Started Volunteering in the ER on Monday

z's playa · Jun 8, 2005

Sounds cool. I started volunteering at the LTC facility where I did my placement. They dont know what to do with me. I've told them treat me like a gopher. I dont care . I just want to be doing something. All they have me do is sit with the pts. I dont mind. I like it but I can contribute soo much more.

Maybe I can also volunteer at the ER here. Or maybe...I'll be called concerning my PCA application. How much would THAT rock! Volunteering AND working. That's a full summer.

Z :balloons:

Lilme04 · Jun 21, 2005

It is awesome! It was my first time working in a hospital setting and I was pretty much blown away at first. I will be transporting patients, talking to family, etc. Has anyone else done this? As for me, I'm just happy I got my foot in the door- it's awesome to work in a place that relates to my career for once.

I've been volunteering in my local hospital back in December and I love it! Even though this is a small town, I sometimes get to see really interesting things!

I agree w/you about getting your foot in the door. The more people who know you, or at least your face, the better. Keep your ears and eyes open and try and soak it all up. I get to run errands for the docs and nurses to the lab, up to ICU, etc and I see great (and sometimes sad) things. I love being able to interact with the patients; most of them can teach us a ton!

Have fun!

Doug85 · Jun 21, 2005

I've been volunteering in my local hospital back in December and I love it! Even though this is a small town, I sometimes get to see really interesting things!
I agree w/you about getting your foot in the door. The more people who know you, or at least your face, the better. Keep your ears and eyes open and try and soak it all up. I get to run errands for the docs and nurses to the lab, up to ICU, etc and I see great (and sometimes sad) things. I love being able to interact with the patients; most of them can teach us a ton!
Have fun!

I hear ya- I'm already considering going into EMT school for the fall after talking with some of the paramedics there. I agree with you 100% about making contacts within your future career as well.

Merrique · Jun 22, 2005

Sounds interesting. I was thinking of volunteering at the hospital also. It would be great to get involved with patients, plus I plan on using it for job applications.

jhawk07 · Jun 22, 2005

I tried volunteering but they only wanted us to do 24 hours of escort services and doing that is SOOOOOOOOO boring!!!!!!!! I didn't want to spend my summer just doing that. I think I am just going to try to volunteer for March of Dimes instead so I am actually doing something more then wheeling people around when most of them just leave by themselves and don't wait for the escorts anyway. I know of people who have gotten into nursing school without ever setting foot in a hospital. It is mostly based on grades anyway so I am just going to focus on that. Even the schools I am applying to said they mainly just look at your grades.

wms · Jun 22, 2005

Hey Jhawk-

Find out what "escorting services" means (if you don't already know for sure at that particular facility) In the E.R. that I tech. in, we have Pt. liason escorts who have a really cool summer job. They take all of the pt.s from triage to the rooms, make them comfortable, gown them, take basic set of vitals for the nurse and get to be in the rooms during all kinds of learning experiences!! Oh and by the way- They get paid.

I got my first job in this ED as a Unit Secretary while I am in nursing school. Now I've started as a ED Tech. I even start I.V.'s Very cool idea to get your foot in the door anyway possible. It worked for me.

Good Luck.

jhawk07 · Jun 22, 2005

Hey Jhawk-
Find out what "escorting services" means (if you don't already know for sure at that particular facility) In the E.R. that I tech. in, we have Pt. liason escorts who have a really cool summer job. They take all of the pt.s from triage to the rooms, make them comfortable, gown them, take basic set of vitals for the nurse and get to be in the rooms during all kinds of learning experiences!! Oh and by the way- They get paid.
I got my first job in this ED as a Unit Secretary while I am in nursing school. Now I've started as a ED Tech. I even start I.V.'s Very cool idea to get your foot in the door anyway possible. It worked for me.
Good Luck.

no all Escort meant where I volunteered was going to patients' rooms and wheeling them to discharge where their family would pick them up, sure if I acutally had more contact with patients and especially nurses (which I don't) then I might like it, but we had little contact with patients and no contact with nurses who I could observe and talk to about their jobs, that is what I really wanted to do, I think I might just see if I can shadow a nurse for a day somewhere and do it in different areas too

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2005

Good idea. I'm glad it's going so well for you. Great experience. Enjoy. :)

prenurse0902 · Jun 22, 2005

I work at the ER as a unit secretary. It's awesome I LOVE IT!!! i feel sometimes like i'm on the show ER. Where I work we are the only level 1 trauma center in central florida so it's great. We have our own air care trauma team and everything. It's so great. I just started the job in April to get my foot in the door and when my 90 days is up I will be able to pick up some shirts as a tech too! I'm so excited! So good luck it's the best in the ER!

Nicole

kbclary4 · Jun 29, 2005

How do you go about volunteering or getting a part-time job in the hospital. I know this will look much better on my application, so I want to do it. I would rather do the part-time job because I need the extra money and spare time for volunteering is not something I have a lot of. Do I just contact the hospital and tell them I am trying to get into nursing school and am looking for something? I know this is sort of a stupid question, but I really don't know what would be the best thing to do.

student4ever · Jun 29, 2005

How do you go about volunteering or getting a part-time job in the hospital. I know this will look much better on my application, so I want to do it. I would rather do the part-time job because I need the extra money and spare time for volunteering is not something I have a lot of. Do I just contact the hospital and tell them I am trying to get into nursing school and am looking for something? I know this is sort of a stupid question, but I really don't know what would be the best thing to do.

Figure out which department you would be most interested in working, and contact their nurse manager and try to get a face to face interview. I started out working in admitting two years ago, in the ED. That's what actually made me want to start taking pre-reqs for nursing school. Now I'm training to do both the Clinical Assistant (like a Patient Care Tech) and Unit Clerk. To get in on the clinical side I contacted the ED manager and asked for an interview. I walked out with a job. Contact HR at the hospital and ask what floors/units are advertising that they have positions open. Even if the floor/unit you want doesn't have an open position, ask the nurse manager for an interview anyways. The ED manager didn't even have a position open yet, I just asked for an interview and she made a spot for me. Stress that you're willing to work hard and you want to learn and they will want you. That way you'll already be that much further along in the orientation process when they offer you a job right out of nursing school! Good luck, hope you enjoy it and find what you're looking for!