Volunteers

Escapebigd,

For the past 6 months I've been volunteering at Miami Children's Hospital. I wanted to volunteer because I had just started my nursing pre-reqs and wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into. Also I wanted to see if pediatrics would be a good fit for me in the future. I also got a chance to go to the OR!

I enjoyed it a lot. About half of my time was spent in the NICU and I love the babies, so that was great.

I hope it goes well for you!

MDCupcake

I am a new grad RN that has not been able to find a job....so, I thought I would volunteer. I start tomorrow. I will keep you updated if it is a really good idea. For me I just want to at least be in the environment, so I think that will make me feel like less of a loser for not having a job!!! The hospital is huge and I am hoping this will get me known. It seems like to get a job as a new grad RN you have to know someone.

I volunteer ER. It was fairly easy to get started, physical, drug test, orientation. I'm volunteering so that I have experience as I'm full time in school and a stay at home mom during the day so I don't have time to work. This gets me into the environment and gives me the "health care" experience needed for most apps. It also gives me a reference for after I graduate.

For those of you who have volunteered: Do you 'choose' your schedule, or is it given to you? I'm most curious about the flexibility of volunteering.

Thanks!

I was given a list to look at with lots of different hours to pick from. We are only allowed to volunteer 4 hours per week per department.

I am 'justavolunteer' on a pt. unit. I volunteer because I like to do it. I have no interest in a medical or nursing job. Volunteers don't get to do direct care, but I do help turn patients, get them from bed to cart, etc. I also pass out water, bring other things to patients, run errands for the staff, etc.
I got to pick my hours from whenever there was an opening on my unit.
Sometimes there are teenagers at other times who have to volunteer for high school requirements. Usually they get their needed hours, then they're gone.
There are not so many long-term people on patient units because a lot of people don't like that setting. For every volunteer like me, there's probably 10 who just want to volunteer in the gift shop or at the front desk. That's fine for them, but I'd be bored out of my mind just sitting.

I volunteer at a local Children's Hospital and I love it. I just recently started back after being away for about 5 months. The first time I volunteered was because we needed a certain amount of hours for nursing school so when it was done so was I. But I realized I really enjoyed it and I loved how I made each child's day a whole lot brighter even if all I did was bring them their favorite movie because they couldn't come play. Where I volunteer we have a play room where the children that are able can come play. I play with those children of course, but I also check on all the other kids who can't leave their room to see if they need anything like movies, games, or books. I also give parents "mom relief" if they need it which I'm sure it a big relief to them knowing their child has not been left alone. But that's pretty much all I do, I also make my rounds in the PICU but it isn't as exciting since most of them are out of it anyways.

I was also allowed to pick from the hours I wanted as to what was available. Although if I wanted I could do more than 4 hours a week in the same department.

That sounds awesome!!! Go for it!!!