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A common problem of nurses who recently received their State Tested Nursing Assistant (CNA) license is that employers require experience before they hire. What seems like a Catch 22 is actually not, because employers don’t require paid experience.

Unfortunately, in this economy, hospitals aren’t exactly trying to trap any nursing assistant who happens to walk by the front door, so you’ll have to prime the hospital’s HR pump by working for free. Volunteering is a great way to show your usefulness to a potential employer. If you volunteer for a hospital, but act as though you actually work for them, you’ll be surprised how often the hospital will ask you to start working full-time and for pay, often much sooner than one year. In the meantime, Starbucks is always looking for baristas. Think of it as an opportunity to work on your customer service skills.

Plus, it’s beneficial for you to volunteer before settling down in a full-time, committed job. What hospital do you want to work in? What part of the hospital? You may not have a clear vision of where you want to be, which is dangerous when you get a full-time job. It would be good to try out different environments. You may like working with children more than the elderly. You may enjoy the excitement that comes with dealing with trauma patients. Let’s say, through volunteering, that you enjoy working in a hospital’s emergency room more than anything else. You’ll be able to convey your passion for the position in your interview, which, when combined with your experience, will be able to land you a job at any hospital. 

Also, you’ll know something is your true calling when you will do it for free, so maybe if the thought of volunteering as a nursing assistant makes you feel gipped, this could be telling you something very important about yourself.