Camp Nurses
Not all nurses work in hospitals or wear the traditional white uniform, in fact, approximately 32 percent of them work in a setting other than a hospital. Some find employment in unusual places--on an Indian reservation, aboard a cruise ship, or lakeside at a summer camp.
RNs can enjoy their summer and earn money, too, working with children in a healthy outdoor setting at overnight or day camps. Their duties could range from simple first aid or treating insect bites to setting broken bones or teaching water safety.
The perks at a summer camp are all those the campers enjoy: fresh air, clean lakes to swim and boat in, tennis, horseback riding, and other fun activities.
Training for Nurses
At present there are four different ways you can become a registered nurse:
1. Through a two-year community college, earning an associate's degree in nursing
2. Through a three-year hospital-based nursing school, earning a diploma
3. Through a four-year university program, resulting in the Bachelor's of Science Degree in nursing, or the B.S.N., as it is commonly called
4. And, for those who already have a bachelor's degree in a different subject, there is a "generic" master's degree in nursing, a two- to three-year program beyond the bachelor's degree.
These days, and certainly in the future, the B.S.N is being considered the minimum qualification for a satisfying career. The two-year associate's degree and the three-year hospital-based diploma programs are very quickly closing down throughout the country, and student nurses are being encouraged to enroll in four-year universities.
For many nursing specialties, it is essential to also earn a master's degree or an advanced certificate; and for some nurses, those who wish to teach, for example, a Ph.D., or doctorate, in nursing is required.
After your schooling, you will be expected to take a licensing exam for the basic RN and for any of the various specialty areas you might choose.
Salaries for Camp Nurses
Nurses working in summer camps do not expect to land the type of salaries they might in hospitals or other settings. The work is usually for a limited amount of time--two to eight weeks--and the pay can run from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the length of the appointment.
Benefits usually include free room and board and transportation to and from the camp.
Sample Job Advertisement
To give you an example of what a job advertisement would look like, read the following:
Resident camp in upstate New York is seeking an RN to work with a medical team of three nurses and one doctor. This is a co-ed camp serving 300 campers 90 miles from New York City. We offer a wide range of land and water sports, plus arts and crafts, theater, and outdoor education.
Minimum age for the successful candidate is 23 years old. Salary is from $1,000 to $3,000 for 8 weeks. Start date is June 20. Room and board and transportation are provided. Contact:
Camp Paramedics and EMTs
Some camps also hire paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in addition to or instead of RNs. They are responsible for the basic medical needs of campers and staff.
The Role of the Emergency Medical Technician
EMTs are versed in the basics of first aid and life saving. They learn CPR, patient handling, and all the basics of medical illnesses and medical injuries.
Essentially, EMTs provide basic life-support. If an EMT and a paramedic are working together, the EMT would assist the paramedic.
If the EMT is working where higher-level paramedics are not a part of the team, he or she then would be responsible for getting the patient to the hospital.
The Role of the Paramedic
A paramedic has to be an EMT before becoming a paramedic. Paramedics are trained in very sophisticated, advanced levels of life-support. Their goal is to keep a patient alive, and they function in the field as an extension to a physician. They are the pre-hospital hands, eyes, and ears of the doctor and have to be able to assess a situation and react the way a doctor would.
When possible, paramedics contact the hospital and let the doctor know what they have done for the patient. Some ambulances or rescue trucks have the capability of transmitting medical data such as EKGs by radio to the hospital. At this point the doctor could let the paramedics know if there was anything else that should be done before bringing in the patient.
Paramedics have a strong relationship with physicians, who have learned over time to trust the paramedics' training and expertise.
Training for EMTs and Paramedics
EMTs can generally be trained in six to twelve weeks through a community college. During the course of their program, they spend time observing in hospitals and gaining practical experience riding with an ambulance.
To become certified, EMTs are given a practical exam through the school and a written exam through the state.
Once you have become a certified EMT, you can then go on to paramedic school. Most programs are offered through community colleges, and that is the most popular route to go, though there are a few private paramedic training schools here and there. The training for a paramedic could take anywhere from two to three semesters or two years, depending upon the state in which you live.
The course of study for a paramedic is a full curriculum with course work including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, the administration and interpretation of electrocardiograms (EKGs), medical diagnoses, handling cardiac arrests, defibrillation, and all the related medical subjects.
Paramedic trainees spend a lot of time in hospitals learning advanced techniques. They work in operating rooms with anesthesiologists learning intubation, the process of inserting a tube into a patient's windpipe. They also spend time on hospital critical-care floors, learning from the nurses how to take care of patients. Trainees also participate in birthings and learn about pediatrics.
EMTs and paramedics also must learn about the different life-saving equipment available to them, including extrication devices, air splints, pediatric immobilizers, suction units, portable defibrillators, and EKG machines.
In addition, to keep their certification current, emergency medical service workers must participate in continuing education classes.
Paramedics and EMTs employed at camps must love working with children and be familiar with basic water safety, rescue, and lifesaving techniques.
Salaries for Camp EMTs and Paramedics
As with most camp jobs, salaries are not glamorous. EMTs and paramedics on average earn slightly less than registered nurses.
Salaries are usually a flat fee for the summer season and include the usual fringe benefits of free housing and meals.
Firsthand Accounts
Phyllis Bartram, Camp Nurse
Phyllis Bartram graduated from the University of Washington, School of Nursing with a B.S. degree. She started her career in 1960, working first in public health, then as a school nurse, until she retired in 1993.
Free summers, one of the perks working with a school system, allowed Phyllis the time to work also as a camp nurse. She still spends every summer in that capacity. Currently she is the camp nurse with the Summer Enrichment Program for Talented and Gifted Students (TAG), sponsored by the College of Education, Division of Learning and Instructional Leadership of the University of Oregon in Eugene. She also has worked as the nurse for a 4-H camp and a church camp sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Eugene.
How Phyllis Got Started
"I have been attracted to camp nursing largely because of my love for children. And also, when my own children were young, they were often with me at camp-as campers. I was attracted to school nursing in the first place because of being able to have my summers free with my family. Both work hand in hand together.
"I was encouraged to apply for my first camp nurse job by a nurse friend who usually worked at that camp but was unable to do so that particular year.
"As a school nurse I saw many fliers or advertisements for summer camp nursing jobs. I also saw many ads in various nursing journals and often thought that some of those would be very interesting if I had no family responsibilities.
"I have just completed my fifth summer with the Summer Enrichment Program. I first learned about this via an E-mail advertisement over our school's communication system. Because I was retiring from school nursing, I was attracted to this job as a way of 'keeping my finger in the pie' so to speak. I believe I still have something to offer the community even though I am retired."
What the Work Is Like
"The Summer Enrichment Program consists of two, two-week sessions of middle school students, grades six through nine, from all over the Northwest and sometimes farther. We have had students from as far away as New York and Florida. The students live in the dorms on campus and during the day take various classes such as algebra, quantum physics, law, Shakespeare, art, poetry, psychology, etc. These are subjects that are not normally available to them at their public schools. The rest of their time consists of structured fun activities they are able to sign up for on a daily basis.
"Before camp begins, I go through the students' health forms, which were turned in with their application papers, and make note of those with special medical needs. I meet with the teachers as well as counselors and junior counselors to give a brief first-aid class and discuss student concerns.
"As the students register at the beginning of the session, I make myself available to their parents so they can give me any medications or medical instructions their children need.
Camp Nursing Duties
"As the camp nurse in this program, I find my duties much the same as those in my school nursing career. The main difference is that I actually live with the kids twenty-four hours a day. My duties include:
Taking care of various first aid needs; assessing illnesses and injuries to determine when they need medical attention; transporting students to a doctor or emergency room when I determine a need for further medical evaluation or attention; 'teaching' first aid and wellness principles during almost every encounter I have with a student; administering prescribed medications to particular students as well as over-the-counter medications to those who have a need (Tylenol for headaches, antibiotic ointments, etc.). It is largely up to the nurse to determine whether a 'tummy ache' is due to an illness or homesickness, unhappiness with a roommate, or something else.
"I often find myself acting as Camp Mom to students and counselors alike.
"Although I am on duty twenty-four hours a day for the entire session, I carry a pager and I am able to leave campus for an occasional break. These times are taken an hour or two at a time when students are in class. I am always available, however, and return to the campus if called. I am never more than fifteen minutes away."
Some of the Upsides
"I find that being the camp nurse is different from the other administrative jobs in that I am not viewed as an authority figure. Kids can't really get into trouble with the nurse. The counselors and other administrators often find themselves in a disciplinary role, one from which I am purposely removed. Therefore, I am not involved with patrolling the dorms to ensure the lights-out rules or other rules are being followed. Those duties are the functions of the other administrators. However, I am involved with discussions of problems and possible solutions with the administrative staff in weekly staff meetings or as problems arise.
"I love this job-just as I loved school nursing. I love young people, and it is really exciting for me to watch their development. Because I have done this for five years now, I have been able to develop relationships with certain students and staff who first arrived as sixth graders and finally 'graduate' as ninth graders. Some of these students return as junior counselors, and a few have come back as counselors or as other staff personnel. It is rewarding for me to greet old friends and develop new ones each summer.
"Another plus is that I take my sewing machine to camp with me so that I am able to use any free time finishing or starting sewing projects. I have become camp seamstress for kids as well as counselors, mending ripped seams, etc. It's not exactly a nursing function, but it is one that is appreciated by the students. That probably comes under the heading of Camp Mom.
"My salary is $2,200 for the month, plus room and board is included. It seems very adequate to me."
The Downsides
"It is hard for me to find a downside to this job. I guess it would have to be being absent from my family for a month, although I do see them during the time I am away because I live in the same town the camp is in.
"Also, I am quite tired by the end of the month because I am up late every night, dealing with students at bedtime, and then I am up earlier than the students every morning. I am a light sleeper so I awaken easily. I have found it helpful to wear ear plugs when I do go to bed. At the end of the month I find myself catching up on sleep for most of the week following camp."
Advice from Phyllis
"Anyone who may be interested in camp nursing must have skill and knowledge in assessing illnesses and injuries and be able to determine when further evaluation is required. This is not always a skill held by a nurse whose experience is mainly in a clinical or hospital setting.
"A camp nurse must be able to recognize symptoms that may indicate a problem more serious than a simple cold or stomach flu. A background in schools, pediatrics, or public health, I believe, would be advantageous. A camp nurse must have an easygoing personality and, above all, love kids!"
Susan M. Burke, Camp Nurse
Susan Burke is a registered nurse with eight years experience, three as a surgical floor nurse and five as a community health nurse. The summer of 1997 was her first year as a camp nurse. She worked at Rolling Ridge United Methodist Conference Center Summer Camp, which offers a series of overnight camp programs.
How Susan Got Started
"I have a Diploma in Nursing from Leominster Hospital School of Nursing in Massachusetts as well as a nearly completed B.S.N. from Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
"I had volunteered at Rolling Ridge camp previously, and had attended camps there as a youngster. I have actually been a part of the Rolling Ridge community off and on for the last nineteen years or so-as a camper and then as a volunteer, as well as a member of the grounds crew as part of my summer jobs in high school.
'The director asked me to be their camp nurse this year. I agreed because I was looking for a change of pace and some extra money, and I also wanted to do something for Rolling Ridge."
What the Camp Is Like
"The focus of the program varies from year to year, but there is always some tie-in to religion. They also go swimming, canoeing, and there is a ropes course and outdoor activities-games such as softball and other lawn games.
'The camp is in North Andover, Massachusetts, in an old estate. The building is a huge old stucco mansion that was a summer home for a wealthy family. The condition is okay, and it is more camp like because of its rundown state. If ever restored to its former state, it would be comparable to one of the old Newport mansions.
'There is a dining hall and a huge kitchen from where the meals are prepped and served. The kids sleep in bunks in rooms of one, two, three, and more. It is not like camping at all. There are meeting rooms and a library. There is a pool, baseball diamond, and lawn space galore. The camp is located on a lake and is surrounded by acres of lawns and woods leading down to the lake-front. The lake is the town drinking supply, so there is no swimming other than in the pool, but they do go canoeing."
What the Job Is Like
"It is fast paced at times, slow at other times, and also frustrating at times. Sometimes the lack of things to do is boring, and to me, therefore, frustrating. At times the kids arrive without the proper documentation, such as incomplete immunization records, despite their parents knowing well in advance that they are not allowed to stay without a complete health history on file and immunizations up to date.
"Sometimes parents also drop them off with prescription meds that there are no scripts for, any orders from the doctor. So I end up on the phone tracking down the parents or the doctor. If the parents say, 'Oh, it's OK, just give it to him,' I explain that I must have a doctor's order, that I have no license to practice medicine, only one to practice nursing.
"The kids, for the most part, though, are great fun. While there is a group of campers in the center, I work 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., Monday through Friday and for about two hours on Sunday nights after the campers arrive, to check that they have their health forms and to check any prescriptions they might have.
"I deal with the campers in relation to their medical and mental well being. My day begins with giving them their noon meds after checking with the director to see what, if anything has gone on during the night. I then, basically, wait for something to happen.
"I give them any meds that are prescribed as PRN or 'as needed' meds. These are run-of-the-mill allergy meds, inhalers, Ritalin, Zantaz. I keep an Epi pen on hand for bee stings, Benedryl, Tyle-nol, Motrin, Ipecac, Kaopectate, and the like.
"Some kids just have meds they take all the time, some are on antibiotics for ear infections, and there is no reason they can't come to camp with that. So, I give them what they have scripts for, as ordered by the attending doctor.
"I assess any injuries and care for them as per the standing orders we have from the medical doctor who covers the camp. I send them to the emergency room for further evaluation, if necessary. I talk to parents about injuries, or call them to come and get their child, if necessary. Then I give out any evening meds and go home. Because the camp is not far from where I live, I don't spend the nights there.
"The atmosphere is pretty laid-back. The counselors are either Methodist clergy or CITs, kids from the various churches who are old enough to help with the campers. There is a director, who lives on-site year-round with his family.
'This might sound odd, but what I like most about the work is when there is an injury. I mean that it is exciting and gives me something to do, in my capacity as an RN.
"But I also like it least when there is an injury, in that it means a child has been hurt.
"It is a very relaxed working environment and I have complete autonomy. One needs to be able to assess a situation and act accordingly. A new nurse, or a nurse without much experience, could not do this job. I could not have done the job before I was a community health nurse, which is my main job.
"But the work is kind of boring and the pay is much less, about half of what I could make working extra for the Visiting Nurses Association. I am being paid only $16.50 an hour."
Advice from Susan
"To be a summer camp nurse, the RN should have varied experience, should be used to working alone, should be used to making judgment calls, should be able to communicate with M.D.s well, should have excellent assessment skills, and should be used to dealing with a variety of age groups.
"A camp nurse needs to have good people skills. You should not be afraid to speak with irate parents, screaming children, and stressed M.D.s."
Rose Balasco, Camp Nurse
Rose Balasco is the head nurse at Camp Green Lane in Green Lane, Pennsylvania. It's a general activity, private co-ed camp for children, ages seven through sixteen. Rose earned her B.S.N, in 1981 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
How Rose Got Started
"I started in camp nursing because after a car accident in 1987 I was no longer able to do hospital nursing. In 1989 I got a job at a boarding school as the weekend relief nurse through an ad in the local paper, and then when summer came, they asked me to be the day nurse for the riding camp they run.
"It was close to home so I decided to try it out, and it was okay, but the camp was not for me. I looked for a different type of camp, something less specialized. I wanted a camp with a better variety of activities so my then six-year-old daughter could have exposure to more things. I was also looking for an infirmary to work in that was better staffed and equipped. I found Camp Green Lane through an ad in a nursing journal. That was in 1991, and I have been here ever since. I had my second daughter after I started here, and she is now a camper.
"I am considering doing some school nursing after my little one is in school full-time."
What the Job Is Like
"Our camp lasts for eight weeks: a few days for staff orientation at the beginning of the summer, and seven and a half weeks for the campers.
"The job of camp nurse requires a variety of experiences and skills. In a general activity camp such as Camp Green Lane, 90 percent of what we do is what I like to call 'mommy medicine.' We put Band Aids on minor wounds, give over-the-counter medications for a variety of ailments-from headaches to upset tummies to stuffy noses-and give physician prescribed medications such as the ones mom would give at home.
"Sometimes the most important medicine we give is a hug and reassurance that they will be okay. But then there are the emergencies: the asthmatic who isn't getting better in spite of her nebulizers and inhalers; the diabetic who took his insulin and then forgot his snack and now has a blood sugar of thirty; the kid who fell on his wrist playing basketball and now has no pulse; the one seizing in his cabin with no history of seizures; or the twenty-year-old carried into the infirmary with crushing chest pain but no history of cardiac trouble. These are what make the job challenging-and sometimes scary!
"We have no set hours in our infirmary. If there are no patients in the infirmary, we can close the doors and do things in camp, as long as an infirmary staff member is available for emergencies."
A Typical Day
"I am up by 8:00 A.M. and passing out medications by 8:20.
'Then it is time for breakfast. Following breakfast we have sick call with the doctor and he checks any child who wants or needs to see him. Then we are free until lunch meds.
"After lunch we may see a few more campers and give allergy shots. Then it is free again until dinner meds.
"After dinner we are free again. At night, while the kids are at evening activity, I get my medications ready for the next day. Then I pass final meds for the day and we lock the doors at 11:00 P.M.
"We do have a night buzzer for late night emergencies. If there are in-patients, we do provide any necessary care and treatment for them, and then there is always someone in the infirmary with a child-we never leave them alone."
The Upsides and Downsides
"I love the relaxed atmosphere of camp. I love the friends I have made and I love that my girls have the opportunity to attend camp. In addition to my salary, that is one of the perks. I get camp fees waived for my two children to attend as campers, plus room and board for myself and for my husband (whenever he is there).
"What I dislike is sometimes dealing with difficult parents. And there are also days when there is no doctor available, and I feel as if I have to be both doctor and nurse."
