Volunteer work

12BRN · Apr 21, 2005

Hello,
I am still taking my pre-reqs and hope to apply in Dec. 06 for the Fall 07 program. I was interested in knowing what everyone's take is on volunteer work. I will be volunteering with a company called Odyssey Healthcare. It is a hospice care facililty. I want experience since I don't have any in the health care field. Are any of you or have any of you volunteered your time while waiting for entry to nursing program? What has your experience been like? The company I am going to volunteer for, will train, offer free TB test, requires criminal background check and seems very knowledgeable. Anyway, any post would be appreciated.
Thanks
Tessa~:)
Pre-nursing student@ Riverside Community College in Riverside, CA.

Hi Tessa,

I did try volunteering when classes started last Fall '04. I volunteered at Grady Hospital in Atlanta - a large downtown hospital which is known for being a great trauma center. It was great, but I just couldn't handle it with my schedule and the fact that it was 45 mins each way from my house. It is a great way to get exposure to the hospital, and everyone was so nice. But with me working part-time, going to school almost full-time and trying to have a little bit of a life - it just didn't work. I start my nursing program this Fall '05 and I know it will still be too hectic to try again. I guess I'll wait until my clinicals to get my hospital experience.

Good luck to you,

Lisa

Jetaime684 · Apr 21, 2005

You could also look into taking a Nursing assitant class (takes about 4 weeks to do at your local community college, plus one week clinicals). Its kinda a pain to have to go through the class time, but u make 10 bucks an hour (here in MN -starting pay), and it looks great on your nursing resume. Even if you did it just over the summer, then on the weekends during school. Most places are desperate for the help, and you dont always have to do the nursing home scene. Most places will even refund your tuition if its a medicare-medicaid facility. Shop around, its defiantley worth looking into. I know I am so glad that I took the course, and am working as a CNA (im prenursing)...I cant even imagine walking into my clinicals having no beside experience. PLUS I have to deal with so many different types of people...not everyone is extremly appreciative of your hard work as a nurse/nursing assitant. You learn how to deal with the crabby/demanding/extremly over-protective. And you learn where u have to draw the line. Im not so sure you would get this experience just volunteering, since u arent being paid, people know they cant walk over you. When you're staff, its a different story.

Good luck with everything :balloons:

oregonrene · Apr 21, 2005

I volunteered in the emergency department at a local hospital. Volunteer work looks really good on your application, plus it gives you a glimpse of what it's really like in the field. Enjoy your volunteer work, and give yourself a pat on the back! The world needs more volunteers.

TTM01 · Apr 21, 2005

I did try to get into a CNA program here in CA, it it was way more(cost) than I thought and the duration was more than I could take time off of work for. I make more at my current job than I would being a CNA. I thought if I had some spare time in my school and work schedule, I could volunteer. I wanted to see if others were taking the same route before getting into their nursing programs. I'm very excited about the training I will receive and experience.

Thank you for your support!

Tessa~:)

You could also look into taking a Nursing assitant class (takes about 4 weeks to do at your local community college, plus one week clinicals). Its kinda a pain to have to go through the class time, but u make 10 bucks an hour (here in MN -starting pay), and it looks great on your nursing resume. Even if you did it just over the summer, then on the weekends during school. Most places are desperate for the help, and you dont always have to do the nursing home scene. Most places will even refund your tuition if its a medicare-medicaid facility. Shop around, its defiantley worth looking into. I know I am so glad that I took the course, and am working as a CNA (im prenursing)...I cant even imagine walking into my clinicals having no beside experience. PLUS I have to deal with so many different types of people...not everyone is extremly appreciative of your hard work as a nurse/nursing assitant. You learn how to deal with the crabby/demanding/extremly over-protective. And you learn where u have to draw the line. Im not so sure you would get this experience just volunteering, since u arent being paid, people know they cant walk over you. When you're staff, its a different story.
Good luck with everything :balloons:

Indy, LPN, LVN · Apr 21, 2005

I started working in a volunteer clinic last spring; I love the atmosphere. Since we're all volunteers, everybody is generally pretty glad to be there. The doctors, nurse practitioners, receptionists, translators, pharmacist/pharm students, they're all wonderful.

My job is triage as in, vitals, current meds, a glucose check here and a urine dipstick there (when needed, and if you don't know the doc NICELY ASKS you to do it), chief complaint, fill in demographic info on chart. It isn't as simple as it looks but gets much easier over time.

What did I learn? How to be competent, organized and a wee bit quicker with vital signs, how to work with translators and a eensy few spanish questions (the answers to which I can't understand), how to get info out of a shy/distracted/overly talkative patient, how to stay within a nursing student's scope of practice and still be helpful, and how to throw in patient teaching when it is needed. The most common area, bar none, for patient teaching that I do is for insulin-dependent diabetics, teach them what to do when they're hypoglycemic and how to avoid it- of course I make sure they sign up for diabetic education as well. Second would be urging people to be compliant with their medications.

Now I don't plan to work in a doctor's office when I graduate, which is basically the layout of the clinic where I volunteer. However, there's always something new to see and it's a great experience, not to mention something that meets a very real need of the community. I think that if you have the opportunity to volunteer, do so, within the time limits that you have with school, home, etc.

-Indy

littlenursey · Apr 22, 2005

Hey Tess4RN

I'm volunteering at a hospital near my school where I take my pre-req classes...also I already applied to a Nursing Program and waiting for my answer(by May 17)

The hospital where I am volunteering only need me to do a physical exam with my doctor and fill out a form...I'm on Med/Surg floor and the nurses there are very nice to me

I have a chance to talk to a nurse and she is very resourful and supportive of my future career in nursing.

Yeah volunteering is a very good experience and I say 'go for it' :)

TTM01 · Apr 23, 2005

Wow, your experience in a hospital setting is great. I'm looking forward to my volunteering. At least I'll feel as though I am moving towards my goal instead of just waiting while I take my pre-reqs. Thanks for the kind words!

Good Luck to you!

Tessa~:)

Hey Tess4RN
I'm volunteering at a hospital near my school where I take my pre-req classes...also I already applied to a Nursing Program and waiting for my answer(by May 17)
The hospital where I am volunteering only need me to do a physical exam with my doctor and fill out a form...I'm on Med/Surg floor and the nurses there are very nice to me
I have a chance to talk to a nurse and she is very resourful and supportive of my future career in nursing.
Yeah volunteering is a very good experience and I say 'go for it' :)

katie-did · Apr 25, 2005

Tessa - I am thinking of doing the same thing. I am in West Los Angeles.

I just started back to school this semester after almost 10 years out of school. I am taking Chemistry, which is a little tough.

I am still trying to decide on if Nursing is for me. I am a legal secretary now and I make really good money, but just not something I want to do for the rest of my life. I thought volunteering would give me a good idea if nursing is for me, and more importantly, if I can hack it. :uhoh3:

I am going to sign up with UCLA hosptial in Santa Monica. They are a teaching hospital and have a volunteer program for students. They give orientation, TB tests, etc. They do, however, require a 1 year commitment with 4 hours a week. Will be ok for now since I still have a lot of prereqs to finish..but once I start school, clinicals will be on the weekends and I will still be working full time.

Good luck volunteering. Let me know how it goes. :)

TTM01 · Apr 27, 2005

Hi Katie, Yeah :) , another person who is actually doing something. I read so many posts here, but no one is doing anything towards their goal. I mean EVERYONE here, is in school pt or ft, but I think it is great that their are people like us who are willing to volunteer our time to actually gain some knowledge as to what will be expected of us.I work 30 hrs plus I am taking 3 classes. I just went to part of my training today. Yes I will have to take a TB test and a Hepatitis B test, all which is provided. I'm looking forward to my new adventure.

Good Luck to you! I'm sure nursing will be a good choice for you!

Tessa~

Tessa - I am thinking of doing the same thing. I am in West Los Angeles.
I just started back to school this semester after almost 10 years out of school. I am taking Chemistry, which is a little tough.
I am still trying to decide on if Nursing is for me. I am a legal secretary now and I make really good money, but just not something I want to do for the rest of my life. I thought volunteering would give me a good idea if nursing is for me, and more importantly, if I can hack it.
I am going to sign up with UCLA hosptial in Santa Monica. They are a teaching hospital and have a volunteer program for students. They give orientation, TB tests, etc. They do, however, require a 1 year commitment with 4 hours a week. Will be ok for now since I still have a lot of prereqs to finish..but once I start school, clinicals will be on the weekends and I will still be working full time.
Good luck volunteering. Let me know how it goes. :)

katie-did · Apr 27, 2005

Tessa - thanks for your kind words. :)

Where are you planning on going to school?

TTM01 · May 6, 2005

Well, yesterday I met with the first patient that I will be assisting. I am volunteering for Odyssey Healthcare, they are a nationwide Hospice organization. It is amazing to have the opportunity to volunteer for this company. Hospice is so very important. I remember when my mom was dying from breast cancer, the last week that she was alive, our family was offered Hospice care. At the time, 6 years ago, I was unaware of what Hospice offers. They offer emotional support as well as 24/7 care from doctors and nurses. Yestereday I met with the patient and his wife. They are such amazing people and I was blessed that they allowed me to listen and offer my compassion towards them. I will be meeting with them once a week for the next month or so. Yes, well I volunteer for this organization, I may see people pass on. I lost both my parents by the time I was 27 so this will not be a schock to me. I'm glad I am able to offer the familiy my support.

The only thing that I will say that irritated me a bit was when the RN came in and found out how I had been visiting with the family and offering my support, He (yes male RN) found out I was a pre-nursing student and looked me straight in the eye and said " I hope you like what you are getting yourself into, So many of my friends didn't and they are not happy."

I wish that male RN knew what motivates me and how compassionate a person I am. I feel sorry that HE gets irritated with his job. URRRGGG! Are most RN"s like this? Anyway I love my new endeavor. :)

P.S. On thurs the company goes over charts of patients and I was able to sit in and listen. It was an hour and a half of very useful information. There were 2 doctors and three RN's plus 2 social workers and home health aids there. I can tell you it was a wealth of information to listen to. The experience is wonderful.

Thanks for reading!

Tessa~

Riverside Community College, Riverside CA Pre-nursing student