is the amount of time a nurse volunteer in a hospital be considerd as work experience

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i was asked many times if when they become r.n. and they are to volunteer in a hospital, for example 1 year can they put it on their resume as post graduation work experience? i really don't know the answer because i never yet gone through that situation yet, but i am curious also about it and i know there are a lot of knowledgeable nurses in this forum, so if possible any answers are fine with me,just so that i know what i can answer them if the topic is brought up again,thank you

what if the volunteer program requires the RN to be fully responsible for the patient's condition and the roles and job description of the volunteer nurse is the same as a staff nurse? i hope it will be counted...

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Did you know the NARS program of DOLE?

Can that be considered an experience? we were rotated to different wards, we do IV insertion, giving medication including IV meds, chart monitor patient ... we are also paid 8000 per months plus 2k from LGU.

but we were just a Nurse trainee with pay can that be considered a experience?

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Before my wife came to the U.S., her only experience as a nurse was as an unpaid volunteer RN for six months at a large public tertiary hospital in the Philippines.

When she arrived here in the U.S., she landed a job as an RN shortly after she passed the NCLEX.

She believes that her volunteer nursing experience in the Philippines helped her get a job here.

Another factor which we believe helped her get a job here is her excellent English conversation skills.

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what if the volunteer program requires the RN to be fully responsible for the patient's condition and the roles and job description of the volunteer nurse is the same as a staff nurse? i hope it will be counted...

Most likely not. They want "PAID'' experience, not volunteer experience.

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Before my wife came to the U.S., her only experience as a nurse was as an unpaid volunteer RN for six months at a large public tertiary hospital in the Philippines.

When she arrived here in the U.S., she landed a job as an RN shortly after she passed the NCLEX.

She believes that her volunteer nursing experience in the Philippines helped her get a job here.

Another factor which we believe helped her get a job here is her excellent English conversation skills.

Is this recent? I know a few years back they were hiring anybody off the streets with a degree and weren't requiring experience. As a matter of fact we had some new grads who came over and had no experience and were able to be employed. But now that employers can be picky and choosy, they're requiring experience which they should have been doing from the get-go. Most of these people barely comprehended the English language and had a hard time adjusting here in the US and eventually were let go because of their lack of skill, and comprehension of the language. Although the DON fought long and hard for some of them, the administrator gave the DON this statement if "they're not gone, then she would be gone". Sad but true.

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Is this recent? I know a few years back they were hiring anybody off the streets with a degree and weren't requiring experience. As a matter of fact we had some new grads who came over and had no experience and were able to be employed. But now that employers can be picky and choosy, they're requiring experience which they should have been doing from the get-go. Most of these people barely comprehended the English language and had a hard time adjusting here in the US and eventually were let go because of their lack of skill, and comprehension of the language. Although the DON fought long and hard for some of them, the administrator gave the DON this statement if "they're not gone, then she would be gone". Sad but true.

My wife was hired as an RN in March 2010. Since then, a few other Filipino nurses have been hired where she works. I think they are all citizens or legal residents. None of them were hired on a work visa. However, the hiring situation for nurses is not all that good where we live.

Nursing was my wife's second course. Her first course was computer science. Working in the computer industry in Makati allowed her to practice her conversational English and to build her confidence in that skill.

Her volunteer experience at the hospital in the Philippines required her to perform the same duties and responsibilities as the regular nurses. That gave her more confidence when she was looking for a job here in the U.S.

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i hope registration bodies and hospitals abroad would understand the current situation of phil VNs

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what hospital did she work as a volunteer here in the Philippines?

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My wife was hired as an RN in March 2010. Since then, a few other Filipino nurses have been hired where she works. I think they are all citizens or legal residents. None of them were hired on a work visa. However, the hiring situation for nurses is not all that good where we live.

Nursing was my wife's second course. Her first course was computer science. Working in the computer industry in Makati allowed her to practice her conversational English and to build her confidence in that skill.

Her volunteer experience at the hospital in the Philippines required her to perform the same duties and responsibilities as the regular nurses. That gave her more confidence when she was looking for a job here in the U.S.

may I ask which hospital is your wife working right now and which state pls? thanks!

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what hospital did she work as a volunteer here in the Philippines?

may I ask which hospital is your wife working right now and which state pls? thanks!

Thank you for replying to my post. I will tell you that my wife and I live and work in Washington State. However, I hope you can respect our desire for privacy regarding more detailed information.

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@cascades09

thanks! I'm about to migrate to LA, but I'm thinking if oppurtunities are better in Washington then maybe I could try to move there instead =)

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@cascades09

thanks! I'm about to migrate to LA, but I'm thinking if oppurtunities are better in Washington then maybe I could try to move there instead =)

I'm not an authority in any way regarding the hiring situation for RNs, but the job situation here in Washington State for RNs seems very tight right now due to the recession. Of the jobs that appear to be available at hospitals and clinics, most are requiring a minimum of three to five years of relevant experience.

The hiring picture seems to be a bit better with the Long Term Care Facilities. There seems to be more turnover, and they will hire RNs with less experience. There are some Long Term Care Facilities here who especially like to hire Pinoys because they know that Pinoys are good loyal workers.

I hope this helps.

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