Camp nurses are very important to the daily functions of camps and retreats. Many situations can occur while people attend camps and retreats that could have horrible outcomes if not for the presence of camp nurses. The field of nursing is filled with many exciting new opportunities to become a nurse. Nurses can work in a variety of settings, including camps.
Camp Nurse Job Description
The role of camp nurse is to provide expert medical and health care services to camp and retreat attendants of all ages. The settings can range from groups of terminally ill patients attending a weeklong retreat, to a summer camp of girls in the woods. Camp nurses must have a broad range of expertise to perform their duties. They may have to help the healthy or ill or young and old campers.
Camp nurses provide many types of medical care that may include anything from burns from campfire to a broken arm or leg. The duties of camp nurses are endless. A few of the duties include the following:
- Establishing health centers
- Staff orientation
- Training camp or retreat staff to recognize medical issues
- Providing clean first aid supplies
- Managing communicable diseases
- Creating action plans in the event of an contagious outbreak
- Dispensing medications
- Attending minor injuries
- Communicating with the parents or family members of camp or retreat attendants
- Frequent health checks
- Ensuring the safety of everyone at a retreat or camp
- Accompanying the sick to medical appointments or hospitals
- Keeping accurate medical records
- Participating in camp and retreat events
- Liaising with medical professionals
- Providing specific health needs of campers to staff members
Camp nurses must have the ability to assess medical needs very quickly. They must be confident in their abilities and offer friendly, personable assistance to their patients. Experience with the specific age group in which the camp or retreat consists of is also good for camp nurses. They must also have the ability to work in a variety of settings.
Camp Nurse Job Requirements
Camp nurses are required to hold the registered nurse (RN) credential. In some cases, camp nurses are only required to hold a minimum education required to be a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Licensed practical nurses complete 2 years or less of nursing school. They must successfully pass the national licensing examination to become LPNs so that they can become camp nurses.
Registered nurses are required to pass the national licensing examination for nurses. There is currently no specific certification requirement other than the registered nurse credentials to become camp nurses.
It is a good idea that camp nurses have certification in first aid and CPR as those certifications may come in handy at retreats and camps. Nurses have a variety of professionals nursing associations to choose from for nursing education to advance their skills to provide them with the skills they need to be knowledgeable camp nurses.
Camp Nurse Salary
The nursing salary for camp nurses is not as high as salaries for nurses working in other settings. Many nurses work full-time in hospitals and clinics and use opportunities to be camp nurses as a way to make additional wages and compensations. Camp nurses receive free room and board at the camps and retreats in which they work. The median annual salaries for camp nurses are $36,000. The salaries vary greatly by location, company, experience, and industry.
Camp Nurse Jobs Outlook
It is estimated that millions of children and adults attend camps and retreats throughout the year, and many of them do not have the pleasure of having a camp nurse in attendance. There is an extreme shortage of nurses to work at summer camps and retreats so recent college graduates of nursing programs can look forward to positive employment opportunities during the next decade. Those looking to begin a new career in nursing will have great opportunities available as well.
Nursing jobs are one of the fastest growing careers right now. It is expected that a 20% increase in employment opportunities will become available over the next decade for qualified nurses. Camping trips can serve as mini-vacations for nurses working as camp nurses.
Camp nurses have a great deal of responsibility to care for camp and retreat attendants. They must stay abreast of the latest developments in nursing to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. Their skills must be very broad to be exceptional camp nurses, and they must have excellent rapport with everyone in attendance. The shortage of camp nurses means unlimited opportunities for anyone interested in entering the field of nursing.