Reasons Why I Love Camp Nursing

I got to spend the weekend working a retreat at a camp here I work with part-time. It was oh-so-good for the ole soul and reminded me why I love Camp Nursing so much.

Here's Why:

1. I can wear jeans and flip flops to work.

2. I get my very own, gas powered golf cart to ride around in. This kind of horsepower at camp means I can be anywhere in no time if there is an emergency, but more importantly, it means less time between me and the snack bar. Did I mention I have a weakness for those Coca-Cola Icee things? It takes approximately 2.8 minutes for me to hop my cart and arrive to the cash register to request that Iced Coke goodness. People like nurses, so sometimes I even get them for free!

3. Because everyone here is (mostly) in their right mind, they are continent of their bowel and bladder, and they can help themselves to the bathroom. And, this my peeps, is a beautiful change from my normal nursing activities :)

4. I get to kneel in the middle of the woods, mix up meat tenderizer paste for a bee sting, and apply it to some sweet 7 year old’s finger, while he screams LOUDLY for a hot minute. But then, he wraps his arms around my neck shockingly, and then tells me I’m the most beautiful lady he’s ever met :) Thank you.

5. Did I mention it’s in the low 70’s in Texas today, the sun is shining, beautiful fall foliage is abundant, and they pay me for this? These kind of days in November make me quite glad to live in TX.

6. Because I met a lovely mother who brought her daughter in for a jammed finger, and discover the reason why this mother has no hair is that she is fighting breast cancer. And by meeting her I learn that kindness, peace, and joy can exist in the middle of such a horrible disease. And that even when a horrible disease strikes a beautiful person like her, she shows me by a smile to her daughter, by talking with her about playing tetherball and learning about Jesus- that life—LIFE—it must go on.

7. While everyone else is out being healthy and engaging in camp activities, I actually get to do some writing here during downtime in the health center. Writing and Nursing all at the same time?—this makes my heart glad :)

8. Something about doing camp nursing makes my heart feel very alive.

9. I get to see the counselors from summer camp and remember the beauty of youth and get to be around their wonderful enthusiasm.

10. Jesus is in this place.

11. They pay me. Y’all, they pay me for this.

12. Because it stretches my assessment skills and makes me say, “Jesus? Jesus? Hello, I need you to tell me what you think.” People expect me to often be Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman in this kind of setting, of which I CLEARLY AM NOT. I am trained as a Nurse- to treat the responses to illness- not diagnose it. But this setting often demands diagnosis. Tricky spot to stay within the bounds of my license yet serve the people. So, I rely on Jesus to be my doctor alot. It keeps me humble this way and helps me remember who’s really in charge.

13. Because once upon a time, I was a girl with a small dream in her heart. I wanted to use health-related skills to serve people out in the wilds of the wilderness. I never dreamed when God brought me to Texas He would answer that small call of my heart that has ended up satisfying it LARGELY. And He did not bring me to just any camp to work as a Nurse. He brought me to arguably one of the best in the country in terms of its health center, size, and scope of practice. I have a very dedicated boss who has made our health center EXCELLENT, meaning I have gotten to work and learn in one of the best in the nation. God doesn't just satisfy our hearts, He shows out when He does it :)

So, about 50 bee stings treated later, wounds bandaged, and allergy medicine dispensed, this Nurse is hitting the sack...