Salemer

Hi there! I'm wondering what other school nurses do over the summer for work? I am an hourly employee during the school year and when there are no students on campus, I don't get paid. Any nurses out there qualify for unemployment? I'm in CT. Thanks!

Hi! I've been a camp nurse for 3 years and this year I'm running the show. Can anyone out there give me some guidance on what to touch upon during counselor orientation before the campers get here? I have the obvious stuff (ticks, hygiene, hydration, washing hands, med admin, health center hours) but is there anything else I should touch upon? Thanks in advance!

I applied 3/24 and still nothing. Apply for the TPP (temp work permit). I applied for that in the end of April and just received my permit in the mail about a week ago. I called the BON and was told they are backlogged and it'll be longer than expected. Hope that helps!

MedSurgRN14- Click on the left where it says checklist. That should bring pop a box that says application, fee, transcripts (a few different things.) The only two things checked off out of 7 is the fee and something else. Glad I went back and applied for the TPP. I got that in the mail about a week ago. Still no license though and I applied on 3/24. I did call the PA BON and they said they were experiencing a backlog! Good luck. ps- I logged in using the mylicense sign in where you have to log on using a name and password. Try that.

That's pretty much why I do it too... I know I can make more elsewhere, but here my kids get to have a fantastic experience that I could never afford otherwise all while I get my laundry done for me and my meals made for me. It's hectic, but I have learned something new everyday.

Hi! I've worked at a camp for the past two summers and I'm going to be the head nurse at a new camp this summer. It's fantastic. Don't get me wrong, it's a ton of work (the first summer we had the Norovirus) but it is so worth it. My pay is comparable to nurses at other camps. I was an LPN last summer and now I'm an RN and I'm making slightly more (like 400 more) but I'll also have a ton of more responsibility. I love working at summer camp. I'll be at a camp in Pennsylvania this summer (I'm from CT) and my 14 and 12 year olds will be joining me, tuition free. Message me if you're interested. Still looking for a nurse!!!

Hi PingoRN- I'm in the same boat now... How long did it take you?

I applied for my license via reciprocity on March 24th. Sent in my application, fee and then did the required child abuse education. Had my college send out transcripts that same day too. It's April 23 now and a few items are still marked as "unchecked". Of course, the fee is checked as is the mandatory education. I send an email to the PA nursing board making sure I didn't forget anything and I received an automatic reply that says they will evaluate everything sent in 20 business days from the date that "all material" is received. I did not apply for the TPP as my job won't begin until mid June. I'll update this thread once I get my license.

Hey farmherRN! What about "when to call parents policy" or "overnight in the infirmary guidelines." I wish we would have had a lice protocol from the health center point of view. You know, when to treat, not to treat, RidX vs. natural products. What about copies of logs you keep (sign in logs, growth hormone administration logs). We had a few broken bones at my camp the past two years as well as the norovirus! Maybe an outline or something written up if you find that more than 50% of your campers are vomiting and what to do. Also, I live in New England and work in the Northeast, maybe add something about ticks/Lyme disease? Just some ideas? Hope this helps. Good Luck! Also- check out ACN (Association of Camp Nurses). I'm a member and there's a lot of good information!

Thanks for the info!

Hi fellow nurses... I'm an RN from CT and am in the process of applying for a license in PA. CT does not require continuing education but PA does. Can someone explain to me how that works? I live in CT but plan on working temporarily in PA for the summer. Am i required to keep up on CEUs? Thanks! Sarah

I haven't had experience with camp meds, the camp I work for uses Mountain Meds. Mountain Meds is fantastic. The parents are required to enroll their campers with Mountain Meds which means getting prescriptions from doctors ahead of time and getting them into Mountain Meds. The pharmacists at Mountain Meds were FANTASTIC! Medications were sent to the camp within the week of camp starting in little boxes with copies of orders shrunk down to size and taped to the box. We also received copies of MARS and orders. Each camper had all of their meds pre-packaged into clear labeled tear off envelopes for each day/dose. The only issue we noticed was that if the doctor prescribed the medication in the morning but the camper/parents later decide to take it in the evening... The first week was crazy figuring out when kids took what but otherwise they were wonderful. Of course there are parents that sneak meds into their campers bags. Luckily, our director sent those meds to Mountain Meds and had them packaged up to make it easier for the nurses. There were approx. 450 campers at camp. Hope this helps!

WOW!!! Thanks so much for sharing. Funny, I'm scheduled for the CPNE in June 13-15 2014 in Albany... I'm hoping I'll walk out with a success story of my own. Super nervous, don't know where to start. I too signed up for the practice weekend. I've been an LPN for 5 years, I work at a local hospital so I've had some med-surg experience and I'm hoping that's going to save me!!! Any advice you could throw my way would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks again for sharing a story with a happy ending. If I read one more "THE CPNE nearly killed me and you'll never pass." story, I think I'll die!!! :)