If you’re a nursing student, healthcare volunteer opportunities in Boston can offer networking opportunities and practical experience for your resume. Wondering where to volunteer for nursing experience? Consider local hospice organizations, nonprofits that provide care for unhoused people, hospitals, and services for cancer patients.
Nursing students are busy, but if you can fit some volunteer hours into your schedule, you might want to consider doing so. Volunteering offers opportunities for soft skill development, networking, and practical experience. Wondering where to volunteer for nursing experience?
Volunteering in healthcare doesn’t always mean you’ll be spending your free time in a hospital. There are plenty of healthcare volunteer opportunities in Boston and the surrounding areas to choose from.
Before you can volunteer as a nursing student, you’ll need to enroll in nursing school. If you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 62 college credits, you may be eligible to apply to Northeastern University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.
In the ABSN, you’ll graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months. We offer three ABSN program sites throughout the country: one in Charlotte, North Carolina; one in Fall River, Massachusetts; and one in Burlington, Massachusetts, conveniently located near Boston and the city’s many healthcare volunteer opportunities.
Discover the benefits of healthcare volunteer opportunities in Boston and the many organizations in the metropolitan area that welcome nursing students as volunteers.
Learn more about the fastest way to get a BSN.
Why Consider Healthcare Volunteer Opportunities in Boston?
Before considering where to volunteer for nursing experience, it’s worth learning how participating in nursing-related volunteer opportunities in Boston can benefit you.
1. Gain Practical Experience
Employers often prefer to hire nurses with experience. While Northeastern’s ABSN students gain many hours of experience in healthcare facilities through clinical rotations, it’s helpful for students to diversify their experience. Healthcare volunteer opportunities in Boston allow you to gain practical experience that can make your resume stand out.
You can also gain experience by working relevant jobs for nursing students.
2. Enjoy Networking Opportunities
In addition to making your resume stand out with practical experience, volunteering at relevant organizations near Boston can provide you with invaluable networking opportunities. Whether you decide to volunteer at a hospital or at another type of healthcare organization, you’ll meet others in the healthcare industry in Boston. One of them may recommend you for your first nursing job after graduation, or perhaps for an opportunity later in your career.
3. Explore Different Areas of the Nursing Field
Not everyone enters nursing school already knowing which specialty appeals most to them. Volunteering at healthcare organizations provides exposure to different career possibilities and allows you to reflect upon which specialty might suit you best.
4. Develop Important Soft Skills
Soft skills are important for nurse candidates, including:
- Communication skills
- Organization
- Teamwork
- Time management
Volunteering is a way to develop those crucial soft skills and allows you to substantiate your soft skills during job interviews. For example, if asked about your organizational skills, you might point to your experience organizing volunteers or handling fundraising activities for a nonprofit.
5. Enjoy the Health Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering is a way to connect to others, enabling you to exercise your social skills and meet new friends. Social health can suffer when a person is isolated, so volunteering is a way to improve your social health. In addition, volunteering can:
- Boost mood
- Fight depression
- Improve self-confidence
- Offer a sense of purpose
- Reduce stress
Volunteering can also offer physical health benefits. NPR reports that people who volunteer may have less cognitive decline and better physical functioning, as well as better cardiovascular health.
The Best Volunteer Opportunities in Boston for Aspiring Nurses
Some of the most notable volunteer opportunities for nursing students in the area include the following:
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
The mission of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) is to partner with shelters, hospitals, and volunteers in the greater Boston area to provide high-quality care to unhoused men, women, and children. Many of Boston’s hospitals rely on BHCHP and consider this organization a safe and trusted place to discharge patients.
Volunteer opportunities vary according to the organization’s current needs. You may discover clinical or non-clinical roles. Non-clinical volunteers provide assistance in on-site care facilities, perform administrative tasks in an office setting, and organize off-site donation drives.
Hospice Care Volunteer
Organizations that provide care and comfort to hospice patients often look for volunteers to fill administrative roles and spend time with patients and their relatives. Hospice volunteers typically develop deep and meaningful relationships with patients and are rewarded by the comfort they provide to patients and their families.
There are many organizations in and near Boston where you can apply to be a hospice volunteer, including PeopleFirst Homecare and Hospice, Hospice Services of Massachusetts, and Longwood Hospice.
Samaritans Inc.
Samaritans Inc. is a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline. The hotline is comprised entirely of volunteers, who answer phone calls and provide nonjudgmental support to victims and their loved ones. All volunteers are thoroughly trained to service teens or adults. At Samaritans Inc., your support could be the difference between life and death.
AstraZeneca Hope Lodge
The American Cancer Society created the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Boston to provide free accommodations, meals, and transportation for cancer patients and their caregivers traveling more than 40 miles for treatment. The Hope Lodge is dedicated to helping relieve patients of the non-medical expenses of cancer treatment and improving the quality of life for patients.
The Hope Lodge looks for volunteers with experience in massage therapy, nursing, nutrition, and yoga. Other volunteer roles are available in areas such as guest check-in and transportation.
The Hope Lodge can be an ideal opportunity for nursing students, as not all volunteer roles require an ongoing commitment. Volunteer needs vary, so you should check frequently to see if your skills and expertise are needed at Hope Lodge.
Special Olympics Massachusetts
Volunteers allow Special Olympics Massachusetts to provide year-round sports training and competitions to individuals with intellectual disabilities. As a volunteer, you can choose to serve in a variety of different areas, including coaching, event planning, and healthcare support. Special Olympics Massachusetts is often needs first aid volunteers with clinical training and experience.
FriendshipWorks
FriendshipWorks is a network of volunteers who assist seniors in Boston. Volunteers at FriendshipWorks provide companionship, accompany seniors to medical appointments as a medical escort, bring their pets to visit nursing home residents, and serve on essential committees. You can choose to serve regularly at FriendshipWorks or on a one-time basis to fit your busy schedule.
Patient Support and Community Ambassadors at Local Hospitals
If you’re looking to get your foot in the door at a local hospital, there are plenty of opportunities for you to serve. Most hospital volunteers perform administrative tasks or venture into the community for fundraising and outreach. Some hospitals also allow qualified volunteers to directly interact with patients. Check with your local hospital to explore available opportunities.
Regardless of the volunteer role you are looking for, there are opportunities for you to lend a helping hand in the Boston community. Volunteering your time and talents in healthcare is often one of the first steps towards a full-time career. You’ll gain practical experience, enjoy networking opportunities and develop soft skills.
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Start Your Nursing Journey at Northeastern
The ABSN program prepares students for healthcare careers through online coursework, hands-on skills and nursing simulation labs, and clinical rotations. With small class sizes and personalized support from nursing instructors, Northeastern University’s ABSN program is a top choice for students interested in switching to a nursing career quickly.
Start sooner with three start dates each year and no waitlist, and graduate in as few as 16 months upon successful completion of prerequisites. Contact our admissions counselors today for step-by-step help as you navigate the admission process.
