Nursing Programs look at community service and volunteer work?

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I know that when deciding whom to let into their nursing programs, the recruiters look at grades, ACT scores, volunteer work, and community service. Well my grades are great but I just realized that I do not have any volunteer work or community service. I was going to start to do community service and start volunteering when I go back to school in the fall. My question is when I submit my application to the nursing program later on this year, will it hinder me from getting in because I JUST started volunteer work and community service versus the people whom have been volunteering and doing cs their whole lives???

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

It may depend on the school.My school never even asked about stuff like that.They just wanted to see my marks.

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It may depend on the school.My school never even asked about stuff like that.They just wanted to see my marks.

marks?

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU.

Marks = grades. :) I think community service is something that may help you, but I still think grades are probably more important. I have been a volunteer leader in my church's high school youth group for the last 10 years, and I go on a mission trip every summer with them (we got to do Hurricane Katrina relief a couple times several years ago in Biloxi, MS, which was pretty humbling). I did put the volunteer stuff on my application and mentioned it in the interview...but whether or not that was a big deal for them, I don't know. It certainly can't hurt to have volunteer work on there, though, especially if you can land a volunteer position in a hospital somewhere.

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Marks = grades. :) I think community service is something that may help you, but I still think grades are probably more important. I have been a volunteer leader in my church's high school youth group for the last 10 years, and I go on a mission trip every summer with them (we got to do Hurricane Katrina relief a couple times several years ago in Biloxi, MS, which was pretty humbling). I did put the volunteer stuff on my application and mentioned it in the interview...but whether or not that was a big deal for them, I don't know. It certainly can't hurt to have volunteer work on there, though, especially if you can land a volunteer position in a hospital somewhere.

That's just it. I've been a volunteer at the childrens' hospital in my state since 2010. BUT, I haven't volunteered there since 2011 sometime. I don't want to put that on my application & they call the hospital for reference or validation and they do not even remember me. Once I started college, I became so busy that I did not have time to volunteer.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU.
That's just it. I've been a volunteer at the childrens' hospital in my state since 2010. BUT, I haven't volunteered there since 2011 sometime. I don't want to put that on my application & they call the hospital for reference or validation and they do not even remember me. Once I started college, I became so busy that I did not have time to volunteer.

I think you could still put it on your application and say something along the lines of:

2010-Present (Intermittent): "X" Children's Hospital Volunteer

OR

2010-2011 & May 2012-Present: "X" Children's Hospital Volunteer

And then you could describe the things you've done over the course of the last two years. As long as you're honest and put that your volunteer work wasn't constant over the last two years, I don't think you can be penalized for that. The hospital should have a record of your volunteer work somewhere, so if you're honest on your application, you should be ok if the school decides to call.

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I think you could still put it on your application and say something along the lines of:

2010-Present (Intermittent): "X" Children's Hospital Volunteer

OR

2010-2011 & May 2012-Present: "X" Children's Hospital Volunteer

And then you could describe the things you've done over the course of the last two years. As long as you're honest and put that your volunteer work wasn't constant over the last two years, I don't think you can be penalized for that. The hospital should have a record of your volunteer work somewhere, so if you're honest on your application, you should be ok if the school decides to call.

oh ok! I understand! Thanks!

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU.
oh ok! I understand! Thanks!

You're welcome! :)

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Specializes in CMSRN.

The university I attend go by your science GPA and your TEAS V test score. I asked them about community service etc. The advised me that this would not factor in. However I think every school is different.

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My advisor said that for my school 75% of what was considered was the overall and science GPA. The other 25% of information considered included everything like the Teas scores, community service and memberships, and letters of recommendation and our essay.

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