First day of volunteering at the hospital, feeling overwhelmed

[Brittdn]

Hi everyone so I had my first day of volunteering at the hospital and it is making me doubt this whole process.

Once I arrive I get a brief greeting from the staff who was at the nursing station luckily for me another volunteer was there to give me a brief explanation he starts with the phones and tells me I will be taking patient calls and the main line from outsider calls he tells me how to transfer etc.. what buttons to push and expects me to remember all this after that I was given a tour of the different doors with all the different supplies (which is hard to recall ) and the codes for the doors. I told him I needed to write this down but he insisted I didn't. He then leaves and I feel extremely uncomfortable like a lost child in the crowd. I take a few patient calls and have a difficult time trying to find the right nurse to page/find because there is about 10 different ones. I assisted a few patients with their meals and covering them in blankets. They then ask me to run things to the specimen drop off which I had no idea where it was they told me what floor and I was so lost feeling hopeless I ended up almost going through the surgery doors and the surgeons laughed but I did end up finding the places eventually. I was then told to get some food from the cafeteria for a patient I waited in the main line and was then told I could go to the back where the food chain workers were after I brought back the food the nurse tells me to put a name label on them and in the fridge and walks away so then I had to find someone to ask where the name labels/fridge was. I then found myself aimlessly walking around awkwardly not knowing what to do. I sat down for a bit until all the nurses needed the chairs and Just stood there I then took some patient calls and the director/clerical girl made me go into a room where I had to dress in a full gown because he was contagious or something just to ask him what he needed bc she couldn't understand what he said and he was a dementia patient I went in and didn't get a word out of him why didn't she just ask a nurse? who went in right after me anyways. I then assisted a patient on the computer bc he couldn't click the mouse for about 40 minutes while he watched a video. After that I just stood at the nurses station while all the nurses talked about guys they didn't even care to ask me anything for a good 30 minutes or make a quick conversation as I stood there the entire time. Then 5 minutes before I leave the girl asks me to file about 15 patients chart that took me over 20 minutes and I was a little frustrated because she knew what time I was leaving at and she left before me because she got out of doing the charts. Do you think I should give it another chance and see what happens because it was my first day? or should I see about switching and doing something a bit more relaxed until I get more comfortable?

[mrskrobbins]

Wow hun, I'm so sorry that happened. I just made a call about 20 minutes ago to volunteer at the local hospital also, and I really hope my experience is not like yours. Maybe you should try a different hospital, or another low key doctors or patients care? Maybe the people you were volunteering for aren't exactly professional, they sound a bit rude to me! I'm starting Pre Nursing in August, so I know how to feel about being overwhelmed and the need to write things down. Besides when you volunteer you're supposed to be aloud to write things down. Kind of odd how they acted if you ask me. Good luck at the next place you apply to though and let us know how it goes, if you do.

[__patiently_waiting]

Wow, they do seem a bit unprofessional and not willing to help much. You did have to do a lot but it's expected for you to be overwhelmed. It was your first time volunteering there. I say you try it again for another day or two. You still have to give yourself a chance to adjust to the new environment and maybe the people there will come around-if not, i agree with the previous post. Find another hospital to volunteer in.

[Kimbsntobe]

WAIT!!!! when you go back go to the volunteering office and get a list of volunteer descriptions of what you should be doing and how they are using you to get their work done....sounds to me that you were going above and beyond what you should have been doing...have at least a description so when some one says do this look and your list and say I'm a volunteer not a paid worker...I'm saying this b/c when i was in lpn school i had to volunteer to make up time and they told me to do a list of things that volunteers were not supposed to be doing...maybe you were doing some of your work and some of theirs and thats why you feel overwhelmed....I would advise you go back...but know beforehand what you should and shouldn't be doing....Good luck

[mz23]

Didyouyoi

[loriangel14, RN]

It sounds like a typical volunteer position.It will get better with time.You will get to know the routine and where stuff is and how to help people.It is overwhelming the first day but once you learn your way around you will enjoy it more.They likely didn't help because they didn't realize you were feeling lost. Nurses are not mind readers.Good luck.