Volunteer.... in what exactly?

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

I am an RN and fortunately have a job.... but this advice is for my niece who is a senior in nsg school, and everyone is telling her to VOLUNTEER at a hospital..... my question is, volunteer at what? what helps you get your foot in the door? what KIND of volunteering could help a prospective RN get a job? I have seen volunteers at my hospital navigate visitors, pass out reading material, be a liason in the surgical waiting area, etc... but what kind of volunteering helps A NURSING STUDENT possibly get a job? anything?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Still being a volunteer......they'll get to know her and the volunteer's (trusted by the hospital) will give her a thumbs up. That's the foot in the door...c razy isn't it??

[KateRN1]

Try free clinics in your area. I know that the clinic where I volunteer would kill to have a student nurse for triage and room cleaning so that the licensed/experienced nurses can focus on patient education. Check with homeless shelters, Head Start preschools, medicaid-accepting physician's offices, any place that could use free labor.

[GinaCat]

There are many different volunteer opportunities at a hospital. In mine they have "patient care" where you go room to room and offer to refill water pitchers, restock gloves, etc. They can also help feed patients.

Other volunteer positions at my hospital include the front desk, flower delivery, etc. If she can choose, the best one seems to be in the ER- it's the most action packed and hands on. they change the sheets, help transport pts to test by stretcher, and can organize charts.

I actually started off as a volunteer and it led to a job as an RN. Tell her to do it! I started off as a volunteer involved w/ patient care. This on my resume impressed the interviewer for an externship position in the same hospital. Which lead to a PCT/nurse assistant position. and now with my license, they hired me as an RN- this all took place on the very same unit that I started on as a volunteer. I would have NEVER gotten a job as a new grad without it- it's all "who you know" and getting your foot in the door. Becoming a familiar face is absolutely crucial.

I'm sure there is a volunteer center w/ a supervisor that can discuss the various roles- that's what they do in volunteer recruitment, hopefully she finds a role she enjoys. :)

ps- when i interviewed for my externship the interviewer said "besides school, what hospital experience do you have?" i had NOTHING b/c it's so hard to get a job without knowing anyone- except that simple volunteer work. and she loved that answer. as easy as volunteering is- wheeling people out to their cars after they are discharged- it was good enough "hospital experience" for her.

[fromtheseaRN, BSN, RN]

Try free clinics in your area. I know that the clinic where I volunteer would kill to have a student nurse for triage and room cleaning so that the licensed/experienced nurses can focus on patient education. Check with homeless shelters, Head Start preschools, medicaid-accepting physician's offices, any place that could use free labor.

yes for free clinics! i volunteer at a free clinic. although i won't get hired there as everyone is a volunteer, from the physicians to the med assistants, i am making connections with nurses and docs from various hospitals all over my area. because of this, i have great references for many different hospitals i may apply to. i am learning A TON as we see unique and poorly controlled conditions in the under or non-insured population that i don't see in my hospital clinicals, and i feel really good donating my time to serve this population. i highly recommend it.

[SkylerW]

At my hospital were I serve on the Governing body of Volunteers, we let nursing students volunteer on the floor. They can do CBGs, EKGs, Take IVs out, take vitals, do an admission history, ect. Sometimes especially if they precepted at our hospital, and there preceptor is OK with it we will let them continue working under their preceptor which will give them a larger scope.

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

wow, thank you everyone!!!

[luvtonurse]

good post