For many Nurses, the decision to pursue nursing did not begin in a classroom. It often began with a volunteer badge, a willingness to help, and early exposure to patient care environments. Volunteering offers future Nurses an opportunity to understand healthcare delivery firsthand, develop professional relationships, and build experiences that strengthen nursing school and job applications. Across the country, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and community health programs rely on volunteers, and many of those volunteers eventually transition into nursing careers.
The Role of Volunteering in Building a Nursing Career
Volunteer experience provides exposure to the daily responsibilities of Nurses, including teamwork, patient interaction, and the pace of clinical environments. This exposure allows prospective students to confirm their interest in nursing before investing in formal education. In addition, hospital volunteer programs frequently introduce participants to Nurse mentors, clinical staff, and scholarship opportunities that can support their educational pathway.
Career advancement research and workforce discussions consistently highlight volunteer experience as a way to improve job readiness and professional networking. Even when volunteer duties are non-clinical, the environment offers a realistic view of healthcare operations, communication expectations, and patient-centered care.
Real-Life Examples
A clear example is the story of Dayssy Nunez, who began volunteering as a teenager at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in California. Her time assisting in different departments, particularly the emergency department, exposed her to the teamwork and critical-thinking aspects of nursing. Inspired by the Nurses she worked alongside, she pursued nursing school, completed graduate training, and later returned to the same hospital as a Registered Nurse.
Read her story: Dayssy’s story: Hospital career path leads from volunteering to nursing
Another example comes from Baptist Health Care, where Alisha L’Orange started as a hospital “VolunTeen” at age 16. After years of exposure to patient care settings and mentorship from staff, she pursued nursing education and eventually became a Registered Nurse working in gastro-surgical services at the same organization.
Read more: Volunteer becomes Nurse and creates a career at Baptist
Volunteer service programs can also inspire individuals to pursue nursing later in life or after other careers. The Peace Corps has historically provided service experiences that lead some volunteers into healthcare careers.
At the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, returned Peace Corps volunteers such as Dr. Nicole Warren and Elizabeth Love identified healthcare needs during their service and later pursued nursing education, demonstrating how volunteer experiences can motivate career transitions.
Why Volunteering Is a Strategic First Step
Volunteering helps prospective Nurses gain familiarity with hospital workflows, understand patient needs, and observe interdisciplinary care teams. These experiences often clarify professional goals, making students more confident when choosing nursing programs or specialties. Volunteer work can also lead to scholarships, employment opportunities, and professional references, all of which support career entry into nursing.
Many Nurses reflect that volunteering allowed them to see the human side of healthcare before developing technical skills. Observing patient recovery, supporting families, and witnessing the impact of compassionate care often confirms a long-term commitment to the profession.
Volunteering remains one of the most accessible pathways for individuals exploring nursing careers. Hospital programs, nonprofit organizations, and national service initiatives provide structured opportunities that expose participants to real healthcare environments. As illustrated by Nurses who began as teen volunteers or service program participants, early volunteer experiences can shape career decisions, strengthen educational applications, and ultimately open the door to a lifelong profession in nursing.
Hospitals are hiring or accepting volunteer teens and young adults as a long-term strategy to help combat shortages in the healthcare industry.