Volunteering to get foot in the door

[AFwife727, BSN, RN]

Has anybody volunteered in order to get their foot in the door that way? I have applied to every single hospital in the area and am applying to SNF's now and then. I am almost 4 months pregnant and realize that once I'm showing, I'll be unable to get a job. Period. I received my license last August 2012. I didn't job search after that because: 1. my husband was deployed in the Middle East, 2. I had a 6 month old baby and 3. We had to move out of our current apartment for the duration of the deployment. I figured that if I volunteer in an RN volunteer program at a local hospital, I can do that while pregnant and make some connections that way. So after I have the baby, I can try to work my connections and try to get someone there to give me a chance. But by that point, I'll have been out of school for 2 years. Is this situation completely hopeless??? Has anyone been in my shoes, done this, and eventually gotten a job?

[IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN]

Afternoon AFwife727:

My take is that it's not a bad way to get started; I've volunteered with hospice organizations and being able to caregive with clients definitely leads to connections. Keep in mind, though, that for liability reasons it's unlikely you'll be allowed to provide nursing-level care as a volunteer. Not to say it isn't a rewarding thing to do - just don't get your expectations too high.

As far as the length of time since school - so far the worst I've heard of was a classmate's sister at 3 years to find her first RN gig. So...it's still hopeful. You may want to look into refresher/review courses through your BON or area schools given the length of time you've been out of the loop, just to be on the safe side.

Good luck, and thanks to both you & your husband for stepping up to the plate for the rest of us.

----- Dave

[kalevra, BSN, RN]

I volunteered at a hospital while in RN school. I did it in three different departments. My goal was to identify the hiring managers and get friendly with them. I began 1 year before graduation so it looks like im not trying to milk the system and just beg for a job.

Now you have to be seen by them working your butt off volunteering. It does not help you if they are locked away in their office away from where you will be. So choose your departments wisely. Just my advice, i learned this the hard way.

Now for the meat and potatoes. Yes I got a job after i graduated. Once I got my RN license, I had my first job offer in the Telemetry Unit where i was volunteering. I got this because she saw how i got on well with the staff and I busted my butt for the staff. She knew I had my RN license and was like "you want a job". I got the offer 3 weeks after having my physical RN license.

My second job offer came from the other department I volunteered for. Spent 7 months there, knew the staff real well. Next thing you know it was interview time and BAM, got the job. I got this offer 4 weeks after I got my physical RN license.

Yes they were that close together. It is about who you know. Think about it a new grad RNis just as legally qualified as any other new grad RN. This is if we maintain all credentials are the same like PALS and ACLS. No one has asked me anything about my GPA, honor roll award, attendance record, or how many backflips I can do. Nobody cares in the real world.

Why do you think most working RNs get their BSN online after going through ADN? The pay increase, its convenient, and BSN doesnt make you a better bedside RN. Its the truth.

What I learned here is how to network effectively. You can volunteer all day, but if no one of real hiring power takes note, then you are just spinning your wheels. I have a classmate that has terrible communication skills, very socially awkward, but has done more time volunteering than me. He has had no call backs. Its not quantity of time, but quality of time used.

I was straight forward with them I did not beat around the bush when asked "why I want to be here". I was honest and said "I am graduating in a year and I want to get my name out there and show people I am willing to work for an opportunity to in a hospital".

I didnt say any of that generic "I want to help people" answer.

Good luck

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I have not been in your shoes, but I have a son in law who is currently deployed in the Middle East, and my daughter has been doing the moving-out-of-the-apartment-on-base and working thing. They don't have kids because they're waiting to start a family, so their situation isn't exactly the same as yours, but I can only think that volunteering and making connections would be a good thing, and that any health care facilities in the area where the base is located would be familiar with the military spouse situation.

Good luck!