Looking for position -- No recent references

The delimma. I've been a stay-at-home mom for many years. I went into nursing and will graduate next semester (RN). My last job ended in 1996 and the company dissolved in 1999! I have great clinical evaluations and my GPA is excellent. I volunteer at a local community hospital. I am looking for suggestions on improving my reference base. My future career interest is in a specific field for which there is a nurse internship, upon graduation. Suggestions? I'm hoping for suggestions from others who had limited current references and from HR managers faced with interviewing nursing candidates without them. Thank you!
It sounds like you are in a better position to get good references than most people. You should get references from some of your faculty members -- particularly any that worked with you in the areas of your clinical interest. You should also be able to get a reference about your "work" life from where you do your volunteer work.That's as much if not more than most new grads have.