Can I Quit camp

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  1. Would you work camp alone?

    • 2
      Yes, no big deal
    • 0
      Maybe, if small healthy group
    • 1
      No, its not safe alone

3 members have participated

I got here yest. I was promised a Nurse Asst. She told me yest that she has other duties. I am the lone nurse in a one bedroom house, with 200 kids, 50 staff. I have 75 meds for am including staff who come in alot and kids wanting prns. I have one with insulin pump, mom called at 6:30, the aide in far building didnot answer cell. She says she has to do other tie dye shows, is off monday at lunch, is off Tuesday after dinner, does not triage,she isnt a nurse, i am. What? I wrote the director i may not stay, can i leave?

Frustrated and Scared

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Read your contract to see the conditions of quitting before discussing anything with a director so that you phrase everything the best way possible. If you feel like there is an unsafe situation, definitely bring it to administration's attention. I'd also review the assistant's job description in depth and go over how health is a priority to camp activities and that the health aide shouldn't be pulled for these types of things.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

I would carefully review your contract to make sure that it clearly outlines the expectations for your duties and the assistant's duties. Make sure you didn't sign something that essentially outlines what has been happening as a possibility. I definitely think you can sit down with the director and discuss the fact that you are feeling like this is too much for one person and that the way things are now with the assistant not being as available as you though, you don;t feel like you are wanting to continue in this manner. I do think sometimes contracts have vague and broad phrases like "performs other duties as assigned" that can get us into these types of situations. Also worth checking the expectations for the assistant.

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Specializes in school nurse.

200 kids with 75 AM meds? Is this a specialty camp of some sort?

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No its not a specialty camp, coed christian camp with about 75 out of 200 with scheduled meds and 75% with as needed. Half of the 45 counselors have tons of scheduled and as needed. (writing this had to stop about 12times for prn in one hour). The policy says aid is to assist and settle me in and fellowship with other leaders but not babysit nurse. It was a lone ranger from the get but hid so im done with camping. She gets a time off but i dont and not true asst. I can tell she wants to get away from me. "are you catching on now?:bag:". "I'll check on you later ok".."oh by the way im off tonight remember?", someone? will help you with passing meds". One bedroom infirmary with 7 bunks. What? Counting down. What a setup..so stressful.

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Why would you be responsible for administering meds to the counselors? Aren't they able to be responsible for their own meds?

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When i asked they said it was a big liability to keep meds in the cabin and they felt obligated to put it on the nurse.

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Specializes in Pedi.
When i asked they said it was a big liability to keep meds in the cabin and they felt obligated to put it on the nurse.

For many years, I was involved in a camp for children with epilepsy. Many of the counselors were former campers who also had epilepsy. It was considered a liability for them to keep their meds in the cabin but we didn't administer them for them. We kept them in the infirmary, brought them with us to meals with the children's meds, but it was up to them to come over and get them.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

So what's the plan? Are you staying?

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Yes, i am staying for one week, leaving Saturday a.m. after i spoke to one of the sweetest talking young leaders. It was not so much that i couldnt handle it but it was the feeling of being totally overwhelmed in a new place, with tons of medications at check-in and being told in the same breathe by a nurse assistant that you are basically it in a large one bed house with 7-8 bunks. I finally got meds sorted, wrapped around my head that i can do this all by myself for 7 days and get out of here alive. Now the girl said in front of campers learning of my short stay that all the nurses that come work one week because they are so exhausted when they leave. Really?. I see about 40-50 campers and staff daily. Many bigwigs coming over to shake my hand for coming (for saving them a few dollars for having one less nurse). No matter what questions you ask, you pick a door and hope they arn't lying. Smh

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I am so sorry to hear about the situation that camp put you through. I have been in the industry for 15 years, and that camp nurse horror story just might take the cake. Wow. I am wondering if you are licensed in CA. If they haven't totally turned you off the idea of being a camp nurse, I am still looking for one this summer. The camp would run 4 weeks in July/August, and there are about 40 kids per week (about 4-5 meds on average). I totally understand if that's not in the cards this summer, but if you are interested I would love to connect and tell you more!

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Yes, i am staying for one week, leaving Saturday a.m. after i spoke to one of the sweetest talking young leaders. It was not so much that i couldnt handle it but it was the feeling of being totally overwhelmed in a new place, with tons of medications at check-in and being told in the same breathe by a nurse assistant that you are basically it in a large one bed house with 7-8 bunks. I finally got meds sorted, wrapped around my head that i can do this all by myself for 7 days and get out of here alive. Now the girl said in front of campers learning of my short stay that all the nurses that come work one week because they are so exhausted when they leave. Really?. I see about 40-50 campers and staff daily. Many bigwigs coming over to shake my hand for coming (for saving them a few dollars for having one less nurse). No matter what questions you ask, you pick a door and hope they arn't lying. Smh

What does SMH mean?

Did you speak up to any of the bigwigs about why you are leaving?

Does the sweet talking young leader have the authority to let you break your contract? Will you actually be paid?

What would the nurse's assistant be doing if she were available?

Sorry you had a bad experience. It can be overwhelming at first. I was a solo nurse for my first camp experience, but there was a doctor on the grounds, so I always had very available backup. If you hire on again at a camp, you will know the questions to ask.

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