Hattiesburg is a medium-size city in the heart of Mississippi with an estimated population of fifty thousand people. There are different health care facilities and as I searched for various nursing and volunteering jobs I came across volunteering opportunities at Forrest health facility. Forrest General advertises a wide array of opportunities for volunteering individuals. Some of the available volunteering opportunities included ER care partners, ambassadors, information host/hostess, greeters, patient rounding, music therapy and at the cancer center. However, some of these opportunities require a certificate for one to qualify. Other opportunities need a little experience and guidance from the hospital's workers. The health facility invites volunteers from schools and retirees who feel they can offer a hand in any of the opportunities above.
The Forrest health facility requires the volunteers to have certain qualities. The volunteers must have leadership qualities. The hospital does not have enough human resources to follow and guide the volunteers at all times. The facility, therefore, requires the volunteers to be self-motivated and have an inner drive to perform the responsibility assigned to them. The volunteers must have adaptability and problem-solving skills. The nursing profession is about solving human problems. The volunteers are required to adapt quickly to the situation and be able to solve problems when presented with some. Volunteers are needed to be good time managers. Nursing work is intense, and lateness may put the lives of a patient at risk. The volunteers must have excellent communication skills. Communication is vital in all work, and therefore volunteers are required to have outstanding communication skills such as listening and delivering reliable information. The volunteers must be a team player. One cannot work alone, and thus they are required to work in teams. The volunteers must be passionate and creative. Volunteering work is demanding, and if one is not intense, they are likely not going to make it. Other qualities that the facility emphasizes on include reliability, flexibility, enthusiasm and exceptional organizational skills.
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The hospital offers a variety of opportunity for volunteers. The benefits that these opportunities provide to the volunteers are overwhelming, and it is what interest me most about the possibilities. The hospital offers people a chance to help others. At the end of the volunteering period, the hospital provides references for school or employment opportunity. Volunteer opportunity provides students with an opportunity to acquire firsthand experience. Volunteers at Forrest health have the privilege to get a free yearly flu vaccination, invitations to the hospital's special events, and gets volunteer service award.
There are different types of certifications that are related to the nursing profession. Acute/Critical care nursing certification which is awarded to nurses who are prepared to work in trauma centers, critical care transportation, cardiac care units, and intensive care units. Nursing certification for Management of Assaultive Behaviors (MAB). Neonatal resuscitation certification which focuses on emergency resuscitation of newborns. The AACN certification that is awarded to nurses who have completed adult, pediatric and neonatal nursing courses. ACRN certification that is allocated to nurses with knowledge and experience in care provision persons who have HIV/AIDS ( Gladfelter, 2006) .
Different sponsoring associations provide the above certifications. For example, The ACRN certification is offered by the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board. Neonatal resuscitation certification is offered by the National certification corporation (neonatal care). The American Association of Critical-care nurses provides certification to critical-care courses such as Acute /Critical care nursing certification. There are over twenty nursing certification associations in the United States. Some of these association like the AANC offer different courses while some like the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board offer specific courses ( Gladfelter, 2006) .
There is a three-step process for obtaining certification. One must provide an academic degree in nursing for eligibility purposes. Diplomas and degrees that are strictly related to the nursing profession must be presented as a qualification necessity. An individual is required to look for a certified learning institution that offers education that one expects. An example of such an institution that provides the qualifying training needed is the American Nursing Credentialing Center. One is then required to apply, prepare and take the certification examination ( Boyle, 2017) . If one passes the exam, they are certified for the course they undertook.
To be a certified professional in nursing different types of proof are required. One must be able to prove that they attended school, passed their examination and had a little work experience. Unlike other professions where little or no proof is required, the sensitivity of the nursing profession requires one to provide tangible evidence that they attended school, took the exams and passed. The reason for this requirement is the technicality of the nursing profession and the sensitivity attached to the services they provide ( Boyle, 2017) . If a person cannot give the proof of attending the school, they cannot be certified.
Getting certified as a nurse adds credibility and authentication to my skill set and can help me position myself for due recognition. Work experience and having proper certifications provide one with the necessary confidence to perform the essential duties ( Fights, 2012) . It also gives one an opportunity to position themselves well in the job market. A certification is an assurance tool to the patients and the families that I have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide the required care to the patient. Skills maintenance and improvement help me create an environment of professionalism and enhance the credibility of the firm ( Cherry & Jacob, 2016) .
References
Boyle, D. K. (2017). Nursing Specialty Certification and Patient Outcomes: What We Know in Acute Care Hospitals and Future Directions. Journal of the Association for Vascular Access , 22 (3), 137-142.
Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2016). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management . Elsevier Health Sciences.
Fights, S. D. (2012). Reap the benefits of certification. Nursing2018 , 42 (1), 10-11.
Gladfelter, J. (2006). Nursing certification: Why it matters. Plastic Surgical Nursing , 26 (4), 208-210.
