes which one we get, since the one is slightly larger.

9. what was the most challenging part of your job, related to nursing?

Parents aren't always easily accessible. It's 7 weeks, so if they're on vacation or something it can get tricky.

10. what was the most challenging part of your job, non-nursing?

Woman at an all-boys camp (most staff are male) If I miss a "girls night", definitely impacts my day!

11. what is the best perk of being a camp nurse? (no cooking! no cleaning!)

Literally my favorite job. Everything is amazing. I basically became a school nurse so I could continue to be a camp nurse.

12. what would be a deal breaker if you were looking at a new camp to work for the summer?

Salary. I have offers from the school I work at to do Extended SChool Year instead, so $$$ is definitely a factor

13. were there any non-nursing functions required of you? (driving campers to games, babysitting, chaperoning, etc)

If I volunteered, but none of that was required. I'd drive campers to ER/Doctor/appointments that were medically related so I could attend.

14. Is there anything you feel like a nurse needs to know about a camp before taking a job there?

IT is a different world than hospital and non-public health settings. Nurses I know who have been amazing nurses within trauma/ICU/etc, come to camp and are overwhelmed by the volume, schedule, and overall camp environment. I think people come in assuming it is going to be easy/vacation because we're on such a beautiful piece of property , but it is work.

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · Dec 19, 2017

1. how long have you been a camp nurse?

About 6 yeas total broken up a little

2. How would you describe your camp? (co-ed, sport, fine arts, etc)

Single session seven week, coed residential

3. How was scheduling done? Did you work a set shift daily?

We started out rotating days eves and overnight sleep. Now we tend to work straight days or eves with rotating overnight

4. What was the most difficult aspect of your job?

Interpersonals are tough working and living with coworkers is sometimes the best and rarely the WORST

5. How many nurses work at your camp?

7 full time, 2 part time locals, 2 managers

6. Was there a doctor/NP/PA on premises at all times?

Yes. When camp is in session there is an MD at all times. We aim for a pediatrician or GP. Never a speciality unrelated to children

7. Does your camp reimburse the cost of your license?

Yes, and travel

8. describe your living arrangements. (private room? shared bathroom? hall bathroom?)

Small single room with privet bath.

9. what was the most challenging part of your job, related to nursing?

The clinic is high volume, sorting the sick from the worried well is hard enough. Mix in parental anxiety and an allergy list as long as my arm it gets complicated quick. Follow up and completing the loops is often the challenge.

10. what was the most challenging part of your job, non-nursing?

Working with the head staff. They have their priorities and we have ours. It doesn't always match. Health is not camp fun, and often not on the radar of a guy who is trying to move 200+ kids and keep the parents happy.

11. what is the best perk of being a camp nurse? (no cooking! no cleaning!)

The chance to unplug, read a book. Actually work and talk to campers

12. what would be a deal breaker if you were looking at a new camp to work for the summer?

Being a single provider. Having a director that doesn't support or understand health services.

13. were there any non-nursing functions required of you? (driving campers to games, babysitting, chaperoning, etc)

I've driven to appointments. I will also help programming as needed and as able.

14. Is there anything you feel like a nurse needs to know about a camp before taking a job there?

Camp is work. Hard rewarding work. At the end when you sit down and do the emotional algebra it will hopefully equal fun, but sometimes you will hate it. You will want to leave, you will cry. Hopefully you will love it but not necessarily at the moment.

blue bag nurse · Dec 19, 2017

#11, me too! I was a school nurse first, which led to camp nursing, but it was the summers that kept me in a school. I say that all the time!

blue bag nurse · Dec 19, 2017

Camp is work. Hard rewarding work. At the end when you sit down and do the emotional algebra it will hopefully equal fun, but sometimes you will hate it. You will want to leave, you will cry. Hopefully you will love it but not necessarily at the moment.

That. All of that times a million!