Volunteering, with our partners or with other organizations, can be an unforgettable experience. Luckily, there are a wide range of opportunities for nurses to volunteer both locally and abroad. In this blog, we share just a few of the organizations and resources you can turn to when planning your volunteer experience. Keep in mind that when volunteering abroad you will be required to pay some, if not all, of your own expenses.

GoAbroad.com is a clearinghouse for over 632 nursing volunteer abroad programs.  This website lists general descriptions for the programs, reviews of the programs, where available, and direct links to their websites.  These opportunities and programs range from one or two weeks to several years and can be found all over the globe.
UnitedPlanet.org offers short-termed (1-12 weeks) volunteer programs and long-termed (6 months+) programs in a variety of areas including global health.
MissionFinder.org provides links and information on international and national medical missions sponsored by organizations with a religious or faith-based background.
OneNurseAtATime.org is comprised of nurses who work diligently to match nurses with volunteer opportunities both locally and abroad.  They also offer educational information on challenges faced in remote overseas locations, such as cholera, malaria and malnutrition and online information on humanitarian nursing. Their main goal is to reach out to nurses and get you involved in the humanitarian and volunteer arena.
Locally, volunteering with your local Visiting Nurse Hospice program or your local American Red Cross are vital ways of giving back to the community while networking with others in your profession.  Volunteering with the Visiting Nurse Hospice program may entail support for the patients, respite and support for the family members, vigil services (when death is imminent) and bereavement support.  Activities with your local Red Cross might include teaching in their array of education and certification programs (from certification as a baby-sitter, to CPR and First Aid certification).  Blood Drives and of course emergency response needs are also possibilities.
We encourage all of you to consider making volunteering a resolution for the New Year.  Start off small to see find your niche. Then expand your horizons.  Speaking from experience, there is nothing more heart-warming than seeing the smile on the faces of children you are helping.
~Michael and Frida Donner