Volunteering?

allnurses Guide · Mar 9, 2010

Congratulations on your good news!!

I was a volunteer a long time ago, and I am sure some things have changed, so I do hope you get some more replies---

What they trained us to do at the time, was taking care of flowers :) filling water pitchers, transporting patients in wheelchairs, and. . maybe feeding people. . .not positive on that one. We would go around and offer reading material to people, too.

Normally, a nonstudent volunteer would be doing exactly the same things as a nursing student volunteer would do, so that they won't let you assist with most nursing procedures. I've heard of some places that provide a sort of enhanced volunteer program for nursing students.

What you can do, is get a feel for hospital life, what nurses actually do, and make important friendship and contacts that may give you an edge once you graduate because they already know what kind of attitude and work habits you have.

Best of luck to you!! :)

Justanotherday · Mar 9, 2010

I go tonight for orientation to volunteer at my local hospital. I will be in the Emergency Room, because I was told that is where I will have the most patient contact. I will be there from 6-9 pm once a week. I am very excited/nervous. The program seems very well run, and they even offer free blood work/TB screening for the volunteers.

lil pixi · Mar 9, 2010

Congratulations on your good news!!
I was a volunteer a long time ago, and I am sure some things have changed, so I do hope you get some more replies---
What they trained us to do at the time, was taking care of flowers :) filling water pitchers, transporting patients in wheelchairs, and. . maybe feeding people. . .not positive on that one. We would go around and offer reading material to people, too.
Normally, a nonstudent volunteer would be doing exactly the same things as a nursing student volunteer would do, so that they won't let you assist with most nursing procedures. I've heard of some places that provide a sort of enhanced volunteer program for nursing students.
What you can do, is get a feel for hospital life, what nurses actually do, and make important friendship and contacts that may give you an edge once you graduate because they already know what kind of attitude and work habits you have.
Best of luck to you!! :)

All sounds good to me. However I can get that exposure & be of service to the health community.

Thank you for your response. :) I'm excited to see what it's like. I do love the hospital I'll be at.

Could anyone tell me what volunteers normally have to wear?

I go tonight for orientation to volunteer at my local hospital. I will be in the Emergency Room, because I was told that is where I will have the most patient contact. I will be there from 6-9 pm once a week. I am very excited/nervous. The program seems very well run, and they even offer free blood work/TB screening for the volunteers.

That sounds perfect. My dream volunteer job. lol

Good luck!! :) Don't be nervous. We're all here to support you afterwards & hear of your experience.

Poi Dog · Apr 6, 2010

I volunteer at a local hospital/skilled nursing facility.

I really enjoy it.

RNMeg · Apr 6, 2010

I volunteered at the local sliding-scale clinic before nursing school. I pretty much did office work, though - filing, organizing, helping with grant writing and followup. Because I'm not licensed they didn't let me do anything with the patients. I couldn't even talk to them :yawn: I didn't stay there long.

guiltysins · Apr 7, 2010

I'm trying to get a volunteer position over the summer. Keyword is try. I've put in applications and sent emails and I've gotten some that say they aren't looking for volunteers or because I didn't have a personal reference. Most of the hospitals around here allow some kind of "direct patient care", though I have no idea what they mean by that since I haven't done it but I know some let you do things such as interact with the pediatric patients and there is an emergency room type of thing that someone mentioned.

I just need to get myself one first lol.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2010

I haven't ever done any volunteer work. Only because I couldn't afford childcare to go volunteer. If you could take your kids I would be all for it.

I am a current nursing student. I have this summer off and I have extra time each week and now my oldest son is in a position where he can babysit and is all about earning money.

So I just signed up to Volunteer at Planned Parenthood and then today after touring our Pediatric Respite care center that runs only on Donations and mostly volunteers I am signing up to do that and signing my Teen son up as well. He is wonderful with children and I think the experience will be good for him and also humbling which he is really needing.

I am excited and can't wait, this center is so extraordinary and wonderful and I wish I knew about it sooner.