volunteering

I think you'd have more options volunteering in a hospital. Try going to your local hospitals website and see what kinds of volunteers are needed. It might me under careers/volunteer or just volunteer. Bigger hospitals have their own volunteering office, you might want to check that out. Some of the things that a volunteer can do: surgery liason--report back to family members whether pt. is out of surgery, etc. Pass mail and books out, read to the blind, decorate for holidays, work in the gift shop, work at the visitors desk, fill charts so that they are ready for an admission. You can fold towels used in surgery. There is so much that you can do. I highly recommend volunteering in a hospital. Something new everyday.

Volunteering is an excellent way to find out where your interest truly are. Don't limit yourself, try out both. You will find a different experience in each setting and the contrast may give you more experience and information for future decisions.

Definitely a hospital, you will see and do so much more. Let the Nurses and Patient Care Technicians (CNA's, etc.) know that you are interested in becoming a Nurse, and they will give you SO much information, help, tips, etc. At my place, I went for 4 months, and loved it, and they were awesome. I was on the Geriatric floor, and loved it. I only quit because school started up, and I was giving up my weekends for free, and other family commitments go tin the way. All the nursing students there worked like 1-2 days a month as Aides, and wondered why I was giving my time away for free--it was funny, but I just replied that I wanted to be SURE Nursing was it for me, because I'm married, have a good job, and going back to school will be a hassle. So, before wasting my time, I had to be sure.

Definitely volunteer. If you don't like one area, ask to be put somewhere else, so you can get different experiences.

Good luck! :)