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Health Care Positions at Camp La
Junta
Working at Camp La Junta is a great experience that benefits the staff
as well as the kids. To reap those benefits, though, the days are long.
We work hard— and we play hard. The living conditions, activities, and
the company you keep while working at CLJ are exceptional.
Each summer we hire two Nurses and one Infirmary Assistant. Nurses
should have current RN, LVN or LPN licenses or EMT Certification.
Our Assistants are often medical students and should have current
Advanced First Aid, Wilderness First Aide or First Responder or
certification.
Ideally, our nurses will blend with the normal operation of the camp,
becoming familiar with the program, campers and fellow staff. Their
primary concerns in the summer are the health and safety of each camper,
and the efficient organization of our health records.
During slow times in the infirmary, health care staff are permitted (and
encouraged!) to participate in all camp activities. We want campers to
be familiar with their nurses outside of medical procedures, but
nonetheless, staff should be aware not to lose sight of priorities:
"Health Care - Documentation - Communication". Our infirmary
is first and foremost a medical facility; a comfortable, homelike
medical facility.
Camp nurses are counted upon to:
- Administer first aid. All of the
camp’s bumps and bruises, large or small, channel through the
infirmary. It is important that the nurse see all of the injuries,
and that the proper antiseptics, ointments, and dressings are
applied. Close consultation with the Director will assure that
further medical attention, if necessary, is received in a timely
fashion. All treatments and individuals who come through the
infirmary must be properly documents.
- Tend to camper and counselor
illness. The most common ailments tend to involve infected ears,
sore throats, stomach aches and too much heat. Fluids and analgesics
cure most of our ills, but extended symptoms may require antibiotics
or a visit to the doctor. Documentation is critical here as well, so
that extended illness or small epidemics may be tracked and a
precise, well-documented history exists. Nurses are often asked to
drive to the Doctor's office in a camp vehicle.
- Assist the camp doctor in diagnosing
conditions. A few instances will require that the nursing staff and
the directors make judgments about further treatments. These
usually center around questions such as "Should the doctor see
this child today?,” "Are stitches required?,” or "Is
this a sprain or a potential break?” We usually tend to take the
most cautious route for treatment, but don’t want to be
over-reactive. Every rash can’t be chicken pox and every bump
won’t be a broken bone, but the one in a thousand chance cannot be
overlooked. Communication with the Doctor in these instances is
vital and consultation with the Director important.
- Be the infirmary housekeeper.
Everyone pitches in wherever they can be most useful. Hopefully
there will be much slack time in the infirmary (no illnesses and few
injuries) and this can be a useful time to update records, visit
activities and keep the infirmary linens, bathroom and treatment
rooms clean. If things get busy we’ll send in cleaning help, but
if everyone is healthy you should certainly have time to stay ahead
of the dirt.
- Be a resident parent. We have a
handful of females on the staff each summer to help the younger guys
avert homesickness. However, it ultimately seems that the infirmary,
with its air-conditioning and sympathetic nurses, is the only place
to get "homesick pills". Homesickness can be
traumatic in the mind of a small child, and we want him to get over
it as quickly as possible. We’ll cater to him at first and get
firmer with him as his homesickness turns into a desire for
attention. You should easily notice this gradual change, but if not,
give the camper the benefit of the doubt.
The infirmary assistant's exact duties
will vary depending on their training, age, and expertise. Most
assistants will be assigned camp cabin and activity to assist. During
the nurses' busiest times, the assistant will be on-duty in the
infirmary. In addition, the infirmary assistant is usually our primary
driver for medical visits, dental visits, routine x-rays and follow-ups.
A clean driving record is imperative.
Requirements for Our Health Care Givers
Our summer focus is most definitely on the kids. All of our
Infirmary Staff are here solely to work with kids. In addition to
the infirmary itself, they will be exposed to many other aspects of
camp, and come in constant contact with the kids. Therefore, our
ideal staff member makes common sense decisions, communicates well with
others, has energy, enthusiasm and an interest in the needs of young
boys. While hired primary for supporting duties, all infirmary staff are
expected to live up to the same high standards of responsibility and
leadership maintained by our counseling staff when interacting with
campers.
While not designed to be attending to children 24/7, the infirmary can
at times get busy. Whether it's a rash of stomach aches or an
onslaught of band-aid seekers at bedtime there will be busy moments
under your watch. Because of the need for great care, regardless
of time or circumstance, our ideal staff member is mature, hard working,
positive and looking to go the extra mile.
We view all staff members as important in the success of the program,
therefore our ideal staff is prepared to exert consistent effort so that
his performance and example to others are persistent and instill a
strong and lasting foundation of self-pride.
Our staff traditionally fit the "All-American" mold: clean,
moral, hard working, high aspiring adults whom our parents can
confidently count on as safe, stable, and potential role models for
their sons.
By regulation and camp policy we endeavor to have at least two infirmary
staff on duty at all times. Normally we hire on Assistant who is
college-aged and training are ready to function mainly as a First Aid
technician. We also hire two more highly trained personnel
to be responsible for diagnosis, treatment and documentation of illness
and daily medication. Our desire is to fill these positions with
RNs, LVNs or EMTs.
The Benefits of Being a Part of La Junta's Health Care Team
At Camp La Junta we value our medical staff and strive to assure
that they are among the best trained, supported, treated, remunerated
and skilled staff in the nation. As a special perk, the great fun,
the modern facilities, the unbeatable scenery, the dynamite campers and
the great friends they will experience this summer will be thrown in on
top of all the financial benefits. Infirmary Staff generally
have more difficult job assignments than our counselor staff, but are
offered additional compensation and an opportunity to participate in
camp activities during free time.
We count on important life-time skills and successful corporate
skills to run our camp and train our kids and want you to have them for
the rest of your professional and academic career as well.
We want professional attitudes and professional skills, so we train and
reinforce both throughout the summer!
- Time off: Each member of the staff
will receive occasional evenings and many mid-mornings and
afternoons off. This time ensures that you remain rested and able to
perform at the highest standard, keeps you in touch with the outside
world and allows time to cultivate relationships with your summer
peers from around the state, nation and the world. Within a
well defined structure, infirmary staff are encouraged to
participate in camp activities to enhance their personal experience,
to build relationships and to add to our campers experiences.
- Monthly salary: If all this weren't
enough, nurses are actually remunerated with at least $2,750.00 per
month for the camping season (roughly June 1 - August 10). Actual
salaries are based upon work experience, specialized training and
necessary camperships for their children. Travel
allowances are provided to out of state staff.
Equally important, there are no fees or
other purchase requirements for staff members. There is no staff
uniform to purchase. Comfortable shorts and tee shirts suffice for most
of your stay at La Junta. We'll provide a staff shirt for opening
and closing days. There are abundant (and free) laundry facilities
on camp. Daily snacks, provided to the campers, are provided to staff at
no charge. All meals are included for support staff. There is an
on site staff lounge with soda machine, pay phones, game tables, Cable
TV, DVD, VCR, internet access and yes, an air conditioner! All
staff are provided insurance to cover routine medications and most
medical treatment.
Also, when your La Junta summer is over, you will share in many of the
same successes and memories afforded your campers. You'll have dozens of
great photos for your wall, addresses of some of your new closest
friends, a great tan and an arsenal of enhanced lifetime skills. You'll
have mastered leadership, communication, organizational and
instructional skills. You'll have perfected your public speaking,
impromptu storytelling and riverside exploring skills. Most of all, the
sweat, determination, dedication and affection you give our program and
the 500 kids this summer, will be paid back 10 fold throughout the rest
of your days. What are you waiting for?
Apply
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