(Southern California) Hospital Volunteer Opportunity- hands on patient care

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Specializes in Acute Pulmonary, Intermediate Care.

I wanted to share with you information about a great internship opportunity I've been involved with that is available to pre-nursing or pre-med students, in the Southern California that allows you to gain hands on experience in a clinical setting. This is NOT paper shuffeling and/or answering phones. I am talking about being a member of the patient care team. Direct patient care! I have been a volunteer through Cope Health's Clinical Care Extender program for the past 9 months. I have had a unique opportunity to gain valuable skills that will surely give me a jump start in RN school. :p

I live in San Diego County and ALL the programs here are all VERY IMPACTED :anbd::scrm::hdvwl:

So anything you can do to gain experience is a huge plus and will help the time go by faster... I am developing lasting relationships with Charge Nurses, RN's, and even Doc's as I assist them at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. :D (By the way on April 13, 2009 Palomar Pomerado Health obtained Magnet status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. PPH is now currently designated as the only health system in California to have received this recognition.) Just this week I saw a job posting for a patient tech position; qualifications listed a CNA, EMT, surgical tech experience OR someone that has successfully graduated from Cope health's CCE program! So if I wanted to, I am now qualified to get a job on the floor while I'm in my RN program! :yeah:

There are other hospitals in Southern California available as well. If you sign up now, you can start over the summer! The commitment is only 4 hours a week! :up:

Orientation/interview sessions occur every three months, and the next recruitment cycle ends Saturday, May 2, 2009. You can visit the website for detailed information and for specific dates and times of our available orientation/interviews: http://copehealthsolutions.org/hwt/cce.html

To schedule an interview simply click on sign up now. When the new window opens, be sure and scroll down to PPH Escondido to set your appointment. PPH Escondido offers two hospitals of your choice; Pomerado Hospital in Poway and Palomar Medical Center in Escondido (which is North Counties only Trauma 2 center).

Good luck to everyone! I'm hoping to finally start my RN program this fall. I've been on Palomar Colleges wait list for 2 full years. I have also applied to CSUSM. I've been accepted into the University as a junior, now I'm just waiting till June when they post Nursing School acceptances.:plsebeg:

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I am also involved in the CCE program at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. I cannot say enough about this program. As stated in the previous post, this is a unique opportunity to gain experience in the field of healthcare.

I am currently rotating to the Mother/Baby unit and just finished the orientation last week. My last rotation was in Jointworks (hip and knee replacments) and I learned so much. Not only do you get to participate in direct patient care, but if you are assertive and ask, you can observe a variety of procedures. I watched a technician put in a PIC line, with the patients consent, and he walked us both through every move he made. Along with emptying foley bags, making beds, and feeding patients, I have heard the most wonderful World War II stories from every gentleman born in the 1920's and held the hands of a woman who was watching her husband of 52 years die. The list goes on and on...

Developing good relationships with the nurses, doctors, and assistants is also a big plus. Observing dynamics and learning how each part of the team works together is vital to the whole health vision for patients. It is an opportunity not to be missed. Check out the COPE website and sign up! What are you waiting for? Do it while you are waiting to get into your program or while doing your pre reqs. After a few shifts you will find out if this is what you really want to do:) :twocents:

On a final note...many of the CCE's get hired for tech jobs while they are waiting to be accepted into their respective programs.

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Hi,

Thanks so much for posting this. I just signed up for an interview.

What was the interview process like? Any insight would be great!

Thanks!

Jess

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Thanks! I totally forgot about this program. I can practically see Hoag from my house, I'm so close!

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Specializes in Acute Pulmonary, Intermediate Care.

The interview process is fairly straight forward. Show up as if you are going for a job interview, ie. dress professionally- NO street clothes. Be ready for an on-site essay; your given aprox. 10 minutes to complete. Usually it's a group interview, and you'll be asked a series of questions presented to the group and some directed straight to you. Listen to the questions completely, and answer the entire question. Ask for the question to be repeated if necessary. The whole thing should take about an hour, but can run much longer if you have 20 people at one time.

Good luck, it's a great program! Being a volunteer is a lot of fun, you don't have the pressure that the paid staff has and you get a true insight into the clinical world. It will help you to determine if medicine, nursing, therapy, pharmacy, etc... is something you really want to go in to. I'm grateful that my goals are now solidified and I know without a shadow of doubt that I am going in the right direction!

:yeah: Student RN August 09'

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Specializes in Acute Pulmonary, Intermediate Care.

Just wanted to post a quick note for anyone that stumbles upon this thread I started looking for a volunteer position....

If you are looking for an internship in San Diego county, Palomar Pomerado Health has ended it's contract with COPE health, and has created it's own department call Pipeline Career Services and offers a CCE position for those looking for access to Clinical experience.

Go to www.pph.org click on Volunteer at PPH, then to the Clinical Career Extender (CCE) Internship link to download an application and schedule an interview.

Dawn

:yeah:BSN program-- AUGUST 2009!:yeah:

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OMG thank you so much... I'm so very interested in applied for volunteer/iinternship position so have an edge before the actual HARD CORE :D nursing program.

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Does anyone know of other volunteer programs that involves patient contact in other hospitals in S. Calif? Thanks.

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Yes, Saddleback Memorial Hospital has direct patient care volunteer positions available as well.

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Specializes in New Grad RN.
Just wanted to post a quick note for anyone that stumbles upon this thread I started looking for a volunteer position....

If you are looking for an internship in San Diego county, Palomar Pomerado Health has ended it's contract with COPE health, and has created it's own department call Pipeline Career Services and offers a CCE position for those looking for access to Clinical experience.

Go to www.pph.org click on Volunteer at PPH, then to the Clinical Career Extender (CCE) Internship link to download an application and schedule an interview.

Dawn

:yeah:BSN program-- AUGUST 2009!:yeah:

Hi Dawnikans- I tried to PM you but I have not been an active poster on allnurses so it wouldn't let me. Just a random question but were you by chance at PPH West yesterday (Saturday)?

Sorry if I am confusing you with someone else...

Emily

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Specializes in Acute Pulmonary, Intermediate Care.

Hi Emily, I was there. Did you enjoy the event?

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