volunteer situation

[shannontoo]

I've started volunteering in a hospital in my town and want some advice on how to handle a situation. So I get on the floor and go straight to the charge nurse who then assigns me to whoever she thinks wont mind me following them around. I've gotten to know a lot of the nurses and have found some to be way more helpful than others. A few times now, the nurse I'm assigned to isn't really answering my questions or explaining things to me- I just sit next to them feeling really awkward while they chart. Now that I've gotten to know the other nurses, I'll just shadow whoever I know is good and doesnt mind me being around while still checking in with my assigned nurse throughout the shift to see if they need anything. It hasn't really been a problem, so I'm thinking about next week just requesting someone that I know will be worth shadowing. What do you think? I'm only volunteering to learn and gain experience so I don't really think I''l be stepping on any toes. Thank you!

[pinkiepie_RN]

Are you volunteering or are you shadowing, or some combination of both? It sounds like you aren't sure and perhaps some of the nurses that work with you aren't sure either.

[shannontoo]

I'm a volunteer.

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

Really? When I volunteered on a floor I did gruntwork: I filled water pitchers, carried full/overfull laundry bags to the laundry chute (though it was fun tossing things down seven stories), restocked supply cabinets, helped patients eat, and filled the charts with blank forms for the docs to scribble over. What you're doing sounds like shadowing.