I am going for an interview at a nearby hospital for a volunteer position soon. Since I am a pre-nursing student (applying in June), I will be volunteering under a student program, which has more possibilities than simply just volunteering. The interview I'm going to will be before a panel. They will try to ascertain the best place for me to volunteer based on their needs, my hopes, etc. They also want me to come in with ideas of where I would like to volunteer (unit type, etc.), the contact I want with patients, etc.
So, for those of you with volunteers on your units, here are my questions:
1) One choice I have is volunteering at the nursing stations. Do you have volunteers at your stations and, if so, how helpful are they? What do they do?
2) Other choices are in the ER, rehab, cardiac unit, etc., more hands-on or more direct patient contact. Do you work in a unit such as these where volunteers are utilized in useful ways? What do your volunteers do specifically, as it pertains to patient contact?
While I love people and would love to have the ability to volunteer all the time, I specifically wanted to volunteer prior to clinicals in the fall - hoping, of course, that I am accepted into my program - so that I will be more comfortable with patient contact and not have it be my first time being near patients.
Anyhow, I thought some feedback would be great before I go for my interview, especially since I know nothing about any of the units, what is done, etc. Volunteering on the nursing stations must have some practical things that will help me if I go to nursing school, like watching how things are done, etc., but I wouldn't have any patient contact, which is really what I would like.
I appreciate any and all of your responses. Thanks much! :)
I am 'justavolunteer on a pt. unit. I usually get water for patients, fetch supplies, IV pumps, etc for the nurses. I have also helped turn pts to help with an exam, cleanup, etc. A lot of volunteers wouldn't want to see patients with wounds, poop, etc. I have helped because I've been around for awhile. Sometimes the biggest part is convincing a nurse that I won't faint at the sight of blood and give her another problem to deal with.
If you want to really do direct care, you may have to be a CNA. The volunteering does let you see life on a pt. unit though.
Some hospitals hire nursing students for CNA-type duties if they have passed a certain point in their clinicals.
Anyway, good luck with your studies!
Thanks for all the info! If I get accepted into nursing, I'm hoping maybe I can get a job at the hospital as a patient care aid or CNA-type, which I've read sometimes can happen after the first quarter, although I think being in the hospital is great for learning itself. I'm okay if I can't do it all, like a CNA say, but I would definitely like to interact with patients, so what you do sounds good, as well as the other descriptions. I mostly would hate to go into clinicals with no experience/interaction whatsoever. I would think that would only add to the stress of first clinicals. This will all help in my discussions during my interview. Again, thanks for all the info! :)
Okay, that's it, I want to be a baby cuddler! :) I'm not sure if this hospital does or not (in MI), but I will ask. I would even go do that for an hour after I finish my regular volunteer time. Thanks for the info!
Okay, that's it, I want to be a baby cuddler! :) I'm not sure if this hospital does or not (in MI), but I will ask. I would even go do that for an hour after I finish my regular volunteer time. Thanks for the info!
I did a clinical rotation through the NICU and got to hold and feed several babies. I kept thinking, "It's hard to call this part work."
Baby cuddlers play a really important role... the research is clear about the benefits of human contact on the little ones and, sadly, not all of the parents choose to come hold them all that often.
I did a clinical rotation through the NICU and got to hold and feed several babies. I kept thinking, "It's hard to call this part work."
Baby cuddlers play a really important role... the research is clear about the benefits of human contact on the little ones and, sadly, not all of the parents choose to come hold them all that often.
From my discussions here, I really think I will ask about peds or NICU or in those areas. I, sadly, never got to hold or have my own babies (though I've had many, many in my life :), so maybe that is why I'm a bit hesitant about nursing with children, with being afraid that I'll hurt them and such, but I think volunteer work would really allow me to figure that out. I've never heard of baby cuddlers in volunteering before, but I have seen some of the research about its value. I would really love to do this and am definitely going to ask at my interview. Thanks!
The only patient contact you will or should get as a volunteer will be verbal. Even then you need to have big boundaries because if they ask you a question (about their condition, admission, discharge or similar), even if you know the answer, you should not answer it.
Also, some ERs have student volunteers with the idea that these students will get to observe some stuff (intubations, suturing or whatever). My observation is that the volunteers rarely get to see anything because they are so busy doing their volunteer job.
What I will say about volunteering is it can give you access to people with whom you can discuss nursing and ask questions. Also, it can help give you a leg up when you go to actually get a nursing job (if you stick with the volunteering throughout your student days and make an excellent impression).
If you are decided on nursing I think you might be best served by working as a CNA rather than volunteering. That would probably increase your comfort level before you start clinicals.
I was lucky when it came to observing actual medical procedures because I knew a few physicians who let me shadow them. Interesting that I do not know if nurses can have people shadow them -- I have never thought about it.
The only patient contact you will or should get as a volunteer will be verbal. Even then you need to have big boundaries because if they ask you a question (about their condition, admission, discharge or similar), even if you know the answer, you should not answer it.
Also, some ERs have student volunteers with the idea that these students will get to observe some stuff (intubations, suturing or whatever). My observation is that the volunteers rarely get to see anything because they are so busy doing their volunteer job.
What I will say about volunteering is it can give you access to people with whom you can discuss nursing and ask questions. Also, it can help give you a leg up when you go to actually get a nursing job (if you stick with the volunteering throughout your student days and make an excellent impression).
If you are decided on nursing I think you might be best served by working as a CNA rather than volunteering. That would probably increase your comfort level before you start clinicals.
I was lucky when it came to observing actual medical procedures because I knew a few physicians who let me shadow them. Interesting that I do not know if nurses can have people shadow them -- I have never thought about it.
Thanks for the info! No direct patient contact is okay, but I think just the interacting with patients, even if just about books and such, would be great. No, no...I would always direct patients to discuss questions with their nurses/docs. I'm really not sure ER would be my thing anyways. I understand some people thrive on the busyness part and challenges, but I'm okay to experience that at a less hectic pace than the ER...lol
Being able to observe somewhat, ask questions, interact, and network will be great overall. I'm just finishing up pre-req classes over the next 3 weeks and then will be working on my application package and taking HESI. If accepted, which I'll find out the second week of July, I'll be starting in Sept, so really no time for a CNA class, nor do I have the money for it. I'm just finishing out my second full-time (almost the whole time) year of school. I know that would give me the best experience, but just not an option. If nothing else, volunteering will give me some familiarity with how a hospital works and nursing stations work and some interaction with patients, etc. That alone should help with clinicals. The volunteer work? Well, I'll enjoy that regardless what I do, but I'll still learn I'm sure. Thanks again for the info and advice! :)
I am 'justavolunteer on a pt. unit. I usually get water for patients, fetch supplies, IV pumps, etc for the nurses. I have also helped turn pts to help with an exam, cleanup, etc. A lot of volunteers wouldn't want to see patients with wounds, poop, etc. I have helped because I've been around for awhile. Sometimes the biggest part is convincing a nurse that I won't faint at the sight of blood and give her another problem to deal with.
If you want to really do direct care, you may have to be a CNA. The volunteering does let you see life on a pt. unit though.
Some hospitals hire nursing students for CNA-type duties if they have passed a certain point in their clinicals.
Anyway, good luck with your studies!
I don't wish to seriously offend you. I am sure you are very capable but I cannot imagine that you should be turning patients for exams and such. Even if it were technically OK...which sounds like madness to me, do the patients know that you are a volunteer when you "assist"? Our volunteers are not even allowed to assist staff with a two person transfer (say into a wheelchair).
Does your volunteer office know that you are doing this and does the DON know that you are doing this?
ccjus123
169 Posts
No direct patient contact
In NYC this hospital has a "cuddler program", where you get to hold babies.
I guess every facility is different.
http://www.nym.org/Community%20Outreach/Volunteer%20Opportunities/Cuddler%20Volunteer.asp