Work as a volunteer in a hospital

[marishka86m]

Hi! I would like to know if somebody works as a volunteer at a hospital. Share please your experience and opinion if it is helpful for person who wants to be a nurse in a future. I have a few months which I can use for voluntary, but I'm still uncertain about it.

Thanks for all your answers!

[vanessaem, BSN, RN]

Is volunteering a guarantee that you will get employment as a new grad? No but it certainly looks better on a resume than someone who hasn't volunteered or did anything else in a hospital setting. I volunteered for many months but I still had a heck of a time getting a job due to being a new grad. Things seemed to have changed a lot as far as the hiring process when it comes to new graduates. Things that used to help someone to land a job in the past don't seem to matter much anymore.

Every area of the country is different but networking and getting the right people to pull for you on the job front seems to be what's happening now. Volunteering is good but it seems one has to do even more these days.

[marishka86m]

Thank you for answer. I live in New York and I heard that it is complicate to find job here.

[vanessaem, BSN, RN]

I'm in New York as well and yeah, it's really tough right now. Hopefully, things will change for the better in the coming year or two.

[PCnurse88]

I volunteer at an outpatient infusion center at a hospital near me. I didn't start until after I had already gotten my first job, but the volunteering position is in a major healthcare netowrk much closer to home and my dream job is to work at one of their hospitals. I've been voluntering about 3 months and already spoken to 2 managers about potential jobs after I finished my first year at my current job, to gain experience. So while volunteering is not a guarantee for a job, it definitely looks good and if you be proactive and network, can definitely help.

[marishka86m]

Thank you. I wish you good luck to get your dream job!!!