Camp Nurse - YMCA Camp Pepin

Spend your summer as the camp nurse at YMCA Camp Pepin and gain valuable experience in medication administration and management, first aid treatment, advising on medical situations, and more. Serving as Camp Pepin’s on-site nurse, you will oversee the safety and health of all campers and staff, as well as manage all administrative responsibilities related to medical care at camp. 

AT A GLANCE:
Position: Camp Nurse – Part of the leadership team, reports to Camp Director
Preferred Qualifications: Our nurse must be a licensed registered nurse, physician’s assistant, practical nurse, athletic trainer, or EMT/paramedic/Wilderness First Responder. 

However, if you do not currently possess any of these qualifications, Camp Pepin is willing to assist the candidate with the cost of an approved Wilderness First Responder course ($900 value) to meet these requirements.

Compensation: $500/week + room and board
Dates of Internship: June 4 (flexible) to August 12
Related areas of Study: Nursing, Pre-Med, Exercise Science

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POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The camp nurse at Camp Pepin plays a crucial role in the success of our summer. As the camp’s on-site nurse, your most common task would be treating the daily bumps, bites, and bruises that naturally occur at camp. That being said, it’s possible that a more significant injury or illness could occur, which is where your true expertise comes into play. Our nurse is NOT responsible for performing any major medical procedures, but for controlling a situation and consulting with camp leadership on the best course of action – is an ambulance needed? Do they just need to drink water and rest?
Another major responsibility of our camp nurse is the distribution and documentation of medications to campers and underage staff. All medications are safely stored and secured in the Health Office, and it is the nurse’s responsibility to administer medications as needed. This usually entails a med check at morning flagpole/breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. All medication administration must be documented in our official medical log, which is made easy by our online administration system that is built into our camp management software.
It's required that the nurse at Camp Pepin lives on site while camp is in session, in order to be available in an emergency (camp runs from Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon). The position comes with significant responsibility and importance, but life at camp for our nurse is a pretty sweet gig. You are provided all of your meals, housing in our air-conditioned staff lodge, and have the Health Office at your disposal. Your fellow staff are from all over the world and are some of the best people you’ll meet! And honestly, you can’t beat living at a summer camp. Our view of Lake Pepin is stunning, and the daily activities and performances serve as constant entertainment each day. This camp nurse position is the perfect role to gain hands-on experience in the medical field, while also playing a pivotal role in the impact that summer camp can have on our campers.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provide health care to meet individual needs of camp staff and campers.
• Collaborate with other medical staff to meet these needs.
• Follow healthcare policies and procedures as described in the Healthcare Manual.
• Organize, maintain, and utilize adequate resources for serving the health and medical needs of all campers/staff.
• Maintain accurate and detailed medical records according to state and American Camping Association standards.
• Ensure staff and camper health information is current and on file.
• Prepare and utilize daily medical log for treatment and medications.
• Communicate with parents regarding any concerns or treatment.
• Prepare and record insurance and accident report forms.
• Oversee first aid procedures and supplies.
• Inventory and maintain all first aid kits throughout camp, including vehicles, kitchen, offices, waterfront, activity areas, and off-site trips.
• Ensure supplies are well stocked and distributed as needed.
• Fulfill duties during an emergency, as outlined by our Emergency Action Plan.
• Ensure staff are prepared for and understand their role in their own healthcare, as well as of the campers.
• Educate staff on the risks of dehydration, heat exhaustion, sunburn, or excessive bug bites; encourage strategies to minimize these risks.
• Serve as a resource for staff regarding mental health concerns for both themselves and their campers.
• Supervise the screening of all campers and staff upon arrival to camp.
• Verify health history.
• Verify emergency contacts and authorizations.
• Identify any observable evidence of illness or communicable diseases.
• Securely store all medications used by campers or staff.
• Supervise sanitary conditions throughout camp.
• Observe daily cleanliness in the food service area, and other areas around camp.
• Report any issues or concerns to the Camp Director.

POTENTIAL SPECIAL/CAPSTONE PROJECT IDEAS:
• Streamlining the medical check-in procedures during camper check in days.
• Developing an educational campaign to encourage positive health behaviors at camp, with the goal to decrease the amount of campers who report illness/injury. For example, creating ways to encourage campers to drink more water, with the goal of decreasing the number of campers who suffer from dehydration symptoms.
• Creating educational materials to assist counselors with various social or emotional behaviors.
• Tracking the frequency of various injuries/behaviors throughout the summer and advising on potential preventative actions.
• Any other idea you may have!