Who has volunteered?

[__patiently_waiting]

Hey guys,

Today I submitted an application to the local hospital to volunteer for Fall 2013. To be honest, to me it felt like a mini nursing school application. I had to submit an application, statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation. If I am chosen for one of the volunteer positions I will be contacted two weeks into the semester. We also have to bring results of a TB test if we're chosen.

When any of you volunteered, did you have to submit all of that? Or was it simply going up there to tell them you want to volunteer & you started soon after?

ALSO, when you volunteered what tasks did you perform? Did they put you in a certain area or were you able to tell them which unit you wanted to volunteer on?

[dotoriffic]

I volunteer at a local hospital and yes, had to submit the application with the questionnaire and they ran a background check. I also had to have proof of immunizations, etc...It's a process but they explained to me that they have to be sure people really want it and aren't just looking for access to the hospital...some security issues. I have been assigned to the CTU and the ICU. I work every day of the week right now since school hasn't started. After school starts I will work when I can and they said they will work with my class schedule.

[__patiently_waiting]

By the way for those who volunteer how often did you go? I try to go at least once a week.

At the hospital I applied to it said a 4 hour block, once a week.

[nursingstudentsarah]

I volunteer at one of my local hospitals in the oncology unit! It was a long process but I wouldn't trade it for anything :) Good luck to you!

[cookiemonsterpower]

I volunteer at one of my local hospitals in the oncology unit! It was a long process but I wouldn't trade it for anything :) Good luck to you!

How often do you go??

[EaglesWings21, ASN, RN]

I just mailed off my volunteer application the other day. I had to write a 500 word essay on why I wanted to volunteer (which wasn't easy.. i ran out of stuff to say after 300 words). If i am invited for orientation, not only do i have to have two TB tests done, but proof of two MMR and two varicella. I don't have my vaccination records from when I was younger so i have to get them all done again. All within the next three weeks.

i wasn't able to put what dept i want to volunteer for, but from what i can understand, i tell them at orientation.

I wonder if they even read those. I had to submit two letters of recommendation but I seriously doubt they even read them.

[Herrington]

I'm hoping to start volunteer work next month at a local hospital. I've got a really extensive history as a patient with this hospital and I really like the doctors and nurses who were caring for me, and I'm hoping to give back and help out how I can...perhaps get a job there at some point as well for nursing school.

I find it somewhat curious how some of these hospitals require letters of recommendation and essays to get in. I just had to do an interview, then I've got a health screen and background check at the end of the month.

[DaisyRenee]

I volunteer at Children's hospital and I had to fill out an application, have two people fill out a provided recommendation form, have three other references to be contacted by phone, proof of immunizations, TB paperwork (no test though), and a background check then an interview and placement. I chose child life and go once a week for 4 hours or a little over.

[ambitiousBSN]

I haven't volunteered, but I do have previous experience. I'm hoping there will be opportunities to volunteer during my program though to gain some more experience.

[cookiemonsterpower]

I haven't volunteered but I do have previous experience. I'm hoping there will be opportunities to volunteer during my program though to gain some [i']more [/i]experience.

You should start as soon as possible before your program even starts. But as they say better late than never. Good luck!!!

[calinicumurse]

I've been volunteering at a local hospital for over a year now. 3 hours each week, only one day. My secondary job is to stock supplies, roll towels for meal time washing, etc. but my primary task is to ensure patient comfort. This can include getting refills on water, bringing a warm blanket, and simply just talking to patients about anything and everything!

[VampyrSlayer, CNA]

I had my interview with the director of volunteering last week. I had to do an application, background check, TBtest and I'm not just waiting for my ID badge to come back before I go meet with pediatrics to figure out a schedule. This is at the major (and very well know hospital in our area), but the interview was more like "where in the hospital do you want to work?" since my answer was 1. Pediatrics 2. Anywhere you need me, they asked if I had experience with children. I got sent to take my TBtest right after (before waiting for a couple of days for the results) and that night submitted my background check online. Everything went pretty quickly except now security is taking forever to send them my ID badge after I got my picture taken. We also had to agree to a flu shot when the season came. I've been doing that the passed 3 years anyway due to medical conditions and the fact I got the flu, swine flu, and stomach flu all in one season. Never again! :)

[VampyrSlayer, CNA]

Oops, forgot that before the interview I also needed 2 letter of recommendation forms filled out :) hoping to start soon!