Camp Nursing:A Creative Way to Engage Students

Purpose of the ProjectDescribe the use of a

camp nursing experience to increase student engagement in community settings and improve knowledge of pediatric nursing

BackgroundPediatric experience

is valuable in entry level practice and necessary for NCLEX success

Pediatric clinical sites are often limited with many programs competing for placements

Students often complete clinical experiences at sites focusing on Well Child Care and/or minor acute illnesses and may not see children with chronic health issues or complex disease processes

Sites for WKU BSN Pediatric ClinicalsPhysicians Offices

◦Observation of providers and nurses◦Learning about well child and acute

illness careSchools

◦Learning about school health issues and school nurse role

◦Communication with children◦Hearing and vision screenings

Sites for WKU BSN Pediatric ClinicalsWKU Clinical Education Complex/Big Red

School◦Learning about early childhood development

and role of interdisciplinary team◦Observe education and interact with children

with autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, cerebral palsy, etc.

Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CCSHN)◦Attend various clinics such as Neurology,

Cardiology, etc. ◦Observe providers and nurses and interact with

patients

Sites for WKU BSN Pediatric ClinicalsMedical Center at Bowling Green

◦Provide direct care for children with acute illnesses such as RSV, Influenza, Dehydration, etc

◦Most seriously ill children in our area are cared for at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville or Kosair’s in Louisville

Tour of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital

Why Add A Camp Nursing Course?

Fulfill an elective requirement (3 hours)

Provide an opportunity for those with interest in pediatric nursing to have an intensive clinical experience with medially fragile children

Our Community PartnerThe Center for

Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Kentucky

Founded in 2004 by Elizabeth Turner Campbell

First children served in 2008

Serves ? Children yearly

What is CCK?“We are a world

class medical camping facility providing free and memorable camping experiences for children with life threatening diseases and disabilities.” (Center for Courageous Kids.org, 2011)

Medical Care at CCKFull time medical director Staff NurseVolunteer Physicians, Nurses, RTs,

PTs, and others to staff summer and weekend family retreats

Illness Groups Served SUMMER SESSIONS

(AGE 7-15) · Severe Asthma

· Cancer· Epilepsy· Heart Disease· Kidney Disease· Spina Bifida· Hemophilia· HIV Positive· Juvenile Arthritis· Sickle Cell *others, to be determined

Fall and Spring Family Weekends -

Serve Summer Illness Groups PLUS:

*Children on Ventilators*Craniofacial Abnormalities*Diabetes*Down Syndrome*IBD*Cerebral Palsy* Muscular Dystrophy*Severe Food Allergy*Development Disability as it pertains to the illness groups served.

Center for Courageous Kids.org, 2011

Our Camp Nursing CourseNursing 369-Special Topics in

Nursing/Camp Nursing3 hours credit/fulfills nursing elective

requirement in our curriculumFaculty –Dawn Garrett Wright & Deanna

Hanson

Our Camp Nursing CourseCourse Description

◦This course is an introduction to camp nursing. Students will explore the care of healthy and/or medically fragile children within the context of family and community. The course will require the student to work on health education projects, be proficient in general nursing skills, and will have reflective pieces including a personal journal. The course will involve direct care of children so the student should be at the senior level (entering Nursing 431 and 444) or have an Associate Degree in Nursing. Others students may be considered based on space available and with instructor permission.

Our Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives: At the completion of this course the

student will be able to: Integrate knowledge from other disciplines as it relates

to the care of children in a camp setting.Utilize the nursing process to provide care to healthy

and/or medically fragile children in a camp setting.Demonstrate leadership skills in designing/managing

holistic are of children in a camp setting. Identify nursing research findings to support

interventions used in the care of children.

Our Course ObjectivesAnalyze the roles of the therapeutic team in meeting

the diverse health and recreational needs of healthy and/or medically fragile children.

Utilize effective communication skills to collaborate with children, families, professionals, and unlicensed assistive personnel in the care of children in a camp setting.

Practice responsible safe and ethical nursing care that promotes the health of healthy children or children with acute/chronic illnesses in community settings such as a summer camp.

Evaluation MethodsAttendance and Full Participation in

Camp – includes full-day orientation, daily conferences, debriefing lunch/postconference (175 pts)

Daily Reflections/ Journal for Faculty (75 pts)Education Presentation for Camp Staff

(50 pts)_____________________

Total 300 pts

What Does Participation Mean at CCK?

Education ProjectsThe student’s presentation for camp staff is to be brief

(less than 5 minutes) and should address the following:◦ What is the illness/condition ?(very basic

pathophysiology)◦ What symptoms or manifestations might the

counselor/staff member see?◦ What are the common treatments for the

illness/condition?◦ How can the counselor/staff member help the camper

have the best experience within the context of this illness/condition?

◦ Provide some type of visual to help the counselors and staff members remember what you taught ?

Reflective Journal Questions

Student Reflections – Expectations “I’m a little nervous

about working with children, as I don’t really have any experience with kids, except for the occasional babysitting job, and especially not with chronically ill children. I took this course to get a unique experience that I likely will not get in any other nursing elective, and to hopefully help make a difference in a child’s life (who will probably in turn make a difference in my life).”

“When I start to prepare for camp, I get a little nervous that maybe I’m not ready to care for these kids the way they may need me. What if I say the wrong thing and scare a kid about a procedure? I think of myself as being a good person with children I love being around them, saying that, I’ve never been around a lot of kids with major health disorders. I am looking forward to meeting the kids as well as using and expanding my nursing skills. “

“I have learned today already that it is very important to be organized, especially with the campers’ medications. We are responsible for passing out their medications at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. With so many campers I think that things can get very busy sometimes, and it proved to be so! I think that I have already become more responsible, as well as the other nursing students who were working with me. I could just see an improvement with everyone and how they stepped up to get the job done. “

“Passing out medications today and providing some minor first aid after the messy games also made me feel more responsible. My confidence on whether I will someday become the nurse I want to be is not fully there, and by being able to pass out medications to every child successfully and time efficiently, as well as patching up minor abrasions as a result of messy games, I felt more in control. “

Student ReflectionsJumping in

Student Reflections Whole lotta learnin’ going on

“I feel like I have learned so much already about this class coming up[Nursing Care of Women, Infants, and Children]. I loved learning everything. I felt like I absorbed everything like a sponge; even when I was exhausted! I plan to take what I have learned at camp and maybe help out classmates who might not understand something. I’m hoping I might have a real experience that I can share with them to help them better understand.”

“I realized the importance of teamwork this week, as none of this would be possible without the help of every staff member and every volunteer. I also learned so much about patient education and how crucial it is in every patient’s treatment. One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is the cultural diversity at camp. There were many different races and cultures represented by our campers this week, and it really gave me some insight into their values and lifestyles.”

Student Reflections more learning…“CCK changed the

way I look at healthcare. I did not really realize how much medications cost and some of these families are probably barely getting by because they are paying thousands of dollars each month to keep their child alive and safe. “

“The real life scenarios are much harder to deal with simply because the person you are treating is no longer just a patient defined by the disease; they are real people who require a holistic approach to nursing.”

Student ReflectionsBuilding relationships “When they had the

pats on the back today some of the girls from my group got up there and thanked the nurses for taking care of them this week. That too melted my heart. I knew then that we had succeeded in touching these children this week.”

“I believe I learned how to be more patient and take the time to know each individual because they are people not just a sick person in room 101. This is somebody’s family member and I am going to treat them just like they are my own. I will carry out this through the rest of my life.”

“In my future nursing career I will take from this week and put into my practice several things like: passion, understanding, the ability to be patient, remembering that the focus is on the patient and NOT myself, being friendly when needed but stern when needed as well… there are so many things I could continue listing, but the main concept I will take from this experience is to love and care for all.”

This past week has changed my life forever no doubt. I have a special place in my heart for each of the blue lodge boys. I have a much better understanding for each of the disorders that were present at camp. I think it will be a huge help as I start OB and pediatrics this next semester.

All in all, this was one of the best weeks of my life. I learned so much about nursing, pediatrics, and myself.

Student ReflectionsPutting it into practice

BenefitsFor Students

◦ Improved pediatric communication skills and understanding of childhood development

◦ Exposure to a wide variety of illness groups

◦ Practicing and learning new skills

◦ Work with interdisciplinary team

◦ Development of professional contacts and relationships

◦ FUN!!!

For Faculty◦ Building a partnership

with a unique community partner

◦ Development of professional contacts and relationships

◦ Providing an outlet for faculty practice and community service

◦ Increased knowledge of management of chronic health conditions in a unique population

◦ FUN!!!

ChallengesSelection of students

Development of orientation program

Coordination with camp medical staff

Emotional impact of experience on students and faculty

Future plansContinue the

course each summer

Expanding number of sections offered

Publish findings