Best time of day for ER volunteering?

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I'm going to start volunteering in the Emergency Department at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, and I can choose which 4 hour shift I want (they run from 7AM to 3AM). Do you think I'll get to see more interesting cases later at night, or is there no real correlation?

 

[slagathor19]

I work in a pediatric ER and we start getting busy around 6pm! There's usually not much happening in the mornings/midday (where I work at least).

 

[Hirro]

Honestly, depends on the area, the hospital, and the time of the year. Why don't you ask the people there about this?

 

[Catalystik]

I'm going to start volunteering in the Emergency Department at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, and I can choose which 4 hour shift I want (they run from 7AM to 3AM). Do you think I'll get to see more interesting cases later at night, or is there no real correlation?

Evenings or weekends.

 

[WIMNFamilyMed]

I work in a pediatric ER and we start getting busy around 6pm! There's usually not much happening in the mornings/midday (where I work at least).

This kind of makes sense, people come to the ER after other clinics including regular ones or 'urgent care' may be closed. In your case, it may be when mom/dad gets home from work and sees how sick the child really is.

 

[Terry Toma]

Probably varies quite a bit from one ED to another, but evenings are probably your best bet. At my ED, mornings are mind-numbingly boring, and any time after 11pm or so Mon-Thurs tends to be pretty slow as well. Afternoons are hit-and-miss and can be anywhere from slow to crazy busy seemingly at random. From 5pm-11pm seems to be about the only timeframe that is reliably busy.

 

[aymar]

I volunteered Sunday nights at 9pm in a Peds ED in undergrad at a Level I trauma center. It was hit or miss, but for the most part we were busy. Saw a lot of orthopedic stuff (kids getting hurt playing over the weekend)

 

[Deleted member 737595]

Evenings. I volunteer 5 PM to 9 PM on a Wednesday and I get to see almost everything. Just last week, there were two MedFlights that came in during my shift. Wow! Also, I got to see a REAL emergency; this guy came in, almost couldn't breath and was huffing and puffing, was having a severe allergic reaction coupled with severe asthma. Great stuff, but you need to volunteer long enough to get the cool/interesting cases.

And its not just the cases. Depending on where you are, volunteers can get away with helping patients with other mundane stuff. Today I helped a woman use a telephone, helped a guy get his jacket on and walk him around, ran to get patient charts et cetera. There's lots to do, but only if you actually seek it out. Otherwise, people are too busy to deal with a clueless volunteer.

 

[AllBleedingStops]

For peds? Evenings.