Is there anyway to volunteer to keep up skills while unemployed?

[jnmoore02]

I was curious about volunteer work just to keep up on my skills. I recently graduated in May09 and found a job as a Nursing home. Although as an RN, I am passing meds and performing the same task as an LPN. I feel that I might be losing my skills set. Is there anyway to volunteer around a hospital?

[rainydaydream]

Look for a low-income clinic in your area -- I know there's one where I live that is run solely by volunteers, including nurses, doctors and dentists. Sometimes the Salvation Army runs these types of clinics. This might be a good way to keep at least some of your skills up.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Most hospitals won't let you volunteer doing clinical/RN duties for liability reasons. So if you got to a hospital to volunteer, you'll probably end up in a gift shop, visiting patients, doing clerical tasks, stuff like that. Mind you, hospitals do appreciate volunteers and it could possibly be a way to network into a nursing job...but you won't be doing what you'd hope to be doing there.

Rainydaydream is right: go find a low-income or free clinic and offer your services there. That's what I do, and while I'm not doing anywhere as much as I would be doing if I were on a hospital floor, I get to use some of my skills. It's also experience gained.