Any position in a facility will give you some exposure to the nursing field, but only one can really show you the grunt work that LPN's must often do - and that is CNA, or nursing assistant. If you can't put up with it, then you will know that nursing is not for you.

If you volunteer, volunteer to work directly with the residents - feeding them, helping them ambulate, and anything else they allow you to assist in.

Yep, GITANO is right - just walk in. As a nursing home and assisted living administrator, my facilities always had people walking in and asking if they could help out - One of my own full time nurses even volunteered at a different facility, feeding residents every Wednesday at dinner.

The administrator or Director of Nursing will tell you what they need and what you can do. Large faciities have entire volunteer departments, in smaller facilities it is more informal. No training needed other than what they will show you.

In NJ, CNA's do not have licenses, they have certifications. That means you too can perform the same functions as they do on a volunteer basis. Whereas, you could not perform the duties of a licensed nurse.

If you wanted to actually work as a CNA for pay, you would need to be certified - many facilitires do the training themselves, or you could locate a course on your own. Duties are very basic - feeding, dressing, washing, assisting with activities of daily living.

Good luck!