Volunteering at a Hospital- help!

dancinonwater

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I am very excited to be able to volunteer at my local hospital in the next few months. It was difficult to get the gig, I phoned and emailed the volunteer coordinator multiple times and was not gotten back to, so finally I spoke to a friend on the nursing staff who went over the head of the volunteer coordinator who apparently isn't doing her job properly to a superior who said that, although they don't usually take high schoolers during the school year, they will make an exception. All in all, it's very complicated.

About me: I am a high school student who is very committed to medicine. My brother has been in and out of hospitals my whole life, so I know how it works. I'm currently taking pre-medical college courses in a special program at my high school.

Anyway, because this is not a very common practice at this hospital, I have no idea what to expect. Will I only be doing clerical work, or will I be able to interact with patients or even spend some time shadowing doctors? That is what I would really enjoy, but this was my only way into the hospital environment. What can I expect to be doing? And how can I ask to do more and observe more? I am most interested in observing in the surgical unit and the obstetrics unit.

What should I wear? I will of course begin with business casual, but what are the chances that they would ask me to wear scrubs? Should I bring my own in case they do not provide them? Are sneakers acceptable?
This is in no way a large hospital with a fancy trauma center or anything, but they do perform surgeries and deliver lots of babies :p

What should I bring? Will I have a place to put a bag of my things? Will I need a notebook?

Overall, any information on what to expect would be greatly appreciated, thank you so much!

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You probably should ask the volunteer coordinator since these are sincere questions.

If they didn't tell you what to wear, it's probably not a big deal (I doubt anyone will look down at your sneakers).

I don't think you should bring anything... Just imagine you scribbling stuff all the time as if you're in a lecture.
Idk, I think it's best to absorb and react to all the things that are happening right then and there.
 
Normally I would ask the volunteer coordinator right away, but I am reluctant because she has been so unreliable and unresponsive to my questions and requests and only is allowing me to do this because her superior is making her. Normally I'd hope she'd be a point person to direct my questions to and to help me make the most out of this program, but I'm not sure how helpful she is going to be, so I'm trying to figure out what I can do on my own.
 
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If they do let you interact with patients or shadow physicians, you should dress somewhat professionally, at least button up shirt/tie and slacks, no jeans, no sneakers.
 
I really wouldn't be comfortable wearing a shirt and tie considering I'm a woman, haha
 
Oh, well then skirt suit/suit pants + flats or heels. No sneakers.
 
I really wouldn't be comfortable wearing a shirt and tie considering I'm a woman, haha

Whenever I shadow, I wear flats. They're comfortable, and professional. Also, I bring a small bag. Not like a backpack. But be able to bring a notebook/pen, because if you do shadow, you'll want to take notes. At least I do. Also, thank you notes go a long way. Good luck :)
 
Not trying to sound mean but you take notes when shadowing? What exactly do you write down?
 
Not trying to sound mean but you take notes when shadowing? What exactly do you write down?

Not in the room. Only while the doc is doing his own paper work. Categories: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, comments. It all started because I was going to apply for PA school. So they needed all those records because there were required hours. It also had to be signed by the attending physician. But when I shadowed, docs would tell me helpful things that I would want to remember.
 
What you should wear will depend greatly on where you will be volunteering in the hospital and what they will be having you do.

If you will be going around restocking, bringing patients water, stuff like that, and working on the wards, then slacks / long skirt, and button up shirt are appropriate. If you are going to be escorting patients around to different areas of the hospital, the above also applies. If you are going to be working in the ED, then scrubs are acceptable (if the hospital provides them), but the default should always be professional attire.

Most volunteers in a hospital are not going to have significant patient interaction, especially during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Volunteering is different than shadowing. It is the easiest way to get your foot in the door in a hospital, so its where most people start. But you aren't going to learn a lot of medicine from volunteering.

What is does do is give you exposure to how a hospital runs, and after a time you can find out which doctors like to teach and don't mind having someone follow them around. You can then approach those doctors and ask if they would be willing to have you shadow them.
 
My High school aged daughter just started volunteering at a hospital. She had to get a guideance counselor recommendation, fill out forms, fill out medical forms and get a blood test done. Then she went through an orientation session and finally she had an interview where she got to express interest in what she wanted to do. She wanted to work with the ER so she sits at the front desk and helps people with wheelchairs, brings visitors back, gets labs, etc. Another job was something more like asking people on the floor what they needed help with, filling water pitchers...a less structured role.
The coordinator should have a list of available volunteer positions. I am sure you could let them know what types of things you like to do (interact with patients, not interact with patients, go all over the hospital, stay close in one area) they will help you find something you like.

She was told what to wear...either white shirt/white pants with a candystriper smock or you can get a hospital polo shirt and wear it with khakis. They want you to be recognizable as to your role and not look like trained staff.

She keeps her bag by the nurses desk in the ER where she sits. You wouldn't need a notebook for volunteering.

As a high school student I doubt that you would be shadowing doctors right away. Perhaps if you made some personal connections after while you could if they even do that with high school students.

Really if you get a volunteering position the volunteer coordinator should handle all of this.
 
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