Part Three: Volunteering at a Hospital
Posted on | October 24, 2007 |
Missed the beginning of the article? Parts one and two.
Volunteering at a hospital is much more than just “candy stripe-ing†- it can be a very fulfilling, educational and rewarding experience. Jenna Barke, a certified child life specialist & volunteer coordinator at Children’s Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota, offers these tips of advice for interested volunteers:
All right. I’ve decided to give my time to the hospital…but what’s in it for me?
Hospitals (particularly children’s hospitals!) truly could not function without the selfless gifts of volunteers…so many volunteer departments offer volunteering “perks!â€
At Children’s-MN, for example, our volunteers receive:
- Free parking
- Meal vouchers for the hospital cafeteria
- Gift shop discounts
- Access to hospital education programs/inservices/workshops
- Discounts to community activities (movie passes, sports tickets, etc.)
- Recommendation letters for academic programs or professional employment…
…and, most importantly, the personal satisfaction of making a difference in hospital patients’ lives!
Okay! I’ve sent in my application, attended an orientation session, and am ready for my first day as a volunteer in the hospital. What should I expect?
- Do expect to be a bit overwhelmed at first. Hospitals are big places, made up of many different departments and units. Don’t worry if you don’t remember where everything in the hospital is: it will take a while! If you get lost, ask a nurse or other hospital staff member…they will typically be more than happy to direct you!
- Do not expect to observe invasive medical procedures, surgeries, life-or-death cases, etc. These types of experiences are typically reserved for medical professionals and/or pre-health students in internship/residency programs. Similarly, do not expect access to critical care areas such as the emergency departments or intensive care units: while some hospitals do have volunteers in these areas, they are typically in administrative positions (answering phones, copying, filing, etc.), not in patient care roles.
- Do expect to see blood, body fluids, etc. If you have a weak stomach, working in a patient care area may not be an ideal fit for you. If you volunteer on the inpatient floors, expect to see scars and hear coughs—it’s a hospital, after all!
- Finally, do come with an open mind. On any given day, you may be asked to rock a baby, finger-paint with a four-year-old, or simply watch a movie with a teenager who wants company. If you come with flexibility and a willingness to help anywhere, you will have a very successful volunteer experience!
Thanks Jenna for being our first guest blogger!
Do you like to write or have great advice you’d like to share with others? We’d love to hear your tips so email us (or feel free to post in the Comments section below!)!
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