Scope and Standards of Camp Nursing Practice

It is with honor that ACH publishes The Scope & Standards of Camp Nursing Practice 2024. Based on practice and comment from nurse across the United States, the publication represents the camp nurses’ commitment to quality practice and the profession’s promise to safeguard the public we serve. The Standards describe the expectations for safe and accountable camp nursing practice. They can be used to develop educational programs, practice guidelines, and evaluation tools. The welfare of campers and staff rests on implementation of ACH’s Standards of Camp Nursing Practice.

First published in 2001, this is the fourth edition of the Scope & Standards of Camp Nursing Practice. While the updated Standards continue to guide and shape nursing actions in the camp setting, they also continue to provide protection to the public. With this history in mind, The Scope & Standards of Camp Nursing Practice 2024 (4th edition) is based on the following assumptions:

• Nursing services in the camp setting contribute to an environment characterized by its health promoting qualities as well as being enjoyable, educational, and supportive for campers and staff.
• Delivering a camp’s health program is a collaborative effort among a group of camp professionals that includes the nurse. Indeed, this group often looks to the nurse for leadership. Collaborators may include the camp director and other administrators, camp staff, primary healthcare providers, campers and their parents/guardians.
• The camp nurse is responsible for providing nursing care to both campers and staff, for working with others to address individual health concerns, and for promoting a healthy camp community.
• Nurses, because of their professional preparation, are best suited to guide and provide camp healthcare.