Clinical volunteering while working full-time

[yankees89]

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I'm a non-trad working a 9-5 job, looking to gain clinical volunteering exposure. My ideal set-up would be something where I could volunteer overnight shifts one or two times a week.

My first thought was pursuing an EMT position, but it seems like this would require taking a semester long course, delaying when I could actually start volunteering. Any ideas where I could find such volunteer opportunities / anyone have experience with this?

 

[popopopop]

For a stable volunteering gig, the only thing I can think of is ER volunteering. I wouldn't do the EMT thing unless you're into it. What about the weekends? There are still great opportunities for hospital volunteering during the weekends. Be creative and reach out, heck even urgent care centers?

 

[esob]

Hospice is super flexible. Once you are trained, you can pretty much go whenever it is convenient. I've been doing it for 3 years now and got asked about it on most of my interviews. It also gives you a glimpse into where the system is succeeding and failing at dealing with our aging population, which make for great talking points and hopefully give you some insight as a future physician.

 

[Frosty808]

Hospice is super flexible. Once you are trained, you can pretty much go whenever it is convenient. I've been doing it for 3 years now and got asked about it on most of my interviews. It also gives you a glimpse into where the system is succeeding and failing at dealing with our aging population, which make for great talking points and hopefully give you some insight as a future physician.

I agree, I work 3 jobs and the hospice puts me in contact with family members who then I inform that weekends work better for me. Saturdays tend to be the best bet for a compromise as they like to run errands (many places are open normal business hours versus Sunday, there may be church or businesses are closed early) while I spend time with their loved one. Literally, with three jobs, I didn't think I could fit in ANY clinical volunteering.

The experience with HOSPICE is much more valuable to me than pushing paperwork as a hospital volunteer. No matter what department I ever volunteered in, hospitals like to make their volunteers push paperwork or send them on water errands. Not saying that's bad, but I want patient care interacts beyond giving them water.

 

[yankees89]

I appreciate the suggestions in the thread. Hospice care sounds pretty enticing to me.

Any recommendations on how to get started? I don’t have any connections, so right now I’m thinking I just cold call/email a few places.


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[Frosty808]

I appreciate the suggestions in the thread. Hospice care sounds pretty enticing to me.

Any recommendations on how to get started? I don’t have any connections, so right now I’m thinking I just cold call/email a few places.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Hi Friend,

Google around for hospices around your area and straight up ask to speak to the volunteer coordinator. They can confirm if working with patients can be on weekends or so. Honestly, all hospices need volunteer hours to be considered an organization otherwise they will shut down. So I doubt you will be turned down. You can just do 20 hours a month (4 hours a week) or you can do even less... but the commitment needs to be there.

 

[Campana]

My ideal set-up would be something where I could volunteer overnight shifts one or two times a week.

I volunteer and work full time right now...have done so for years. I've found that my local hospitals offer lots of shifts that fit well around work and life and offer lots of patient contact.

First, weekends are always a solid option for the person who has a normal M-F 9-5 working gig. And, if you really don't want to give up weekends, or can't for some other reason, I've found I can sneak it in during M-F as well:

While most of the shifts are formally set for once a week during the day 8AM-Noon, Noon-4, 4-8PM, I've had pretty much everyone say it's okay (we're volunteers!) to slide it to the 5-9PM side if it fits a bit better. But perhaps that's not the norm - it could be because I'm older and don't look like I'd take advantage of it. And after you settle in and prove yourself reliable, I'm sure they'd let you pick up an extra shift so you have 8 hours a week. I met a new nurse on one of my assignments - she would do three shifts in a row to build up her hours quickly and to show potential employers that even though she was new, she had the chops to handle the long shifts.

The ED at my locations offer nighttime shifts as well - I prefer the 8-midnight over 4-8AM shift...and I'll be honest that I've never done the 12-4AM shift. No point in causing unneeded misery. Late night ED is what I've been doing lately to minimize the impact on my family.

All of the hospitals I've volunteered at have a formal application process for volunteering, a "training" session, shot records (TB test, vaccines, etc.) and then assignment based on openings they have and my area of interest.

Good luck!