Mental health needs of children and adolescents at camp: are they being assessed and treated appropriately by the camp nurse?
OBJECTIVE
Increasingly, more children and adolescents are attending camps with mental health concerns. This can pose a challenge for camp nurses who may lack experience in assessment and treatment of mental health issues.


OBJECTIVE
To focus on the importance of addressing and treating mental health needs of children and adolescents at camp utilizing the Scope and Standards of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice.


METHODS
Personal observations, camp nursing experience, and scholarly published literature.


CONCLUSIONS
It is paramount that mental health needs of children and adolescents at camp are addressed and managed appropriately by the camp nurse. Education of camp nurses and camp administrators is also a vital part of providing care.
Courey
Tamra J
TJ
Kent State University Ashtabula Regional Campus, Ashtabula, OH, USA.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002165:Camping / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration; D006266:Health Education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing; D008603:Mental Health; D008884:Milieu Therapy; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D009736:Nursing Process; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology