Nursing board volunteers at burn survivor camp
In June, the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing staff hosted a booth with games and crafts during the “Out of This World”-themed annual fun fair at the Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance in Ingleside, Illinois.
Camp I Am Me is a free-to-attend summer camp for young burn survivors to share their common experiences, grow their confidence, and play in a safe, nonjudgmental environment.
Having developed a close connection to burn survivors and burn nurses through their new burn nursing specialty certification, BCEN’s staff was honored to participate in the camp’s fun fair, playing games and making crafts with campers.
“Giving back to the burn community through volunteer service means a lot to our team because of the burn nurses that BCEN provides board certification for,” said Maggie Ramirez, BCEN marketing and events manager, who coordinated the booth’s activities. “Through our Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) certification program, BCEN validates the expertise of these highly skilled RNs. And as we’ve gotten to know these nurses over the years, we’ve come to understand how much their patient care impacts them as professionals and as people. Camp I Am Me offered the perfect way to honor the nurses and give back to such a deserving patient population so close to our headquarters.”
The BCEN employees custom-designed a Rocket Launcher Challenge game with plenty of prizes for participants of all skill levels, as well as moon lamp and galaxy rock painting for campers who wanted to create a memento to take home.
At the camp’s fun fair, the staff enjoyed cheering campers on as they played the game and showed their creativity.
“The ripple effects from these activities, no matter how big or small, may be difficult to measure, but they can mean everything to the people on the receiving end,” said BCEN CEO Janie Schumaker. “Our staff gave a little and gained a lot with this volunteer opportunity.”
About the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)
Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, BCEN offers robust national nursing specialty certification programs fostering empowered nurses across the emergency spectrum who contribute noticeably to patient care, safety and outcomes. Over 60,000 BCEN credentials are held by registered nurses (RNs) who specialize in emergency, pediatric emergency, flight, critical care ground transport, trauma, and burn nursing.