where to work to serve most needy/impoverished? if salary not an issue

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What advice would you give someone who will graduate soon as a RN, but who wants something a little different than a local hospital?

I'm thinking of something like Doctors Without Borders. Can you give me feedback on that organization? Or suggest other organizations which send RNs into places they're desperately needed?

And is it true there are some impoverished or under-served areas in the US that would really benefit from nurses who don't mind challenging conditions?

Has anyone here done something like this yourself? If so, do you have any advice to share?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I work inner city psych and there are many needs in inner city neighborhoods in the US. Planned parenthood, detox, psych and HIV clinics would be places to check into. Good luck!

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You can advocate for the nursing profession full time if you can or you can work for organization that assist people affected by disasters. You can also consider woring for the United Nations or like you mentioned Doctors without boarders.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
What advice would you give someone who will graduate soon as a RN, but who wants something a little different than a local hospital?

I'm thinking of something like Doctors Without Borders. Can you give me feedback on that organization? Or suggest other organizations which send RNs into places they're desperately needed?

And is it true there are some impoverished or under-served areas in the US that would really benefit from nurses who don't mind challenging conditions?

Has anyone here done something like this yourself? If so, do you have any advice to share?

Thank you so much for asking this question! I have been thinking about doing something like this myself, after I graduate, and I'd love to figure out how to go about it. I'm also wondering if a Nurse Practitioner can set up her own free clinic. I'm hoping to eventually (way, way in the future) do something like this when I'm finally a Nurse Practitioner, and I'm wondering if it can be done. I'd also be happy to just work/volunteer for a free clinic too. :)

Here are some links to a RN oversees volunteer organization my Dad sent me.

Info on what they do - volunteering in Haiti and (if you scroll down) in places hit by Katrina etc. : http://www.calnurses.org/rnrn/

To donate money to send an RN: https://secure.ga1.org/05/rnrn_relief_fund

To sign up as an RN to volunteer overseas: http://www.calnurses.org/rnrn/rnrn-volunteer-form.html

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Specializes in mental health, military nursing.

(this is my advice to a poster with similar questions a few days ago)

"Doctors Without Borders typically want experienced nurses with Critical Care or OR experience - it's a competitive organization with significant commitment of usually a year. They usually only give shorter assignments to those they really need, like surgeons.

Try volunteering in your home city! You'll be most effective in a setting where you belong and are accepted by the community, and you'll use resources more efficiently. Get in touch with your county health department - they usually coordinate with a number of volunteer organizations in everything from STD education and testing, to teaching safety classes to seniors. I know my county also has an emergency volunteer registry, where you'll be contacted in event of a crisis (I was on standby for the G20 summit this past summer).

While the adventure of overseas volunteering is attractive, you need to build up some awesome skills before it's worth anyone's time. But don't be discouraged, definitely volunteer!"

If you are a new nurse, maybe you should consider splitting your time between pro bono work and "real work," so that you can build on your clinical skills.

Sounds like your heart is in the right place! Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Most indian rez's out west and the rural south. Pretty easy to find an impoverished area.

Look at statistics about regional and local income areas like this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowest-income_counties_in_the_United_States

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Specializes in ICU.

Most major cities have a free clinic (or several) who rely on and love their volunteers. I know it isn't as glamorous as going overseas, but they tend to always be short staffed, and there is a lot to learn in the clinics.

Just a thought :)

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Thanks for all the great replies!

If you are a new nurse, maybe you should consider splitting your time between pro bono work and "real work," so that you can build on your clinical skills.

My concern is that the recession won't be gone in a year. In my area, nursing hiring has slowed and entry level nursing jobs are almost non-existent. So if I could find "real work", I'd have to do it at the employer's schedule.... and these are almost always full-time commitments. It's hard enough to balance my school with my current part-time volunteering at my local hospital. Volunteer department needs reliable people. It's frustrating enough, when I have to keep changing my volunteer schedule because of school commitment popping up.

I'm thinking more of an assignment where I commit for 6/12/18 months, they provide a room and food, and I work my butt off for them. I need somewhere to live if I had to relocate; there's no way I could pay for an apartment & food with zero income.

I also have a Bachelor's in Computer Science, can speak another language, already spent a semester overseas living with a local family, have leadership experience from running a 501c3 non-profit, and have other skills that would make me a useful asset. I'm happy to learn a new language or take other classes in the meantime to be prepared, if I was sure I'd be stationed a specific place. But I just don't know what my options are.

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Specializes in student; help!.

ITA with the post about working on the res. Sometimes conditions are so bad it's like you've wandered into another country. You don't have to leave the States to find people in dire need of help.

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Specializes in mental health, military nursing.

Your background sounds pretty strong! Have you thought about the Peace Corps? They take RNs, especially if you have a strong volunteer background, pay for all expenses, and send you to whatever place you will be truly needed...

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ITA with the post about working on the res. Sometimes conditions are so bad it's like you've wandered into another country. You don't have to leave the States to find people in dire need of help.

Silly question, but how do I find out more? Would they have web pages? Is there an org which helps place people into specific reservations, matching needs to skills?

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Specializes in student; help!.

Well, here's a publication that specifically lists areas of high poverty. That's a good place to find out where you might like to land. Looks like USDA keeps good track of this info, so you could contact them. Talk to Census offices, too. There's a Rural Health department in most states, I think. That's how my dad paid for a good portion of med school, working for the Rural Health office in VA. They have a federal office, too.

Check out HHS for some more links.

There's an association of rural clinics.

National Agricultural Library has info on rural areas.

Not sure if there's a clearinghouse for nurses, but that should be a good start.

eta: reservation sites

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