UCLA Nursing Volunteer Program

US News and World Report 2020-2021 Honor Roll 📣

US News and World Report 2020-2021 Honor Roll 📣

The UCLA Blood & Platelet Center has been significantly impacted on the blood supply due to cancellations of blood drives and fewer donors on campus. If you are healthy and able, please consider donating blood at a campus location or at any blood bank in your area. For more information or to make an appointment at a UCLA blood donation center, please visit https://www.uclahealth.org/gotblood/

Meet our volunteers and program alumni who have recently been accepted to nursing school!

Congratulations to the Class of 2020! We are very proud of you!

Congratulations to the Class of 2020! We are proud of you!! 👊🏼👊🏾👊🏻👊🏿👊🏾 #rn #bsn #mecn #dnp #ucla #uclabruins

Please join CDU/DGSOM medical students, residents, and fellows on Friday June 5th at 12pm, as we stand in solidarity with those protesting, and together commit to change.
We will hold 8 minutes 46 seconds of silence in honor of George Floyd and other victims of police violence and systemic racism. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we ask you to bring your own face covering and stand six feet apart.
https://tinyurl.com/uclahcwblm

Please join CDU/DGSOM medical students, residents, and fellows on Friday June 5th at 12pm, as we stand in solidarity with those protesting, and together commit to change. We will hold 8 minutes 46 seconds of silence in honor of George Floyd and other victims of police violence and systemic racism. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we ask you to bring your own face covering and stand six feet apart. https://tinyurl.com/uclahcwblm

Congratulations to Franklin L., a program alumni who has been admitted to Johns Hopkins University! Franklin will pursue a Masters degree in entry nursing. Get to know more about Franklin below:

"I chose to become a nurse because it embodies a lot of qualities I have and what I hope to achieve in my life. For example, I was known as the "Team Dad" in a club at UCLA because I enjoyed being a mentor to make sure that other students, especially underclassmen, could feel as passionate about their growth in UCLA as I did. And I saw that same quality in nursing. Volunteering at Ronald Reagan gave me the opportunity to witness and participate in the close bond a patient their visitors build between themselves and the care team. And just like how young college students could use a bit of help and perspective to rise above the rigors of school to realize their better selves, patients need nurses to guide them on a path to recovery or as fulfilling an end to their life as possible, and I wish to be there all the same."

Meet Clarissa M., a program alumni who was recently admitted to CSULA for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Congratulations, Clarissa!

Read more about here story:
"My journey started when I chose to study accounting at a community college. I attended two community colleges and went to Loyola Marymount University for one year as an accounting major. At LMU I often had conversations with my roommate about her mother, who is a Labor and Delivery nurse in Pomona. Over the course of a year, I realized my heart was not in accounting, but in medicine - specifically treating and working with other people. My roommate’s mother let me shadow her, which validated my desire to pursue a career as a Labor and Delivery nurse. Since that experience, I became a certified nursing assistant and returned to my community college, College of the Canyons, to complete my prerequisites for nursing school.

I also became a postpartum doula, a path that fits squarely with my career goal - to pursue midwifery after becoming a Labor and Delivery nurse. I committed to begin nursing school at California State University, Los Angeles in the Fall of 2020 and I believe after my 3 years there I will be able to contribute to community engagement wherever I decide to work."

Meet Clarissa M., a program alumni who was recently admitted to CSULA for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Congratulations, Clarissa!

Read more about here story:
"My journey started when I chose to study accounting at a community college. I attended two community colleges and went to Loyola Marymount University for one year as an accounting major. At LMU I often had conversations with my roommate about her mother, who is a Labor and Delivery nurse in Pomona. Over the course of a year, I realized my heart was not in accounting, but in medicine - specifically treating and working with other people. My roommate’s mother let me shadow her, which validated my desire to pursue a career as a Labor and Delivery nurse. Since that experience, I became a certified nursing assistant and returned to my community college, College of the Canyons, to complete my prerequisites for nursing school.

I also became a postpartum doula, a path that fits squarely with my career goal - to pursue midwifery after becoming a Labor and Delivery nurse. I committed to begin nursing school at California State University, Los Angeles in the Fall of 2020 and I believe after my 3 years there I will be able to contribute to community engagement wherever I decide to work."

Meet Rosa R., one of our program leadership members who was recently accepted to UCLA"s MECN program. Congratulations Rosa!

"Hi, my name is Rosa Rivas. This Fall, I will be starting the MECN program at UCLA! My interest in nursing began as I volunteered at a nonprofit clinic, MEND, and I became fascinated by the connection and trust nurses built with their patients. I later became a part of the Nursing Volunteer Program where my passion for nursing became stronger and I became enamored with bedside nursing. After graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor’s in Biology in 2018, I continued to volunteer and I joined the Nursing Volunteer leadership team where I became the unit coordinator for 8E and am now the Director of Unit Coordinators. Through this program and all of my volunteer experiences, I have gained amazing insight into nursing as well as mentors who along with family, have guided me throughout my pre-nursing journey. Both my educational and volunteering experiences have been stepping stones towards my dream of becoming a nurse. With the experience and knowledge I have gained in my pre-nursing journey, I am beyond grateful and excited to begin nursing school."

Meet Melissa M., a Nursing Volunteer Program alumni who will be pursuing a Masters degree in entry nursing at Arizona State University!

"Hello! My name is Melissa Maneatis. I was part of the nursing volunteer program from October 2018 to October 2019 dedicating 216 hours on three different units. I became a nursing volunteer in the fall of my Junior year at UCLA. While working toward earning my degree in Psychology I also competed as a Pole Vaulter for the UCLA Track and Field team. I chose to become a nursing volunteer to learn more about the field of nursing and to get direct patient care experience. After graduating from UCLA I began applying for both accelerated Bachelor’s and entry level Master's nursing programs throughout the west coast. I ultimately chose to accept admission to attend Arizona State University for their MS Nursing (Entry to Practice) Program. I am so grateful for the valuable experience, knowledge and confidence I gained during my time as a Nursing volunteer!"

Melissa M. - ASU MSN, Entry

"Hello! My name is Melissa Maneatis I was part of the nursing volunteer program from October 2018 to October 2019 dedicating 216 hours on three different units. I became a nursing volunteer in the fall of my Junior year at UCLA. While working toward earning my degree in Psychology I also competed as a Pole Vaulter for the UCLA Track and Field team. I chose to become a nursing volunteer to learn more about the field of nursing and to get direct patient care experience. After graduating from UCLA I began applying for both accelerated Bachelor’s and entry level Master's nursing programs throughout the west coast. I ultimately chose to accept admission to attend Arizona State University for their MS Nursing (Entry to Practice) Program. I am so grateful for the valuable experience, knowledge and confidence I gained during my time as a Nursing volunteer!"