Make A Difference – For Others, Yourself, And Your Career

Are you a nursing student or new grad looking for valuable ways to gain the experience you need to land that first job? Or, are you a more veteran RN looking for a change of pace but not sure what direction you want to take? Maybe you and your nursing sidekicks just want to utilize your skills in your free time. One, easy solution is to lend a helping hand and get involved. Volunteering packs a lot of perks, including meeting exceptional people and networking, gaining experience and an insider perspective to types of environments in which you may want to work, plus you still get that feel-good, helping others reward.

On-campus Involvement
Organizations like the Student Nurses Association are great for making an impact toward the future of nursing while giving opportunities for you to develop and show leadership skills. Whether you participate on the many committees at the campus, state, or national levels or help with conventions, you are giving back to those helping you. You can also step up in your Greek organization by collaborating with the Philanthropy chair on community work related the health profession. Grab your classmates and find something you love or start your own project!

Hospital Involvement
Many hospitals and long term care facilities have a volunteer program that allows you to interact with the patients. These can often be set up on a schedule for consistency and have varied hours to work around a busy schedule. The closer you can get to “bed-side” care, the more valuable the experience when looking for work in the hospital setting. Working in these hospital settings is great for witnessing how different units operate, identifying niches for patients you like to work with, as well as making those ever-important connections with nurse managers and staff who can vouch for your work and help you land a job.

Community Involvement
Check with your local American Red Cross for opportunities to work on public health projects and disaster relief. Organizations such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or National Multiple Sclerosis Society or local races often need medical professionals on site for fundraising events. Perhaps you know a family who could use someone with your skills and knowledge to assist with a family or friend. These are great ways to spend time with the local community for a great cause. Or, if you really get an itch, there is a plethora of international volunteering opportunities available to students and nurses alike. Programs abroad often allow for fine-tuning skills without all the fancy tests and procedures and can bring you to a deeper appreciation for the profession you’ve chosen.

There are so many ways you can be involved and navigate your nursing career. If you’re a student nurse, volunteering alongside RNs can provide a mentor on your journey; for more seasoned RNs, you can often partner with these future nurses and share your wisdom. All your experiences have a story, and it’s up to you to tell it. Whether you volunteer full time or just a couple hours a month, you can show your dedication to help those in need, improve nursing skills, build relationships with key decision makers, and boost your happiness level. So, get out there and find a way to make a difference!

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.  –Winston Churchill

Veronica "V" Goodwin, Nursing Student Outreach Coordinator
Veronica “V” Goodwin, Nursing Student Outreach Coordinator

Veronica Goodwin, also known as V, started with Aureus Medical Group as in Account Manager in September 2011. In May 2013, V stepped into the role of Nursing Student Outreach Coordinator. Prior to Aureus Medical, she worked as a Branch Manager with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design and Minor in Problems of Philosophy from Creighton University, V has a creative outlook on the world and enjoys sharing that with others. In her downtime, V can be found with friends or family, traveling, photographing nature, dancing, and learning about various wellness theories.

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