Is anyone volunteering?

[weluv3]

Hi everyone! Just wondering if any of you are volunteering at a hospital or anywhere else. I started volunteering in the ER department of the hospital where I had my 3 babies:) I guess I'm hoping that it will help when the time comes to apply and get accepted into nursing school. But it is very rewarding being able to be a smiling, welcoming person to the families of those that are sick or injured.

[DFWgal]

Where are you located? I've been told in our hospital that volunteers are always needed, specially if they are reliable adults. (Some hospitals have lots of teenagers or very young pre-health students "just taking care of the pre-reqs")

[cccormier]

Where I live, all the nearby hospitals can only take up to a certain amount of adult or student volunteers per year. It is due to a very high amount of submitted applications (thankfully for them)! I would love nothing but to volunteer at any community hospital while pursuing my studies in the nursing program, but I may never "get in" so to speak.

At least we get good clinical time included in our program!

[KatieJ91]

I volunteer in the ICU at my local hospital. I have found it to be very rewarding, because I get to work in an area where people need some comfort and not just directions :)

[DFWgal]

Cool! I think all the units have patients that expect to be comforted. I see it every day in Day Surgery too. I was impressed at the beginning, because I wasn't a doctor or a nurse, "just a volunteer", but a uniform is all it takes for people to completely trust you.

[lil miss]

I just received my rejection letter from huntington hospital I'd really like to volunteer as I have more time on my hands now. Boo Applying to other hospitals now, wish me luck.

[DFWgal]

What about other places to volunteer like Planned Parenthood?

[EMT89]

I know a lot of nurses/PA students/D.O. students who are on rescue squads, it gives you a lot of hands on experience on assessments and skills (BP, pulse, etc). So if you have time to get your certification anytime that looks really good (but don't have that be your only volunteering, I'm having to spruce up my resume my last year of college b/c that's the only stuff I've done). Almost everyone on one of my old squads has gotten into some sort of school (nursing, grad school, etc).

[breezy7, BSN, RN]

I wanted to! Made it through the application process and was told to call for an interview, but then I realized that working full-time and taking 16 hours of coursework doesn't really leave you with any time to volunteer. Maybe next semester!