Nursing volunteer work

Volunteering is highly rewarding and beneficial for anybody wanting a career in nursing. While most volunteer work is unpaid, the skills, experience and personal satisfaction gained in volunteering can increase the chances of finding a professional nursing role in the future, and provide you with essential skills and hands-on training. A wide variety of medical settings require volunteer nurses, from large hospitals and busy doctors’ surgeries, to overseas development agencies, where volunteer nursing provides essential medical care that saves lives and betters the lives of those living in developing nations.

Nurse volunteer work can really bolster a CV and provide a wide range of skills and experiences that may increase the likelihood of finding a future employer. Furthermore, by volunteering as a nurse, the personal rewards and satisfaction of helping others can increase confidence, help you make new friends, and widen your personal experiences by introducing you to other cultures, societies and people. Volunteering also provides a nurse with the chance to demonstrate and practise his or her skills, keeping nursing knowledge fresh and up-to-date and improving on what has already been learned. Not all volunteer opportunities are suitable for everyone and it is important you ensure you can offer the necessary commitment, dedication and professionalism to a volunteer scheme, and are willing to work unpaid.

Choosing where to volunteer can depend on what you hope to achieve by your volunteering experience. Working in a busy hospital or doctors’ surgery will provide a volunteer nurse with a range of skills and experience that will prove beneficial for the future, while volunteering in local communities and for charitable organisations overseas may bolster confidence and provide a high level of personal satisfaction. There are plenty of volunteer nursing roles all over the world. Charities such as the Red Cross are always looking for volunteer nurses to assist with overseas aid, while the NHS and healthcare providers in other western nations rely on volunteers to make sure there are adequate nurses around to provide their patients with a high level of healthcare.

Volunteer opportunities can be found by contacting charities, hospitals, the NHS and doctors’ surgeries directly. Most of these organisations will have a volunteer scheme in place and can direct you how to apply. Alternatively there are specialist organisations that arrange volunteering work for you such as Gapmedics, who can arrange all the necessary arrangements for volunteering overseas. It is important when you volunteer that you make clear the type of work you want to do and that you explain your qualifications and experience gained so far. This not only ensures you are not sent somewhere to do a job you are not comfortable with, but also provides the volunteer organisation or hospital with the knowledge of what you are equipped to deal with, helping to make the most of your skills and experience.

on 18.09.11 by Robert Steen