There are many areas of nursing that receive precious little attention from the media and also from the nursing community itself, and I would surmise that camp nurses are a sub-population of our profession that are most likely to be ignored (unless you have kids heading off to camp this summer, that is!).

We all know that camps are where children go every summer to have adventure, time away from home, and an experience apart from anything they would experience in their usual day to day lives. Many children attend day camps and sleep at home each night, while others go to sleep-away camp, leaving home for days or weeks at a time.

Camp experiences can, of course, involve sports and other activities that may naturally lead to minor (or sometimes major) injuries. Additionally, in the 21st century, there are astronomical numbers of children taking multiple medications, and many of these medications---including psychotropics and stimulants---have complicated interaction and side effect profiles with which the camp nurse must be familiar.

Like school nurses (previously appreciated here on Nurse LinkUp) I am certain that camp nurses have seen an exponential rise in the number of children attending camp with special needs, unfamiliar medications, and complicated medical and nursing regimens. Parents and other nurses may take camp nurses for granted, but a great deal of responsibility appears to be the norm when taking on the task of being a camp nurse, and I don't envy those who have taken such a summer-time plunge. 

The Association of Camp Nurses website points out that camp nurses are often the only nurse practicing in a particular camp setting, and this must often be a lonely and potentially stressful job, especially if the doctor on call is difficult to reach. The activity on the camp nurse forums on Allnurses.com demonstrates that many people are involved in this annual occupation, and questions arise regarding charting and documentation, EpiPens, licensing issues, peanut allergies, anaphylaxis, and the risk of sun exposure and skin cancer in young campers. 

There are also specialty camps for children with special needs and specific diseases, such as Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for children with cancer and blood disorders, and multiple camps for children with HIV/AIDS. There must be special nurses indeed who choose to spend their summers with these courageous children. 

Camp nursing is a relatively unsung branch of nursing that is widely deserving of both praise, attention, and inquiry. The women and men who choose to work in many thousands of summer camps are serving an important role, and we can rest assured that they are not doing it for the glory, the glamour, or the wonderfully high pay. I assume that camp nursing is a satisfying (and exhausting) endeavor, and hats off to those who fill this unique and often overlooked nursing role. 

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NurseKeith is a blogger, writer, nurse and consultant. Please feel free to visit his blog, Digital Doorway .  

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