Volunteer in the ER

[guest042302019, BSN, RN]

About a 4 months ago, I went on my local hospital's website, and filled out an application for volunteering. I've always wanted to volunteer, and this seemed an easy way as apposed to joining the peace corps, or americorps. Also this would provide excellent experience, among many other benefits. 2 months after I filled out the application, I received a call to come in for an interview. Needless to say, I was "hired", and went to a rather boring 4 hour orientation. But, everyone has to go through one, even employees, so it's a must. My job as a volunteer is a PRN. For those of you who don't know, PRN stands for "pro re nata," which I believe is latin for "as needed." So I'm an "as needed." lol My job consists of sitting in a room, and waiting for the dispatcher to get a call, and go throughout the hospital and do various tasks, such as deliver blood, deliver specimens, discharge patients, deliver mail, newspapers, or flowers, or deliver food trays. I enjoy what I do, but more importantly, I heard in the orientation that sometimes people are allowed to volunteer in the E.R. This strongly appealed to me, so after a few weeks of doing my PRN job, I asked the coordinator about it. The conversation was similar to as follows:

"So I heard that some people are allowed to volunteer in the E.R."

"Yep, typically the spots are reserved for medical students."

"Oh really, well I'm planning to be a nurse, How would I go about signing up for this job?"

"Well, you can do it anytime, when are you available?"

"Umm, tomorrow?"

"Alrighty, we'll get you signed up, and I'll send an email to the charge nurse."

So the next night, I was in the ER. I've been in the ER for roughly a month and half. Currently, I'm at the back end of my spring break, and I increased my volunteer time, from 1 to 5 days this particular week, due to my large amount of extra time. I'm here to encourage anyone, especially people going into nursing, to try to get a volunteer position in the hospital, and if you are lucky enough, in the ER. At first, I felt that I was going to be in the way, but as I gained courage, I've actually been thanked numerous times for my help down there.

My responsibilities are few, but handy such as:

Clean rooms

Make beds

Stock supply cabinets, and linens

Discharge patients

Inquire about "call lights"

Talk to family, if needed

Adjust patients bed, if uncomfortable

Sometimes help with ECGs

Empty trash and full linen bags

Help organize the ER secretary's papers, mainly alphabetize

And pretty much any other task that the staff if comfortable with me doing

I can't tell you how incredible my experiences have been. But the most important thing that I could've done to make my experience more worthwhile, is ask a very simple question. "Can I help you in anyway?" You are probably like Duh! Well, at first this didn't occur to me. But after a few weeks down there, I decided to read other people's experiences in the ER. The most common reoccuring theme was, "Don't be timid, put yourself out there, and ask if anyone needed your help." At first this thought occured to me, why would these trained medical professionals need my help? Sounded slightly absurd. But, I decided one night to try this idea, and by asking my simple question, I was involved in sooo much more. I was in the rooms more. I had more patient contact. I was able to be in the room when people were delivered by the paramedics, when the doctors and nurses were placing the various vital lines on the person. Due to my simple question, I have grown a friendship with nearly 30 people, and above all, they are willing to show me how to do some things. They appreciate my willingness to do the "crappy" jobs, and in return, they talk to me about various patient ailments, ofcourse when they have time to talk.

So why is this volunteering important? Besides getting that intrinsic feeling of helping others, to nursing students, this is priceless knowledge. For instance, when a nursing student needs to go through clinicals, they have to not only learn, and implament their skills taught in school, but also, be comfortable around patients. The comfortability is vital to one self, and you would be able to be of sound mind, when going through clinicals. I have seen some pretty interesting situations in my brief time in the ER, but what I can tell you is that I am very comfortable around people that are in the ER, which is something that you can't really teach, or buy. I wasn't comfortable at first, but my willingness to help has allowed me to be. Also the nurses and doctors notice your willingness to help. I have ended my shift with several thank yous, even from doctors. Even nurses have told me, if a job opens up down there, they would gladly help me get it.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL! The work that I do is time consuming, and I'm usually busy the entire time I am there. So even if I don't get to talk to patients, I understand. Because the more I do, the more the nurses are able to spend with their patients. So you see, I am indirectly affecting every single person that comes into the ER, both the medical staff, and the patients. For this, I am honored to due so.

So I strongly urge you to try to find a volunteer position in the hospital. And if you hear you can be in the ER, DO IT!! There are so many benefits for you and your career, and you are helping patients, and the medical staff. Currently, I have 2 volunteer jobs. I work as the PRN on friday mornings, and in the ER on saturday nights. Totalling 8 hours a week. I have the ability and schedule to do so, but some of you may not be able to. If you have a few hours a week or even a month, why not sacrifice your time for the "greater good."

-Andrew

[blessed_2Bhere]

This is good advice, Andrew.

Matter of fact I am going to see if my nearby hospital ER has that volunteer position.

Thanks!

:)

[Justanotherday]

Thank you, Andrew! That is just the kind of post I have been wanting to read on here. I will be volunteering in the ER beginning next month. I am very excited and nervous to start. They did blood work on me and it turns out I am not immune to measles, so they will give me that shot (free!). They also did a TB test and began the Hepatitis B series on me (also free).

Our ER has a pediatric wing in its future which I am ecstatic about! When it opens I want to switch from the ER to the Peds ER, with the very high hopes of working in that department some day.

[Maymie]

Thanks for that great info!

I am in the process of becoming a volunteer at my local hospital as we speak. I should be cleared of my background check by next week sometime. I have expressed an interest in volunteering in the ER to the volunteer coordinator, as that is what I want to do when I become a nurse, but she said it can be pretty tough to get in because most people want the ER. She suggested to me that maybe I'd like the ICU.

Would the ICU be as beneficial as the ER? I want to put myself in a place where I will be able to see, and hopefully help in, all of what an RN does. I want to get the most out of this experience.

-Amy

[guest042302019, BSN, RN]

Thanks for that great info!

I am in the process of becoming a volunteer at my local hospital as we speak. I should be cleared of my background check by next week sometime. I have expressed an interest in volunteering in the ER to the volunteer coordinator, as that is what I want to do when I become a nurse, but she said it can be pretty tough to get in because most people want the ER. She suggested to me that maybe I'd like the ICU.

Would the ICU be as beneficial as the ER? I want to put myself in a place where I will be able to see, and hopefully help in, all of what an RN does. I want to get the most out of this experience.

-Amy

I think no matter where you volunteer, you'll learn. Not that I would know, because I'm not a nurse yet is, maybe the ER would give you alittle more "variety" of situations, so you may learn a bit more. Plus from what I understand, and from my brief visits to the ICU transporting patients, or blood, the ICU is a very, very delicate place. I think even more so than the ER, as far as the patients there are extremely sensitive, and need to be watched, and tended to all the time. The ER is of the same sort, but judging by the people I've encountered in both the ER and the ICU, I think the ER staff is alittle more laid back, and forgiving if you make a mistake.

[guest042302019, BSN, RN]

Thank you, Andrew! That is just the kind of post I have been wanting to read on here. I will be volunteering in the ER beginning next month. I am very excited and nervous to start. They did blood work on me and it turns out I am not immune to measles, so they will give me that shot (free!). They also did a TB test and began the Hepatitis B series on me (also free).

Our ER has a pediatric wing in its future which I am ecstatic about! When it opens I want to switch from the ER to the Peds ER, with the very high hopes of working in that department some day.

That must be exciting. I prefer adults, actually for the silliest things. I'm not a big fan of babies crying. It's not their pain that bothers me, just the young kids and babies crying that does. Even before the ER job, it has. I don't what it is, but I can take it when they come but an ER strictly based for Peds would not be somewhere you would catch me willingly. lol Don't get me wrong, I like kids, just not their screaming, hollering, bellowing, crys for mommy, daddy, blanky, or w/e. So I salute you for your willingness to help those children.