Volunteering at a hospital worth it?

allnurses Guide · May 31, 2012

Volunteers generally do not interact with patients at our hospital. They help people know where to go and act to support the staff by doing the types of things you have been doing - stocking, running errands, light cleaning, paperwork, filing. Some are in the information center and answer phones and serve to direct or escort people to different parts of the hospital but that's really the closest they come to patient interaction. There are not any clinical tasks you are qualified to do at this point and understandably the hospital can't have just anyone who wants to volunteer coming in to touch people's wounds or dressings, take vitals or any other clinical stuff.

Getting a position as a CNA would be in your best interest. Does your school offer a CNA course over the summer or anywhere else nearby? That would serve you better than volunteering. Volunteering won't hurt, but most often you don't really get to do the kinds of stuff you are hoping for.

Dalla · May 31, 2012

I agree with previous post. Volunteering is a waste of time. Your best bet would be working as a CNA while going through the nursing program. These are the ones who will get the job right before graduation. I didn't work as a CNA, I have been wasting my time volunteering for 6 months, still not even an interview.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 31, 2012

about the only experience you will get is to learn the culture of the facility. It is against the law to allow ANYONE to put the patient's privacy at risk, and volunteers are in a position to do just that. We do not allow them to be in direct contact with patients. Also a risk of infection for you.

LiLev · May 31, 2012

Volunteering is never a waste of time, its good Karma. :saint:

shay&lynn, ASN, RN · May 31, 2012

not.done.yet couldn't have said it better.

I volunteered at a hospital in the pre-op holding area. I did a lot of different things such as clean, bring beds out, put together paper packets and got anything the pt needed (blanket/pillow).

I did get to do some communication with pts, but not to detailed.

Patti_RN · May 31, 2012

Volunteering is NOT a waste of time!

It seems that hospital doesn't have a good program in place to assign volunteers, so there is a vicious cycle.... Volunteer eagerly shows up for first day...staff dreads dealing with them because 'no volunteers ever stay'... staff assigns a low level person to 'train' the volunteer... volunteer feels conspicuous and unwelcome... staff senses volunteer is unhappy (but has no idea why) and assumes that volunteer is lazy, unmotivated and ready to head out the door... volunteer feels the bad vibes from the staff and assumes it's because she's 'in the way'... volunteer leaves and never returns-- this reinforces staff's opinion that volunteers 'never work out'. Next day, new volunteer shows up and cycle begins again....

You might try talking to the person who signed you up for your volunteer position and candidly explaining your experience (without complaining--be matter-of-fact and express that you understand that the employees are busy. You might say that you'd really like a specific set of duties or that you want to do more than 'shadow' a staff member.

There are several benefits of volunteering: first you get to see some aspects of the business, and you get some idea how the organization functions. You also get great networking opportunities, but only if you are seen as a contributing volunteer.... you have little control over this unless you have some very specific duties where you do contribute and aren't 'in the way'... so make sure you get the volunteer coordinator to assign you a 'job' (sometimes that's internal mail delivery, directing visitors to the right floor/ department, or doing office-type jobs). The other advantage is having an entry on your resume--for this advantage, it doesn't matter if you volunteer 40 hours per week or 4 hours per month--it's an entry on your resume! (For this reason, you may want to volunteer at two or three different places.)

If you're in the 'resume building' mode, you might consider getting an EMT certification and running as a volunteer with a Emergency Medical Service. It's direct patient care, you really do have a role, and you'll get to practice some basic skills.

Jackfackmasta, ASN, RN · May 31, 2012

I was a volunteer at my hospital during pre reqs for nursing school for 1.5 years. I did not do much just cleaning rooms, stocking and stuff but I did form networks and worked hard always asking to help. I was able to see codes and stuff.

When I got accepted to nursing school I decided to I wanted tech experience and the charge nurse i worked with and other techs were my references to get the job there.

I have been here for over 3 years and the experience I have gained as an ED tech has been unmet my anything in the nursing program. I have gained confidence, strengthened my skills, developed critical thinking and hands on opportunists with critical patients and codes that I did not have in clinicals. I would not have traded it for anything. I also would not have gotten the job had I not bee a volunteer. I had no hospital experience before that.

I gradauted May and am taking NCLEX June 14th and starting my level 1 surgical trauma ICU job on the 18th. Employees look at volunteer work and tech work. A lot of them like ED techs because our training and scope of practice are bigger than other units. They also encouraged me to get my ACLS/PALS during 1st semester of school and it helped me to anticipate things in codes.

I say go for it and utilize it. Don't be a lazy volunteer though be the hard working one and it can open up doors like it did for me.

Enthused RN, BSN, RN · May 31, 2012

My first volunteer experience was like yours and it actually scared me off from the ER. If you are in Southern California, try looking into the COPE or CCE programs. You are trained by the hospital and usually there is a culture of inclusion - you are considered part of the team. If you're not the area, the best you can do is ask nurses what times you can assist with specific tasks. I currently volunteer in the ICU and we are trained to ask the nurses "What time would you like me to do mouth care/range of motion/re-positioning/bed bath/prime the feeding tube etc. with/for your patient?" This assumes of course that you have been trained to do those tasks. Bring a small notepad and a pen to write down tasks. You may want to seek out CNA training on your own (gives you a leg up later on in nursing school, speaking from personal experience here) and/or assist the CNA with those tasks. You become more of an asset to your unit with training and puts you into a position where you can take ownership of your volunteer experience.

samrusrn · May 31, 2012

Thank you everyone for posting! I have read all of them and I appreciate your input. I wasn't really sure what I was getting into when I volunteered, but I assumed I would have patient interaction if I asked.

Unfortunately, there are no summer courses for CNA or EMT. I could take them during the Fall year, but it would seem silly to do now that I'm in the program. Once I finish my first semester at the program, I can work as a CNA. Regarding COPE or CCE programs, there are none here .

I think I am going apply at another hospital that is 30 minutes away. I have heard that it is a much better place to work and volunteer at (they provide lunch for us if we volunteer more than 5 hours ) so I might give it a shot. The half year commitments are frustrating though.

I have another question....(if anyone is so kind to answer)

I have spent 3 months applying at hospital jobs that don't really require skills (high school degree, BSL...etc). I have applied for more than 10 jobs and I was always rejected. Apparently, some of the jobs require 1-2 years of experience and I have no idea how people manage to get that. Most of these jobs are incredibly basic like cleaning up rooms or transporting patients. I pretty much have given up on it. How do you get this experience? Is there something I'm missing?

LovetheER · May 31, 2012

I'm a strong believer in volunteering for many avenues of life, and volunteering in health care doesn't hurt. I work at a wonderful hospital in Southern CA, but I also volunteer in the same hospital's No One Dies Alone program. We sit with patients who are actively dying and are completely alone; we administer light patient care and lots of comfort. Our hospital also has volunteer opportunities for other departments that include light duty stocking, etc.

It sounds to me like your hospital's staff are really busy and either aren't being given ample time to orient the volunteers, or aren't instructed on the importance of them. Either way, I think your idea of looking at a different facility is a good one.

Regarding applying for those jobs, I know exactly how you feel. I barely got my part-time, MUCH LOVED job in nursing administration because it was a career change for me while I wait to be accepted to nursing school. I had to know somebody, and that's typically how life works I think. Someone here at my work told me it's not who you know anymore, it's also who knows you. That's why I advocate for your volunteering - once you show what you can do, it's even more likely that you'll get hired for a job because it's nearly the same as an internal hire.

PM me if you have any questions!

*4!#6 · May 31, 2012

Just to address your question, most of our patient transport and housekeeping jobs go to internal hires, those make more money then in my department (which is also entry-level unskilled) and have more autonomy.

I only got my entry-level job because a friend with high seniority spoke to her manager about me. I have never heard of a volunteer getting hired, though we have them. I was applying for years.