New Grad No Job Should I Volunteer?

[jes07]

Hello, I am a new grad RN for the past 5 months and have yet to land my first job. Had about 4 interviews but no luck in getting a job offer. I was wondering if doing some volunteer work can help boost my resume and if it is fine for a new grad to volunteer at a local American Red Cross. I want to do at least some volunteer stuff in the mean time until I get a job so I can still keep my nursing skills fresh since I am not doing much except applying and looking for jobs these past months. Any input will be helpful!! Thanks!!

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Well, volunteer work is volunteer work. However, don't expect the Red Cross to allow you to use any RN skills beyond maybe vital signs due to liability and unions. Maybe if there was a disaster, they would let you help in an expanded role but that may be if you volunteer for their team (I forget what it is called).

[Misskala]

I would absolutely seek out volunteer opportunities-it shows INVOLVEMENT! I volunteer at a free health clinic for the uninsured (it's 100% run by volunteer doctors and nurses.) I do "clinic" type nursing (reviewing meds with pts, Side Effects, diagnostic testing and what to expect, review lab values) and I also direct pts to community resources for immunizations, gyne exams,family planning, dental work, etc. I bring this up to exemplify how in volunteer positions, there certainly can be lot's of opportunities to learn about community health management and "family practice" in general.

What about contacting your local Public Health Dept. to try to get on as a volunteer?

[arose26]

Depends where you volunteer. It keeps you busy while you wait for a job and still is something to add to ur resume. However u might not neccesarily get tp practice nursing skills as ur title is a volunteer no longer a nursing student. Unless u get really lucky. Try it I did but I found that I wasn't doing enough and I got kinda bored just standing around. I'm currently considerimg looking to volunteer elsewhere