Looking for position -- No recent references

The delimma. I've been a stay-at-home mom for many years. I went into nursing and will graduate next semester (RN). My last job ended in 1996 and the company dissolved in 1999! I have great clinical evaluations and my GPA is excellent. I volunteer at a local community hospital. I am looking for suggestions on improving my reference base. My future career interest is in a specific field for which there is a nurse internship, upon graduation. Suggestions? I'm hoping for suggestions from others who had limited current references and from HR managers faced with interviewing nursing candidates without them. Thank you!