"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."Helen Keller

International Volunteer Day was first established as a global observance by the United Nations General Assembly on December 17, 1985. Since then, December 5 is recognized annually as International Volunteer Day (United Nations, n.d.). I would like to take this opportunity to formally recognize and applaud forensic nurses throughout the world who generously dedicate their time and expertise, their knowledge and skills, and their personal and professional talents in a variety of contexts, both related and nonrelated to their professional roles and responsibilities as forensic nurses. Volunteerism is defined as "the principle of donating time and energy for the benefit of other people in the community as a social responsibility rather than for any financial reward" (Collins English Dictionary, n.d.). As a dynamic concept, I consider volunteerism as a win-win scenario. I believe that those who are the recipients of nurses' volunteer services are not the only ones who benefit; so do the nurses who engage in such activities in the first place.

In writing this editorial, I have thought a lot about the various volunteer activities in which I have been engaged over the course of my career. I have thought about my personal motivation for engaging in such activities, and I have reflected on the pros and cons of my contributions. Although my personal musings may be of interest to some, I was more interested in hearing from others. So, I started talking about volunteerism with my friends, family members, and colleagues across the life-span (including early, middle, and late career as well as those who are now retired). I was intrigued by how passionately they spoke of their endeavors and how readily they shared their personal and professional contributions alike. Although their insights have helped to shape this editorial, by no means am I deluding myself that my pursuit has mirrored a scholarly qualitative research endeavor. Instead, I engaged in casual conversations centered on the motivations to volunteer, the rewards of volunteering, and finally, the downside of volunteerism.

Motivations

Often, our volunteer commitments are fueled by our personal and professional passions, our belief systems, and our genuine concern for the welfare of others. This was truly evident in my conversations with others, as a sense of altruism underpinned their considerations. They talked about being very fortunate, believed they had something to offer, sought to give back to their profession, and echoed their professional and social responsibilities to each other and to their communities. Some authors have recognized volunteerism as an investment in the future (Pierce, 2011; Welch, 2009). This should not come as a surprise to forensic nurses, whose volunteer responsibilities are integral to the operation of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, including leadership on the Board of Directors, Chapters, Foundation, Task Forces, and Conference Committees, to name just a few. Volunteers, in the form of peer reviewers and editorial board members, are also integral to the success of the Journal of Forensic Nursing. Together, this past year alone, at least 338 members were listed as titled volunteers. Some talked about the importance of volunteering outside one's professional responsibilities, as a way of broadening their network outside nursing, to meet new people, to learn something new, and to connect with their broader community (and world). Given the nature of forensic nursing and the potential for vicarious trauma, as forensic nurses, we might be wise to volunteer in an area completely unrelated to our day-to-day work activities. It might be good for the soul, not to mention our mental health.

Rewards

Earlier, I talked about volunteerism as a win-win scenario. In short, through volunteering, we feel good about ourselves. It contributes to our self-worth and leaves us with a sense of accomplishment, self-fulfillment, and belonging. When we volunteer within our field of expertise, we grow and develop personally and professionally; we are provided with opportunities to meet potential employers, build a network of references, develop leadership skills, use tools relevant to our field, and improve our self-confidence (Learner, 2012).

Downside of Volunteerism

As someone who has, at many points in my life, "bitten off more than I can chew," I wasn't surprised to learn that the risk of overextending oneself was identified as the primary downside to volunteering. Volunteer commitments, unfortunately, can take time away from one's spouse, family, and friends. When my oldest daughter was only 3 years old, I was quite involved in a local nongovernmental organization, which was dedicated to the protection of children. One of the primary programs of the organization was the operation of a crisis nursery, designed to assist families in crisis. As a nurse, I believed I had a lot to offer the organization and was excited about joining the Board of Directors, responsible for the operation of the nursery. Paradoxically, it wasn't until my daughter started playing that she was "going to a meeting" that I realized how much time my volunteer activities were impacting my family life. Volunteer commitments can also interfere with one's personal time and social activities, and many volunteers, regardless of the nature of their volunteer activities, are vulnerable to overextending themselves. The importance of including volunteering into the work-life balance equation cannot be overemphasized. At times, our egos may get the best of us, and we are guilty of saying "yes," when perhaps we should instead be candidly assessing whether we have the time, energy, or ability to fulfill our commitments in light of our other personal and professional responsibilities. Sometimes, it is simply a matter of timing (as requests may come to us at the wrong time of life), and we need to learn to be selective in what we do.

Closing Thoughts

As forensic nurses, we are intimately involved in volunteerism at local, national, and international levels. Let's celebrate our collective contributions-as together-we really can do so much. Drop me a line. Share your story. I would love to hear from you.

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