Do I need to volunteer in a health care setting to make sure i get in?

touchhealth · Nov 12, 2009

I think it's a good idea to volunteer in a healthcare setting to make sure you WANT to get in

The truth is, people are flocking to health-care professions because of a lot of misconceptions about it being recession-proof and easy to land a high-paying job (both not true at the moment). Nursing schools across the board are looking for some indication that you really understand the complex realities of the nursing field either by volunteering, or shadowing a nurse, or working in healthcare. There are so many people trying to get very few slots in RN-school, and they don't want to give a coveted spot to someone who might not follow through with the program once they learn what nursing is really all about.

Technically, you don't have to volunteer but those who do are much more likely to be considered for admission. I think a lot also depends on how impacted the programs you're considering are. Private RN programs are not as hard to get into as low-cost community or state schools because the prohibitive costs take a lot of people out of the application pool. Maybe ask some of the current students in the program your considering whether they think volunteering helped them???

My volunteer work is only 4 hours/week and you don't need to do it for that long.

Best of luck!

One1, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2009

I chose to volunteer first for exactly the reasons the previous poster listed - to find out if I really want to be in healthcare and get a better idea of what it entails. I volunteered for almost a year at a local hospital (level II trauma) in the emergency department. After about 2 months of volunteering I started my prerequisites for the accelerated (second) Bachelor programs, and continued volunteering throughout my prerequisites in order to show continuity, community engagement, and to keep me close to the healthcare field. I later got my EMT-B license so that I could work in the field even if I would not have been accepted to nursing school (which I have been). I think that my volunteer time and my EMT license had a positive impact on my applications, I enjoyed my time in the hospital, and it definitely answered the question if I really wanted to work in the field (I eventually had to quit because of time reasons).

I would recommend volunteering. One volunteer shift is only 4 hours, and the hospital I volunteered in had options for all kinds of schedules (days, evenings, weekends, one shift (or more) per week, one shift every two weeks, or even one shift a month). I have children as well and think that it was definitely worth my time.

Good luck!

Jules A, MSN · Nov 12, 2009

At my school it was all about gpa and your score on an entrance exam. It might be a good way to make contacts at a facility you are interested in working with when you graduate but as for getting in school unless they say they give points for it I'd skip it.

jjjoy, LPN · Nov 13, 2009

In general, I agree that for many volunteering is a good idea whether or not it's required or helpful to gaining admission to a program. I also agree that the main reason for doing it would be for yourself, not just to add it to a list on an application.

While what one can do and see is limited, it's still a lot more than what one will glean from unrealistic TV programs or reading testimonials of successful nurses. There's A LOT to learn in nursing school, especially in an accelerated program, and I would think just about any extra experience would allow a little bit less to be completely new and without experiential context. Definitely, ask for assignments in a clinical setting, not the gift shop or a back office. Even joining a program to visit hospitalized church members would give you an opportunity to learn a lot.

If you totally know what you're getting into and you see nothing to gain, then don't do it if you don't have to. If you can't do it, you can't do it and will probably still find a school to be accepted at. If you simply choose not to, you'll probably be okay as well. But if you can, I'd recommend it or some other opportunity to get a better glimpse into the real world of clinical health care.

Callisonanne · Nov 13, 2009

I certainly agree that volunteering is a good idea. I am currently in my first semester of an ADN program. My only medical experience was my CNA classes and clinicals. Our entrance was based on gpa and the "point scale" which included the nursing entrance test.

Meredith09 · Nov 13, 2009

Find a way to volunteer. It not only gives you some practical experience in a clinical setting, but it shows the school that you are indeed invested in this career choice. And, BTW, you absolutely can shadow a nurse depending on the facility you work in. I volunteered in an ER for about a year, and I was attached at the hip to several nurses--a few of whom I'm still in contact with even though I moved out of state. It's also a good opportunity to bend their ear about modern nursing practice and learn from their experiences. AND your volunteer time should give you some stories that you can work in to application essays.

NurseBanana · Nov 13, 2009

At my school it was all about gpa and your score on an entrance exam. It might be a good way to make contacts at a facility you are interested in working with when you graduate but as for getting in school unless they say they give points for it I'd skip it.

Well, getting into this program is based on a points scale, which includes your GPA, academic skills test, and an interview. I guess an interview is where i might mention volunteering? I'd like to volunteer- i'm all for it, i just don't know where to begin calling to make sure I DON'T get stuck in the gift shop or some back office. The only decent hospital in this town is Mayo Clinic.

One1, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2009

Ask the hospital about volunteer opportunities and during your application process (mine was a written application plus interview) be open about wanting to volunteer because you want to work in the healthcare field eventually. My volunteer coordinator was fantastic, and always placed volunteers according to their goals and preferences. Once you are on a floor, it also helps if you communicate your goals with the medical staff. I too was often allowed to shadow nurses and doctors during procedures because the staff knew that I wanted to go to nursing school eventually.

michigansapphire · Nov 13, 2009

I would definitely advise you to volunteer, specifically in a patient care area. When I showed up at my hospital's volunteer office and said I was thinking about becoming a nurse and wanted some exposure, they placed me in the Trauma/Burn unit. Several of the nurses there took me under their wing and allowed me to observe and participate in almost everything they did. It was a fantastic experience!

I've just finished my first set of classes in an accelerated BSN program and one of those Trauma/Burn nurses was my clinical instructor.

Jules A, MSN · Nov 13, 2009

Well, getting into this program is based on a points scale, which includes your GPA, academic skills test, and an interview. I guess an interview is where i might mention volunteering? I'd like to volunteer- i'm all for it, i just don't know where to begin calling to make sure I DON'T get stuck in the gift shop or some back office. The only decent hospital in this town is Mayo Clinic.

Well then I guess you answered your own question. Are you sure Mayo is the only decent hospital? :eek: Best of luck to you.

NurseBanana · Nov 13, 2009

Well then I guess you answered your own question. Are you sure Mayo is the only decent hospital? Best of luck to you.

I know, scary, right? We have about 4 hospitals in this town and Mayo is the best one to work at, as far as I know. They give a crap about their employees, to put it bluntly. I'll figure this out....