As a volunteer...

[WTTL]

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I have an internship where I have to pick a few departments to volunteer in. I am looking for departments with doctors who are (at least somewhat) friendly towards volunteers and actually available enough for you to communicate with. Shadowing would be great, and of course a good LOR would be even better. I am unsure what departments to choose, but here is the list:

Pediatrics
Acute Rehab
Advanced Telemetry
Radiology
Maternity
Perinatology
Labor + Delivery
ER
Cardiac Cath Lab
ICU

I can choose 4. Some SDN members I'm sure have done the internship before so please share. Thanks!

 

[the duck]

I have an internship where I have to pick a few departments to volunteer in. I am looking for departments with doctors who are (at least somewhat) friendly towards volunteers and actually available enough for you to communicate with. Shadowing would be great, and of course a good LOR would be even better. I am unsure what departments to choose, but here is the list:

Pediatrics
Acute Rehab
Advanced Telemetry
Radiology
Maternity
Perinatology
Labor + Delivery
ER
Cardiac Cath Lab
ICU

I can choose 4. Some SDN members I'm sure have done the internship before so please share. Thanks!

I've only volunteered in the ER, but I'd pick: ER, Cath lab, ICU, and labor and deliery ( if you actually get to watch child birth). Basically I'd go for the places with the most action. However, while this probably will mean you'll get to see more exciting things, it might very will mean the docs will be too busy to talk to you. I've find pediatrician are really friendly, but the docs in the ER are generally far too busy to say a word to me...

 

[Silverman780]

I have an internship where I have to pick a few departments to volunteer in. I am looking for departments with doctors who are (at least somewhat) friendly towards volunteers and actually available enough for you to communicate with. Shadowing would be great, and of course a good LOR would be even better. I am unsure what departments to choose, but here is the list:

Pediatrics
Acute Rehab
Advanced Telemetry
Radiology
Maternity
Perinatology
Labor + Delivery
ER
Cardiac Cath Lab
ICU

I can choose 4. Some SDN members I'm sure have done the internship before so please share. Thanks!

Peds-Do you love children and overbearing parents?
Acute Rehab-better then augly one
Telemetry-ZzzzzzZzzzzzZ
Radiology-Would be cool, yet idk what a volunteer would do there.
ER- Loads of fun.
Cardiac Cath Lab- cool
Labor and Delivery- You won't probably won't get to come in contact with any babies. Litigation is quite high and they like to minimize risks.
ICU- "Where the ER sends people to die"-motto from the ER I vollyed at.

 

[WTTL]

Thanks guys. If anyone has more info on these varying physicians and their accessibility I'd appreciate it

 

[Cruzerthebruzer]

Kind of off topic, but what do you guys do when you're volunteering?

All I do is fold pillowcases and clean rooms, and rarely they have me push a patient to the floor (maybe once every couple 4 hour sessions). The direct patient exposure is pretty limited and I don't have much contact with the ER doctors because they're always busy.

Is this how it is for everyone?

 

[deleted357625]

volunteering is not fun

 

[Buttermellow]

volunteering is not fun

This seems to be the consensus from most people. Has anyone had a good volunteer experience, with quite a bit of patient contact?

 

[JonnyL]

I'm currently volunteering in Radiology and I think it's fun.

I do a lot of transporting patients from/to the radiology department for their tests, wipe down machines and replace linen after each patient, paperwork, deliver paperwork to the doctor. but the fun part is observing tests like bone scans, thyroid scans, CT scans, etc.

I spend more time with the technicians and RNs more than the doctors, but I do the speak with the doctor from time to time.

There are very busy days and some days where I'm literally sitting there but it's great experience just to observe the things going on.

 

[Cruzerthebruzer]

Sounds similar to what I do. Just making sure I wasn't the only laundry man. Most times discharged ER patients need a wheel chair, I wheel them out to the lobby and talk with them until their car pulls up. Pushing patients on gurneys is definitely a highlight too. But it's mostly sitting around/cleaning/folding stuff.