Why camp nursing?

PeakRN · Feb 9, 2018

My primary job is as a ED/Critical Care nurse in a pediatric and adult quaternary referral hospital that focuses on Heme/One, BMT and solid organ transplant, high risk OB, and the highest level of NICU and PICU care in the region. My camp is for kids currently or recently under treatment for cancer, and we take a lot of kids out of our hospital system. As a result my regular jobs is very flexible about letting me take time off.

Why do I work in the camp? I get to see kids that have been stuck in and out of hospital for years be kids again.

LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN · Feb 9, 2018

School Nurse Life.

I want to travel, without being a travel nurse. Luckily I've found a camp that I really enjoy that let's me explore an area I'm comfortable being alone in.

Mine is a "typical" pediatric population. The community is just so wonderful. I've heard I've been VERY blessed with my camp experience, though, in terms of quality of camp.

YoursNursingly · Feb 9, 2018

My primary job is as a ED/Critical Care nurse in a pediatric and adult quaternary referral hospital that focuses on Heme/One, BMT and solid organ transplant, high risk OB, and the highest level of NICU and PICU care in the region. My camp is for kids currently or recently under treatment for cancer, and we take a lot of kids out of our hospital system. As a result my regular jobs is very flexible about letting me take time off.
Why do I work in the camp? I get to see kids that have been stuck in and out of hospital for years be kids again.

Thats amazing, thank you!

YoursNursingly · Feb 9, 2018

School Nurse Life.
I want to travel, without being a travel nurse. Luckily I've found a camp that I really enjoy that let's me explore an area I'm comfortable being alone in.
Mine is a "typical" pediatric population. The community is just so wonderful. I've heard I've been VERY blessed with my camp experience, though, in terms of quality of camp.

Thanks for the response, it sounds like it depends on the camp?

LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN · Feb 9, 2018

I've been at mine for 5+ years, but I've worked with nurses who have been at others, I think it is like anywhere - you either jive with your place of work or you don't. We've also had nurses not complete full summers who really enjoyed other camps they've been at. Definitely look at a few different ones/kinds, and I'd suggest asking to speak with a current or past nurse who can give you an idea of what camp life is like from nurse perspective. A counselor or director probably has an inkling, but to get a true "day in the life," talk to a nurse.

PeakRN · Feb 10, 2018

...it sounds like it depends on the camp?

100%. If I hadn't been invited to be at my current one I don't think I would do camp nursing at all. We have a great medical director for our EMS protocols and our medical for the heme/onc side is amazing. Without the resources we have I wouldn't want to do a medical camp and the non-medical camps don't really interest me.

I've heard stories from some of my friends that have worked non-medical camps and their experiences vary greatly. The level of support you get from the rest of the team can vary greatly and makes a huge difference in your experience as a nurse.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Feb 11, 2018

I've spent the past 3 years as Director of Health & Safety at a Boy Scout Camp; I'm overqualified for my position as an RN, as the state and BSA combine to require a minimum of an EMT-B for the role. However, as my council hasn't had an Enterprise Risk Management committee to oversee Health & Safety at it's camps for the past few years, being a nurse helps give me the extra depth the position effectively requires.

I was a camper and then staff at the same camp, and I've worked there despite laughable pay because I can continue to give back. My regular jobs are as an Emergency RN and as an adjunct for a local nursing school. For the summer, I've taken off (easier to do, since I went part-time to get my FNP and retain my 2shift/week schedule) but usually have worked my regular weekend at my main job, while substituting the camp nursing gig for teaching over the summer.

As I work at a scout camp, I am not responsible for regular med passes (which the units do, just like any other campout), so I and the other Health Officers that work under me are on more of an EMS footing.

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · Feb 12, 2018

I work with chronic home care kids. It's a nice change to see kids who are just being kids. I like the camp problems and drama. It's really a lower stress job so log as you don't let it stress you out, mostly.

blue bag nurse · Feb 13, 2018

I'm a school nurse so I can be a camp nurse. Like someone else mentioned, I use it as a means to travel. I've been with the same camp for 11 summers and I raised my girls there. I am still getting them open and set up this summer, but then I am moving on to a new camp. I am going to be a nurse at a culinary camp in NYC for a month. I would NEVER be able to spend a month in the city without this job. I am over the moon excited. And I've also started a camp nurse related business this summer, which I cannot mention here. But it's just been amazing how my life has been shaped by summer camp! I'm doing things right now with camps I never imagined even a year ago I would be doing.

SiennaGreen · Feb 14, 2018

I work per diem float pool position at a hospital. Summers are usually slower for us, so it makes it doable to take time off.

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2018

Hospice RN is my full time nursing job. I take a week of vacation to return to the camp I worked at summers in high school to volunteer as a camp nurse. Love the change in pace!