volunteering at a hospital: would it give me a good idea of a nurse's enviorment?

DoGoodThenGo · Aug 7, 2009

When I was a teenager, became a "Candy Striper" one summer and loved it so much when one was old enough was hired into the nursing assistant training program. Subsequently worked as a NA through my last two years of high school, and first few years of college which included pre-nursing and one year into nursing program.

All one can say is "yes" it gave me great insight into what nurses did, and what went on inside hospitals. However this was twenty years ago so things may have changed. As a CP I was taught to make beds (three types, which one can not only still name today, but do quite quickly and perfectly may one add), and some minor NA stuff, but mainly spent my shifts fetching ice water, running errands that involved going off the floors, transporting patients, assisting NAs and nurses with shifting patients and so forth. Got to work on Peds (joy of joys), where one changed diapers (cloth with safety pins), fed, cleaned and generally helped look after wee children and infants (joy of joys).

In short I would advise you to speak to your local hospital's volunteer office and see what is on offer, and what if any patient care you might be involved with, if you be on the floors at all. Have friends who do volunteer work (mainly retired persons), and they do not work on the floors, but in places such as gift shop, information, and transporting goods back and froth to the floors/units. In short they have little or no idea what goes on aside from what nurses and other staff tell them.

If you REALLY want to see what nurses do, then advise you to look into becoming a NA or CNA. This way you not only will be on the floors, but will be working in patient care, with all the back breaking work it entails! *LOL*

Jahna · Aug 7, 2009

It's a great idea to volunteer at the hospital. You will see so much, not just from the nursing perspective, but all the other departments as well. At the hospital where I work, there is a "Volunteen" program in addition to the regular volunteer opportunities. The Volunteen program is mostly for high school students and offers you the opportunity to shadow a nurse and see what her days are like. I say go for it and good luck.

beachmom · Aug 7, 2009

You should find out first what the volunteers do.

At my hospital they sit by the front door and direct people to patients rooms. They help in the gift shop. They pass out newspapers. The only patient contact they have is wheeling them out of the hospital when discharged, and they have little to no contact with nurses. A volunteer there might have a great time but would never find out what it is like being a nurse.

nkara, CNA · Aug 7, 2009

I don't know if volunteering would really give you the input on what a nurse does. You won't have patient care to do or watch. I think becoming a CNA or NSA would give you a better perspective on exactly what a nurse goes through. Also working 12 hours isn't the only schedule. But for the most part the nurses who do that work 3 12 hour shifts and they get used to it. Good luck in your decision!

Cindy-san · Aug 7, 2009

I volunteered in an ER.

In terms of work, it was mostly talking to pts, handing out food trays, getting supplies and playing unit clerk.

I terms of career decisions, I had plenty of opportunities to talk with the staff about their jobs and see them all in action. It's where I decided to be a nurse. :nurse:

Hopefull nurse · Aug 7, 2009

:nurse:Hi!

I will begin volunteering at one of my local hospitals AND at Childrens Hospital. I am applying to Nursing School next month. I am so excited to volunteer! I believe it will give me great insight. I may not work directly with the patient (bed side care I think they call it), but like someone else posted, I will have the opportunity to observe the nurses and see them in action. Sort of get the feel for their day to day responsibilities and levels of stress. I plan on asking as many questions as they will allow me.

My dream is to get accepted to Nursing School, finish and acquire a job at Childrens Hospital. My child was admitted last year at 5 weeks of age and I loved how they cared for her and the environment. They are the best nurses and Dr.s I have come across. I go to my interivew with the Volunteer coordinator Monday. I can't wait to start!

By all means, go for it. Even if you do decide against Nursing, it is a personal fullfillment to freely help others out of the kindness of your heart. :redbeathe

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Aug 7, 2009

I was an ER volunteer. Mostly, I escorted visitors, handed out magazines, stocked the galley, and cleaned stretchers. I talked to a lot of PCAs and front desk staff, but not many nurses. My final clinical was on a unit at the same hospital. It was a totally different experience.

RNperdiem, RN · Aug 7, 2009

There often is a lot more going on inside a nurses' head than simple observation would show.

Observation will show you the tasks, and the tasks might look routine. The decision making, the prioritizing, the seeing potential problems ahead are not visible.

I have volunteered, and found volunteering useful in making personal contacts with people in the hospital and finding out how hospitals work.

If you could land a job as a CNA doing direct patient care, you would get a closer look at the work of nurses.

justavolunteer · Aug 7, 2009

I am 'justavolunteer' on a patient unit. That is a good place to at least be around the nurses. You won't get to do direct care, but it would at least give you an idea if you can stand hospitals.

Some hospitals restrict volunteers to the front desk, gift shop, etc. If you volunteer there, you may never see a nurse or pt., let alone the care environment.

RestlessMom · Aug 7, 2009

I am just getting ready to start volunteering at my local hospital. I will be working in the pediatric unit and I am so excited! I just got my clearance from Employee Health yesterday, get my badge and uniform on Monday and one last orientation for the dept on Thursday, then I'm ready to go! I will basically get to play with the children for four hours a week to try to give them a sense of normalcy while they are in the hospital.

I am in school right now working on my pre-reqs and thought volunteering would be a good way to get some exposure to what goes on during a shift. For me though, it's more to see if I can emotionally handle it. I'm not too concerned about the long hours and being on my feet (bartender and server for years...in my younger days...) but am I going to go home every night and cry myself to sleep? Thankfully, my hospital allows us to volunteer in that unit. It didn't occur to me that some hospitals wouldn't allow volunteers that kind of patient contact. And like RN Hopefull said, if nothing else you'll get a sense of fulfillment from doing something wonderful...

work&play · Aug 7, 2009

I once volunteer at a clinic. Since I was going trough the medical assistant training, they allowed me to take blood pressures, pulse, weight of patients.

Two weeks after, their assistant was hurt in an automobile accident. They then move me in to assist the gynocologist on the exam room.

I was then incharge of bringing speculae, drapes and slides in the examroom. I would prapared the patients, have the light source directed to the pelvic area, have lubrication ready for the doctor and the speculum. Then...a slide ready for the culture.

If we noticed a smell, I would prepare a wet mount on a microscope and focus the microscope to where I saw abnormal cells for the doctor to see. That was an exciting volunteer opportunity.

Do a CNA course then you might want to volunteer a week or two. The you'll probaby get a job.