TIPS for Recruiting a Camp Nurse
Fun, creative, outdoorsy, having pediatric and pre-hospital experience, not afraid of hard work, curious and organized. It’s not always easy to find the perfect camp nurse! In our world today some creativity will go a long way to find the nurse that is a great fit for your camp.
Consider options for your hiring, could you split the summer into smaller time chunks for hiring a nurse? Consider a camper tuition exchange for a nurse to work for just one or two sessions. Look to your camp community for possibilities: mothers and fathers of campers, siblings or relatives may be already in your camp family but have never have considered bringing their profession to camp. The broader community of your camp may also provide some good resources, if you are part of a larger organization or faith community. There are many who may not be aware that camp nursing is a professional space, and that camps need nursing skills to provide a healthy camp community.
The Alliance for Camp Health has a job board, and for a small fee you may post a camp nurse (or other healthcare staff) ad for your camp. If you post an ad ACH is happy to promote your job on ACH social media which reaches a broader audience. When you purchase an ad you also receive the password for viewing the list of Job Seekers, nurses and other healthcare professionals who are looking for a camp job.
Retaining staff is always easier than seeking new staff, so review your camp nursing position. Is the healthcare center adequate for your camp? Is the nurse housing comfortable? Do you provide the nurse with continuing education (ACH is a great resource). Are your healthcare policies and procedures up to date? Are you adequately staffed to prevent nurse burnout by the end of the summer? Have you listened to suggestions and implemented improvements suggested by previous healthcare staff?
Camp Nursing is a great place for nurses to practice in a community based setting serving youth and families, and many nurses thrive in the environment. Take care of the great nurses you have, and they’ll not only return, but help spread the word to other nurses.
