Volunteer advice here in tucson

suzanne4, RN · Feb 17, 2008

Moved your thread to the AZ forum where you will get more responses.

First, have you passed the NCLEX exam? What type of visa are you currently on? How long will you be in AZ?

Hospitals will not be able to use your nursing skills as a volunteer, they require that you are on staff as an employee to be covered under their insurance for your practicing as an RN. Hospitals in the US do not have the volunteer programs in place like they have in the Philippines and some other countries. They will only permit you to practice in the nursing role with a visa that will permit you to work here.

You may wish to check with the County Health Dept and see which groups put on different programs for them and provide care to those that need it, they may be able to use your help, or you can contact the local Red Cross chapter in your area to get their suggestions.

AudreyHurston · Mar 5, 2009

Forgive me if this is redundant or asking you to repeat yourself but are there no volunteer nursing opportunities in the United States? I ask because I may get a non-medical fellowship that will prohibit me from working and I would like to maintain my skills and stay in the loop in practice and I was hoping to do so by volunteering 1-3 days a week as a nurse, preferably in L and D

2ndxstudent · Mar 5, 2009

You cannot volunteer to be a nurse. Because of insurance and liability reasons a hospital will not allow it. You can volunteer but you will not be doing work as an RN. But volunteering will at least keep you in a hospital setting and networking.