What Is a Camp Nurse?

Camp nurses serve a community, typically children or teens, in a camp environment. This can include summer camps or other camps that last from days to weeks to even months at a time, but are usually temporary. These camps house children, staff, and administrators in a setting that may be in the wilderness or some distance from a hospital or health clinic, so camp nurses are crucial for these populations. Camp nurses are charged with making sure all campers are healthy enough to attend the camp, and deal with any injuries or illnesses that may come up in the course of the camp’s duration. Some camps cater to disabled or severely ill children, in which case nurses are of paramount importance to ensure the health and safety of all campers.

Becoming a Camp Nurse

Nurses with a background in emergency care, pediatrics, and/or trauma will do well in a camp nursing environment. Beyond this, camp nurses usually work alone or fairly independently, so being able to make decisions and deal with any sort of medical emergency is a routine part of the job. Some camps may not even have reliable phone or internet service, so camp nurses need to have enough professional experience to expedite care in this type of environment. Camp nurses also need to have managerial skills, as they generally oversee the whole health office, and must be able to effectively document and record all visits and treatments administered.