Advise about hospital volunteering?

Question

I came from my orientation at a hospital. I am sooo excited about volunteering and helping people out! I want to become a medical doctor obviously... Is there any advise or tips you can give to a person who is probably going to volunteer at the ER in a hospital? What do people usually do there? I learned a lot from the orientation but I just want some advise from people who actually volunteered. Thanks!

Answer 1

you will have some patients that no matter what you do you can not please. When patients are sick or their families are worried, they may take things out on you just because you are there. Don't take it personally. Don't let the patients or family see you get upset. Excuse yourself and get your composure and then go back to business. Every volunteer, nurse, student, at one time or another has had to do that.  Patients will want you to do things you are not able to do like get them medication or whatever...they don't care if you are volunteering or staff. they are in pain..they want help NOW.. they will make you feel guilty for not helping them. they may curse at you. Yell at you..say things to you that you will just want to leave and never come back.  Share your concerns with staff on duty...let them take the pressure. ER in particular is VERY busy, very stressful, you may have 4 patients and you may have 60 patients.  Family is just as important as the patients and so are their needs.

As far as what you do..that will vary with age of patient, condition of patient, etc. You may play with kids or deliver magazines or help make the beds or even as simple as holding a scared person's hand.. Volunteers are very important. you have to learn when to step in and when the situation is too much for you, when to step out and give it to someone else. GL

Answer 2

well there are certain rules (as usual) that you will have to follow concerning privacy of patients and other people that you will more likely not even know... there are different areas that you can station at in the hospital (such as: N.I.C.U., ChildLife, information desk, recovery room, surgical waiting room, etc...you get the point). Each station area kind of has certain different requirements to follow under the main rules. it might seem a bit scary at first when you do start volunteering for the first time, but its not that bad.

Usually ther is going to be someone who is going to be training you on the first day and so it shouldn't be that bad to begin with on or maybe after that first day of volunteering.

its good that you are thinking about volunteering because its going to look nice on your rezumA and your going to find out what you do/don't like in the medical field. so this volunteering opportunity thing should help you somewhere in the future somehow.

.....even if a volunteer like me isn't planning on going into the medical field but enjoying this while putting it towards school hours {for a magnet program}. its also a great way to make friends in the meantime.

i hope i was of some help to you & good luck & have fun {but don't get in trouble though or its not going to turn out to be as exciting in some form or way}.