Who has volunteered?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hey guys,

Today I submitted an application to the local hospital to volunteer for Fall 2013. To be honest, to me it felt like a mini nursing school application. I had to submit an application, statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation. If I am chosen for one of the volunteer positions I will be contacted two weeks into the semester. We also have to bring results of a TB test if we're chosen.

When any of you volunteered, did you have to submit all of that? Or was it simply going up there to tell them you want to volunteer & you started soon after?

ALSO, when you volunteered what tasks did you perform? Did they put you in a certain area or were you able to tell them which unit you wanted to volunteer on?

So, I got the e-mail today that I was chosen to volunteer! I'm so excited. We do get to choose which unit we want to be on- it's not guaranteed but at least we have somewhat of a say-so. Today I'm going to get my TB test done and my immunization records. I have orientation on August 29! I cant wait.

I had a very simple online form to fill out and then I was called back... no letters/recommendation.

I work on the women's care floor... I've put due dates on the calendar, made copies, seen a delivery, stocked and cleaned cribs, etc.

I went to orientation today, and I got on the unit I wanted. I will be working in the Women's Pavilion (in the nursery)! I'm not sure what I will be doing yet but I start Friday.

Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

So glad I found this thread! I actually had been thinking about volunteering in my local hospital. I went on the website just earlier today and contacted the volunteer coordinator to see what I had to do to apply. They really didn't have anything listed on the website. I figure it would get me some insight into the hospital environment, let me see what I enjoy and what areas I don't. It might help me to get into nursing school (when the time comes). I also wondered if it would help me to get a job after nursing school because people there would know me. And many times it is who you know.

Specializes in Maternal Child, Home Health, Med/Surg.

I'm actually working on reapplying to volunteer at our local hospital again. Unfortunately, I was accepted to an orientation, but had problems due to my children. Now, I'm hoping I can at least dedicate 4 hours a week. :)

I volunteer at a major hospital in Georgia and yes the application process was a bit extreme. It took me almost two months before I actually started the program because after the application, I had to have 2 TB test done and Titer tests, a physical, etc. I got to choose 3 places I wouldn't mind going, but everyone wanted to be in peds so I just said any nursing floor. I'm trying to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner so it worked out to where I work in the Pediatric Otolaryngology Department. I do more than the average volunteer. I take all phone calls, send directives, check mail & give it to the appropriate doctor, take down consent forms, escort patients to registration for surgery, filing, faxing, copying, edit doctor resume's, talk to and console parents, and the list goes on. I take on more and more tasks as time progresses because I network. I prove that I am dependable and trustworthy so they allow me to do a whole lot. Oh and I volunteer 18-20 hours a week while taking 5 classes with a family at home. It's not easy but it's definitely worth it because I've gotten some great recommendations. Oh and I also get to work with the Nurse Practitioner and see how he handles different situations for my own personal benefit.

So glad I found this thread! I actually had been thinking about volunteering in my local hospital. I went on the website just earlier today and contacted the volunteer coordinator to see what I had to do to apply. They really didn't have anything listed on the website. I figure it would get me some insight into the hospital environment, let me see what I enjoy and what areas I don't. It might help me to get into nursing school (when the time comes). I also wondered if it would help me to get a job after nursing school because people there would know me. And many times it is who you know.

It would definitely get you some insight into the hospital environment, which is one reason I wanted to do it. Also, when looking for a job it's absolutely about who you know most of the time. Networking is everything. While volunteering I plan to get my name out there, make a good impression, get some good contacts. I don't plan on working at my local hospital, but if all else fails at least they will know me and if I can't get a job anywhere else I might be lucky enough to get one there.

I'm actually working on reapplying to volunteer at our local hospital again. Unfortunately, I was accepted to an orientation, but had problems due to my children. Now, I'm hoping I can at least dedicate 4 hours a week. :)

Sorry to hear that. Hope all is well with your children. I will be volunteering 4 hours a week as well. Good luck to you!

I volunteer at a major hospital in Georgia and yes the application process was a bit extreme. It took me almost two months before I actually started the program because after the application, I had to have 2 TB test done and Titer tests, a physical, etc. I got to choose 3 places I wouldn't mind going, but everyone wanted to be in peds so I just said any nursing floor. I'm trying to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner so it worked out to where I work in the Pediatric Otolaryngology Department. I do more than the average volunteer. I take all phone calls, send directives, check mail & give it to the appropriate doctor, take down consent forms, escort patients to registration for surgery, filing, faxing, copying, edit doctor resume's, talk to and console parents, and the list goes on. I take on more and more tasks as time progresses because I network. I prove that I am dependable and trustworthy so they allow me to do a whole lot. Oh and I volunteer 18-20 hours a week while taking 5 classes with a family at home. It's not easy but it's definitely worth it because I've gotten some great recommendations. Oh and I also get to work with the Nurse Practitioner and see how he handles different situations for my own personal benefit.

I'm also in GA. When I went to orientation the director of volunteer services asked us what our first preference was, if it was full we would have to pick another unit. I have goals to become an NNP as well so my first choice was working in the nursery, second choice L&D. L&D was full, the nursery was not so I was lucky enough to get my first choice! As far as my duties go, I'm not sure what I will be doing yet. I start on Sept. 6 and will be volunteering 4 hours a week. It definitely will be worth it in the end. I can't wait to start.

I was thinking of doing this too and just looked at the website for the local hospital and it isn't as stringent, thank goodness. I HATE begging people to do letters. It does require references, but only their contact information, and there it asks why I want to volunteer but it isn't an essay or anything.

It's a pretty small town and I imagine volunteers are hard to come by so I guess they don't want to scare anybody off.

I started volunteering at a Catholic Nursing home near my house this summer. When I was reading the requirements for my nursing program I stumble upon a line where it states that during the interview they would highly consider students who have and their experience while working to enter the program. Once I saw that I hopped on the occasion to do so. Although I've done volunteering in a hospital setting for my high school, I needed to update my resume since it had been five years since I've done any volunteering.

For me it was easy to get a spot at my facility; all i had to do was fill out some paper work (immunization forms, etc.), email the director and go to orientation. It took me about four days to get everything worked out since requesting the position. So I guess I was lucky to choose a place where they really needed people. The plus side is that I totally love the geriatric settings and being able to talk to people versus being told to answer telephones and being stuck in one unit for months on end. The only thing now is being able to balance out a good schedule so it doesn't interfering with school and etc. Although volunteering may be fun at the moment, I got to keep in mind that I have to concentrate on the real reason I am there to begin with..."Entrance into a Nursing Program".

So my advice to people who have to volunteer for their specific program is balance out your schedule and learn as much as you can from the experience....and ask questions!

PS:Nursing homes are the best place to start, they always need volunteers!

I volunteered at Madigan Army Medical Center on Ft. Lewis and I loved it. I was assigned to med-surg and did all the duties a CNA would - mainly vitals, blood glucose tests, toileting, changing bed linens, etc. The nurses though were excited about me being there so in downtime they would let me watch them do nurse-only procedures and they would teach/explain it to me. I really appreciated that as they knew I wanted to be a nurse!

In order to volunteer at a military hospital you go through their Red Cross office inside the facility. I didn't have to have letters of rec or anything, but I did fill out an application. You had to have been licensed at least as a CNA in order to work among the nurses. Without it you would just be doing a desk job for the most part.

I had to get more than my TB. I had to make sure all my vaccinations were up to date and be signed off by one of their nurses for TDap, varicella, MMR, Hep B, etc.

After being accepted I had to do orientation as well as their HIPAA course and take/pass the HIPAA test at the end before being allowed to start. It was a long process.

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