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Using intuition to define homesickness at summer camp
Summary
Camp nurses identified consistent characteristics of homesickness, aiding in its definition. Their intuitive diagnoses and interventions can improve camper experiences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Child Psychology
- Camp Health Services
Background:
- Homesickness lacks a clear operational definition.
- Nurses need documented characteristics for diagnosing homesickness.
- Camp nurses are uniquely positioned to observe homesickness in real-time.
Observation:
- A descriptive study surveyed 12 camp nurses from 8 states.
- Nurses completed questionnaires regarding their experiences with homesickness.
- The study explored nurses' perspectives on identifying and managing homesickness.
Findings:
- Camp nurses demonstrated a consistent set of defining characteristics for homesickness.
- Intuition plays a significant role in camp nurses' diagnosis of homesickness.
- Key symptoms and effective interventions for homesickness were identified.
Implications:
- Findings contribute to an operational definition of homesickness.
- Provides a basis for diagnostic criteria for nurses.
- Offers practical interventions to enhance camper well-being and experience.