Volunteering or shadowing?

[aliciat22]

I am taking prerequisite classes this year and applying for nursing school next year. I want to get some experience and make my application look good when I apply. My local hospital offers a nurse shadow program and volunteering opportunities where I would be working closely with nurses. Which would be better?

[phuretrotr]

I think shadowing because you get to follow around a nurse and see everything a nurse does, and get to ask questions. More than likely, the hospital puts shadows with nurses who are willing to teach a few things and aren't crabby patties, so you can ask whatever you like without being scolded. Volunteering is always good, but from the volunteers I have seen, a lot of their time is spent talking/playing/give cookies and a newspaper to patients. You will probably be around nurses, as you are on the floor to provide service, but you don't necessarily get to see what nurses do and ask questions while volunteering.

I say shadowing because I think it would work more in your favor, but putting volunteer work at a hospital looks pretty good on an application too, so either way, you'll have some brownie points...

[aliciat22]

Thank you!

[Militarywife]

Does your program give you extra points for having volunteer hours though? If they do then I would do that. At the college I am attending right now we get extra points if we volunteer 200 hours in a medical setting.

[dkmamato3]

I volunteer in a local ED. It is great, I get to observe and interact with the nurses and can ask questions as time allow. Volunteering is not looked at for my nursing school application but it is just a great experience and a great way to make sure that it is a got fit for you.