As a nurse, you know there is always plenty of work to do.  Today, there are over three million registered nurses in the United States, it is the largest health care profession in the country (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012).  It is also perhaps, one of the more stressful careers in the country, and as such, it is easy to misplace the joy of being a nurse.
One way to regain the magic is to consider becoming a volunteer nurse.  In 2012, over one-third of the nurses in the United States reported that they volunteered each year.  A wide range of short or long term volunteer opportunities are available to match a nurse’s schedule and flexibility.  Nurses can volunteer in local community at clinics and schools or teaching fist aid classes for the American Red Cross.  Volunteer opportunities also are available that take nurses outside the United States, for example on trips with organizations like One Nurse At A Time, or ReSurge International, which provides free reconstructive surgeries for the poor and builds year-round medical access in underserved areas, and other programs.
Nurses who volunteer provide health care and comfort to people who are in a state of physical weakness.  Helping others feel better is the number one reason most nurses cite for volunteering.  In addition, working with other professionals provides an opportunity to learn from others in a hands-on environment, as well as gives nurses a chance to network within the medical field.  Finally, volunteer nurses gain management and supervisory experiencea and teaching skills.  For example, ReSurge not only provides medical care, but also trains and supervises local medical teams so that the programs may continue when ReSurge teams leave.
Make the decision to volunteer today.  For more information on One Nurse At A Time, visit www.onenurseatatime.org, and for more information on ReSurge International, go to www.resurge.org.