Volunteering In Hospital?

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 6, 2005

Welcome to the family of allnurses. Volunteering is a great thing, if you can fit into your schedule. Good luck to you. :)

grentea · Aug 6, 2005

Any experience you can get is wonderful. I volunteered as a CNA in a part-time Americorps program at a nursing home. It was some great experience before I started nursing school plus I had the time to do things that I can't really do now like activities with residents. I had some friends in school that volunteered with my university's EMS. That had fun and saw a lot of interesting things. Go for it if you have the time.

luv2yoga · Aug 6, 2005

I volunteered for 9 months in the ER and it was a mixed bag. I had great days when the CNA's and nurses would involve me and let me watch, and I had other days where they just treated me like a nuisance. I tried to always make it clear that I was there because I WANTED to be, I found out early into it that some of volunteers in ER's are there doing court-mandated public service for DUI. (I guess judges figure that's a good place for them to see the results of drinking.) I only volunteered on Saturdays and it's such a large, busy ER that many times I would not recognize anyone there from week to week.

Because of HIPAA (or so the hospital told me during orientation), there are many things that they wouldn't let me do. There was a big difference between this time and some volunteering I did in the same ER in 1989. They let me do a lot back then - take patient vitals and check patients in, can't do that any more.

What the experience did for me was answer the question, am I really sure I know what this kind of work will be like? I got enough of a flavor to say yes to that.

bel613 · Aug 7, 2005

I volunteered for 9 months in the ER and it was a mixed bag. I had great days when the CNA's and nurses would involve me and let me watch, and I had other days where they just treated me like a nuisance. I tried to always make it clear that I was there because I WANTED to be, I found out early into it that some of volunteers in ER's are there doing court-mandated public service for DUI. (I guess judges figure that's a good place for them to see the results of drinking.) I only volunteered on Saturdays and it's such a large, busy ER that many times I would not recognize anyone there from week to week.
Because of HIPAA (or so the hospital told me during orientation), there are many things that they wouldn't let me do. There was a big difference between this time and some volunteering I did in the same ER in 1989. They let me do a lot back then - take patient vitals and check patients in, can't do that any more.
What the experience did for me was answer the question, am I really sure I know what this kind of work will be like? I got enough of a flavor to say yes to that.

I really appreciate you sharing your experiences. I think volunteering is probebly a great way to, as you say, answer the question about the type of work you would be doing as a nurse, and thats exactly what I need. Thank you!!!!

veggiegarden · Aug 8, 2005

Go for it!

Billiegirl · Aug 9, 2005

I loved my volunteer experience (Most of it). It got my foot in the door, and I got a wonderful ER job because of it. You may have to put up with a lot of crud from the staff at first, but if your serious and great at what you do then...

If you have the time, I'd say go for it. I learned how to deal with families, irate patients, drug seekers, paperwork, and a whole mess of things as a volunteer. It has really helped. :rolleyes:

Check with your hospital see what the volunteers do in each unit. If you really get a great staff they will help with your future. Plus going to the helipad and helping with an amputation is pretty cool. :)

Billie