Volunteering is not a long-standing commitment, nor does it cause you to leave your days for a considerable period. Actually, the more you volunteer, the more you’re going to earn. It should not be an excuse for a busy nurse to do volunteer work.
Instead, you are also implicitly encouraging those in the group to play their part by supporting others in need. You will have the ability as a volunteer nurse to develop and learn new skills while serving others.
If you are searching for new possibilities, you will have the ability to expand your horizons and learn more about other cultures. This will strengthen your ability to comprehend the individual beliefs of your patients and respect their values. Do you desire to learn how to become a volunteer nurse and how your career can be improved?
Volunteering in College
You get more motivated with each nursing class you take to start your career as a registered nurse. Your nursing degree gives you the skills and information you will need to care for patients, but you can’t wait to gain experience outside the classroom.
To start helping others, there’s no need to wait until graduation. As a student, there are plenty of nursing volunteer programs you can take part in. You will benefit others and gain realistic experience that tells prospective employers that you will be a successful addition to their workplace.
Benefits of Being a Volunteer Nurse
Upgrade Your Skills
It could enable you to be active in such workplace initiatives as a volunteer nurse in the workplace. Some nurses take this opportunity to gain advanced knowledge, upgrade their skills, and improve their resumes.
For example, say that there is a mentoring program for new nurses organized in your department. You should volunteer to be the program manager for this event if you have already developed the experience to run similar programs.
Your employer might note your skill as a program manager when running the event, and as a result, they may even give you a paid role for future events. Volunteerism in the workplace not only broadens your experience but can also impact your career development.
Explore Options
Many nurses take positions that are not in complete harmony with their goals or desires to get their foot in the door. Others are also searching for new challenges, but they’re not sure where to begin.
Volunteering encourages nurses without making a long-term commitment to work in various positions or specialties.
For instance, a nurse who works part-time in a hospital might volunteer to get a taste of what it’s like to be a school nurse in a local school, assisting him or her in reaching a more informed choice on a future job.
Leadership Development
For nurses, not all voluntary solutions require direct patient treatment. For non-profit committees, emergency response teams, communication teams, and more, nurses may offer valuable input, offering their unique experience and expertise to help create meaningful change and enhance overall public health.
In reality, many nursing schools search for students with voluntary experience. Since volunteer work demonstrates a devotion to the profession, it offers unprecedented development of leadership.
Enhance Your Resume
You want your resume to stand out as you are joining the world of nursing. Volunteering reveals that you are a devoted professional who is willing to use your talents and time to support those in need.
When answering interview questions, the experiences you obtain are great to use as it can show that you have had direct care experiences in the classroom setting.
Volunteer opportunities help new nurses create confidence and increase their likelihood of being chosen for a nursing job.
Where to Volunteer?
The American Red Cross
In 1881, Civil War nurse Clara Barton founded The American Red Cross, and today the group still depends on volunteer nurses to provide people around the world with relief services.
They provide student nurses with several opportunities to deliver vital community services and gain hands-on experience with specific nursing skills.
Volunteer roles include partnering with neighborhoods to plan for a crisis, coordinating military families’ emergency communications, helping during blood drives, running first-aid or immunization stations, and as part of a disaster action team responding to local emergencies.
Overseas Healthcare Volunteer Organizations
Student nurses interested in travel and patient care may find it rewarding and practical to embark on an overseas medical mission trip to gain relevant experience.
Nurses interested in this adventurous volunteer opportunity can link up with International Volunteer HQ or United Planet to explore their choices.
Conclusion
If you utilize these nursing volunteer opportunities, your experience as a student nurse is a valuable resource that can improve lives for the better. To put your medical expertise to fair use and give your resume a boost while you’re at it, search out volunteer roles like these.
Volunteer work is one approach to strengthen your resume, but another is to ensure that you have all the requisite skills you need as a working RN.
Also read – Make Money as a School Nurse