Good volunteer choice?

[pschorr]

Hey guys!

I have a year left before I graduate with my undergrad degree and I have decided on doing an accelerated BSN as my second bachelors. I spent the summer volunteering at a hospital and loved it but now that I'm back at school I'm looking for another volunteer opportunity and would like some advice!

There is a mentor program in the city I study in and would really enjoy putting my extra time into mentoring a teen but a part of me feels like I should do something more relevant to the nursing field?

Do you think I should look for something else or do you think mentoring would be a good choice? Any other types of volunteer ideas I should look into?

Thanks all,

[NeoNurse2Be]

I think volunteering is an excellent idea. In all honesty, any type of volunteer service would be beneficial. I currently volunteer at a major hospital here and I love it. I chose to volunteer in an area related to what I want to do after graduation, that way I have networking opportunities. Everyone has grown to LOVE me, to the point where they don't want anyone else. So when the time comes and I'm applying for my first RN job, I have many people that would vouch for me, including physicians. I want to go into pediatrics so the department I work in is pediatric otolaryngology. I think that you should go wherever would make you the happiest. For one, you're not getting paid for it and no matter how hard or stressful the job could become, you have to still want to do it, still want to donate that time. If you do choose to go in an area related to your profession, try to be placed in an area you want to work in after graduation. Sorry for the essay, but my point is mentoring is not a bad choice if that's what you really want to do because you still have that hospital volunteer experience that you can add to your resume as well. I think that's what you should do since your would really enjoy it. Good luck to you!