Volunteering - does it matter where?

[jennyy]

I'm currently taking my prereqs now and I plan on applying to ABSN programs around Fall of 2014. I would like to start doing some volunteering to get some experience, but I'm not quite sure where.

I volunteered at a retirement community for a couple years back in high school. I really want to go back and see if I can continue to do some volunteer work there, since I already "have my foot in the door" and don't have to go through the process of re-applying and interviewing.

However, part of me wants to apply for volunteering at the local hospital, since wouldn't that provide me with my experience and learning opportunities? As opposed to a retirement community? But then that would mean I have to wait after applying, go through the interview process, obtain references...

So any ideas to which option should I go with?

[zoe92]

I think a hospital or a nursing home works. I actually did not volunteer at a hospital. I did an animal shelter (obviously not nursing related) and multiple nursing homes. I explained in my essay that when I am a nurse I would like to work in the geriatric field, so my volunteer experiences were related to that. Also my hospital wanted volunteers to just work the gift shop rather than get hands on experience. If you can't decide, call your school & ask what they prefer.