Volunteer in ER

[JenMarie82]

Tonite is my first night volunteering in the ER. I'm a bit nervous since I'm not quite sure what to do. My main duties are to keep the ER and waiting room looking neat, run errands and general duties to help the staff, and greet and visit with patients. Any ER nurses have any advice on some of the more helpful things their volunteers have done or could do? Thanks!

[hrtprncss]

i think that's great of u to volunteer, but what r u doing it for, is it to help ur applications look better for nursing school? is it that competitive already?

[JenMarie82]

i think that's great of u to volunteer, but what r u doing it for, is it to help ur applications look better for nursing school? is it that competitive already?

Actually, the hospital I'm volunteering at has a student loan program that accumulates no interest if paid back within 18 months of graduation and then starts at that point with interest the same as other student loans.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Actually, the hospital I'm volunteering at has a student loan program that accumulates no interest if paid back within 18 months of graduation and then starts at that point with interest the same as other student loans.

Look for people who need simple things like a blanket. I know that it gets sooo busy sometimes that you don't have a chance to do the simple things. And if your ED is anything like mine, it's freezing cold in there.

[DusktilDawn]

I don't think you'll have a problem keeping busy JenMarie!!!

Let us know how it goes. Best of luck to you.

[missboo622]

Our volunteers in the ER are always busy! They not only get blankets for patients, coffee for family members, drink for patients (be careful, some pts are NPO!), stock linens, greet patients/families, etc. Our volunteers also put charts together for us. We have 4 pages of the ED chart that come packaged seperately. The volunteers are kind enough to put them in order, paperclip them together and either store them, or take them to triage. Our volunteers have also been known to help out "baby sitting" a sibling while mom goes to CT with her other child. Coloring books, crayons, stickers, popsicles. . . . .kids love that, and a lot of the time, RNs can't take the extra time to do those little things.

Just keep positive and good luck!

[JenMarie82]

Hey everyone, thanks for the messages. Everything went well during my volunteer shift, somewhat busy but nothing traumatic. The biggest thing we had come in was a man who had cut three of his fingers off just above the knuckle. All the nurses were really helpful and I did whatever I could to help them and the patients out. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad I decided to volunteer!