Volunteer work at hospital?

[WannabeNurse(:]

Not old enough to be a CNA but want to do something related to nursing so I can see if it's really for me, get to see what it's like, etc. I know I can't do a lot patient related but what do volunteers do? Also, do you know the volunteer age at your hospital? I know they all vary but I'm assuming there's a general age range.

Thank you!

~WannabeNurse(:

[meggo]

I did a quick google search and found 14-18 listed depending on the hospital. Many hospitals will have the number listed for volunteer services on their website. You should consider calling the hospitals near you to find out their specific policies and services. If you are not old enough to work in a hospital but what to know what nursing is like consider shadowing some nurses in specialties that interest you. Try calling your hospitals human resources department to do this. Good luck

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Some nursing schools also have "nurse camp" for middle and/or high school students over the summer. Look into your local community colleges to see if something like this takes place near you.

[stephanie262]

how old are you? I was a Cna when I was 16

[jammin246RN]

Volunteers can do many things such as wheeling patients to tests and answering phones. Usually they don't get too involved in the nitty gritty of patient care though. I know of quite a few people who took their CNA during highschool and worked as a CNA thru college.

[justavolunteer]

I am 'justavolunteer' on a patient unit. I can pass out water if pts. can have it, run errands for staff etc. I also wheel out patients who are discharged, occasionally somewhere for tests, etc. I restock gloves in rooms & other supplies on the unit. I can fetch IV pumps, feeding pumps, etc., from supply area as needed. I occasionally answer the phone if it's ringing & no one is at the desk.

I have sometimes helped turn patients, assists staff with patient cleanup, etc. That's stuff a lot of volunteers don't want to be near. I have shown that I won't faint & the staff is grateful for the help. I don't do a whole lot of direct care, but I find enough to keep busy.

Volunteering will at least let you find out if you will faint at the sight of blood or some of the other things on a patient unit. Good luck!

[caregiver1977]

When I volunteered I worked in the medical records office. I was about 18. I could have worked with patients, but I didn't know if my nerves could handle it (at the time).