Student Nurse Volunteer Red Cross

[DeepBreath]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone who reads this has any information on what you get to do as a student nurse with red cross.

I am really looking for an opportunity to apply my nursing skills through volunteering.

Do you get to do that? Or is it mainly administrative work, like making blood drives/ donation drives?

Please let me know how your experience was!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Here you go straight from the source:

http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4440168_MakeADifferenceGuide.pdf

http://www.redcross.org/support/volunteer/nurses/students

In my experience it varies depending on whether there are licensed RNs volunteering in your local chapter (students must be supervised by a licensed RN if practicing in a clinical capacity whether assessment or health education. Teaching Red Cross health & safety classes are permitted if you are credentialed as an instructor). It also depends on the needs and activities of your local chapter.

[DeepBreath]

I have applied already and the disaster manager who is an RN told me to contact her once I go through orientation. So hopefully that means yes.

I am not sure what type of volunteering I would do, I like them all from what it seems but really want to practice nursing skills as well. so we will see.

thank you!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

In disaster nursing the student nurses work along side the licensed nurse to assess, basic first aid , follow up on hospitalizations , replace medications , DME. & insurance cards lost. Perhaps wellness checks such as BP. Clinical skills ( IV, med admin, etc) are not done in shelters or in field ( nurses are rarely needed in the field except for case management or public health type work). An example in a shelter post flood there was a rash & eye inflammation spreading in a shelter. Nurses determined it was water supply contaminated by the flood water/ debris and made arrangements for a physician (may have been an APN) to come on site to assess and Rx treatment to those affected and a portable shower unit to be set up with clean water. The shelter was already using bottled water for drinking & hand washing. No one thought about the shower water.

In blood drives the actual specimen collection is done by phlebotomists. Often the screening is done by trained staff and the nurses review and make a determination of candidate suitability (it's 99F outside, donor has a temp of 100F when first checked. Usually can't donate but nurse rechecked temp, as otherwise asymptomatic with no exposure to illness, after in a cool area and temp was WNL and donor cleared. The nurses assess if an issue post donation (still bleeds after pressure applied, dizzy, pale) and intervene as necessary.

I'm not sure what clinical skills you wish to use as a volunteer. There is specific training for disaster health services that you can go through as a student nurse with a valid CPR card and if needed they would provide standard first aid training (first aid usually not covered in nursing school)

[DeepBreath]

Ah, thats true there is not a really a big focus for first aid and that can really help with the transition of becoming a new nurse. I think I will look into that.

The blood drive experience is also helpful as well.

I was also thinking of becoming certified to teach CPR and AED courses.

Thank you so much!

[Jazzyjazz]

I volunteered as a student. We have a lot of races in the Boston area. Depending on the race you can deal with blisters, dehydration, hyponatrimia, pulled muscle... and the list goes on. I'm next year for the marathon, I would be considered RN but most likely doing the same things.

I applied to the disaster recovery, waiting to hear from them soon.

[DeepBreath]

hm okay, it sounds like a helpful experience. I dont mind volunteering but want to use my time wisely since nursing school is so demanding but I won't mind doing that.