Is my choice of where to volunteer a big deal?

[ps3114]

I'm a pre-nursing student, starting my prerequisite courses next week. I'm hoping to enroll in an accelerated BSN program which would be starting about a year and 4 months from now. I don't have any experience in healthcare so in that year plus between now and the start of my BSN program, I'd like to volunteer in a local hospital both to gain experience and to improve my chances of getting into the program.

One of my big questions is: how much of an impact will where I choose to volunteer have on getting a job offer there someday? It seems like I would have the chance to build relationships or just have experience there, which might help my job chances... but then that puts more pressure on me to choose the "right" hospital for volunteering!

There are five hospitals which are all almost the same distance from me (3 to the north and 2 to the south), plus two local county hospitals which are closer but don't have a good reputation. I'm kind of stuck at knowing how to go about choosing which hospital(s) to pursue volunteering at since there are so many.

My other question is: what different kinds of volunteer opportunities do hospitals typically offer, and which would be the most valuable for a future RN applying to an ABSN program?

[Zyprexa_Ho]

If you think you want to work in a hospital, I would volunteer in a hospital. Otherwise, I don't think it really matters.

[AspiringNP/CNM]

Any volunteer experience will look great on a resume in any job field. It also gives you experience and allows you to share that when interviewing, So I don't think it would hurt. When volunteering in a hospital I don't know what effect it would have on getting a job offer there (where I volunteer, we will lose our spot if they feel like we are "networking" or trying to get a job), but I think that while you're going through school it gives you experience in the field and you do gain connections that can help for future job opportunities with referrals and info on upcoming positions.

The other thing I would look into is the nursing programs your planning on applying too, many of them look for applicants with volunteer experience in a clinical setting and it can definitely help with your application. Good luck!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Volunteers have extremely limited access to clinical environments due to legal restrictions intended to protect health care information. Before you agree to donate your time, I would advise you to do some due diligence. It would be awful to end up obligated to X hours per week and discover you're assigned to run the cash register in the gift shop.

[OBwonKnewbie]

I think you would be better off trying to work in a hospital as an aide, if you can

[ps3114]

Thanks to all of you! That gives me some good things to think about.