volunteering in a hospital that you want to work at?

I live in NYC. I'm currently working in home care as a private duty nurse. Prior to September of 2009, I had been working in a teaching facility in California as a pediatric nurse. I don't know many people in the health care industry in NYC, so I was wondering, what do you think of nurses volunteering at hospitals they want to work? Do you think it's a good idea to meet people in the hospital, or do you think it just looks too desperate?
i did volunteer work in hospital i wanted to work at but they did not hire me while in the other hospital, i chased the nurse manager for same amount of time diplomatically and i landed the job. It simply depends on how honest the hospital is towards the volunteers

I started volunteering at the hospital where I wanted to work. During the volunteer orientation, they were very clear that no volunteers had ever landed a job this way, but I decided to do it anyways. My volunteer work has nothing much to do with nursing, due to liability concerns I am not allowed to do much with the pts at all. I am not even on the same unit in which I want to work.But I have been enjoying my time tremendously, it is nice to be able to give back.In addition to my volunteering there, I was sure to keep in contact with the nursing manager of the unit where I wanted to work. I even tried to be put on her unit as a volunteer, but the powers that be said no.Well, I ended up getting the job! I don't know if it was my volunteer work for this organization, or my being vocal with the nursing manager. Either way, it worked out well for me.I suggest that you do it, if you have the time & can financially afford to do so. It has been a great way for me to meet the staff of other units & make a positive impression on them.good luck

thanks so much! i think I'll give it a go.

Professional networking is one of the most important tools that one must have especially in these difficult times where everybody is competing for a job. Whether, you will get hired in a hospital you intend to volunteer or not, you will get a lot of info on some hospitals in the city or job opportunities inside of that hospital from the nurses you will be working with. And no, you won't look desperate if you do it with style by knowing whom and when to ask (and of course, how you ask) about an available position around. Just make sure you know your legal limitations as a volunteer because you have a license to protect. Good luck!

i would volunteer at a different hospital. someone once told me "why are they going to hire u if your willing to "work" there for free?good point.

Quote from Pneumothoraxi would volunteer at a different hospital. someone once told me "why are they going to hire u if your willing to "work" there for free?

I volunteered for a year at local hospital in Michigan, got my CNA and they still would not hire me. So for me, volunteering did nothing in terms of getting me any preferential treatment. But I found the experience to be very good as I start my accelerated nursing program. It can't hurt on a resume but they told me volunteers get no boost in terms of hiring.

I volunteered at my local hospital for four years and it did absolutely nothing as far as getting me into the new grad residency program. Your mileage may vary.However, I'm six months out from graduation and I have yet to find a job. Northern California has a glut of new grad RN's and getting in is often a matter of who you know and who will champion you. While I had a good letter of recommendation from the charge nurse of the unit I where I volunteered, it did nothing other than help me get into that first interview. However, I did get a lot of personal satisfaction from my volunteer work and it allowed me to view RN's at work close up. Getting an RN was a career change for me so getting the insider view of a busy unit was valuable. I was less nervous working with patients during my first clinicals because of this too. Good luck!

I would volunteer, but don't expect a job. Most places where you volunteer will give you a letter of recommendation after a certain period of time or number of hours. It doesn't hurt to have another letter of recommendation! Plus, I always believe that professional connections are a key to success!I'm volunteering at 2 hospitals. I don't expect a job, but I'll have a ton of professional connections once I graduate.