ER volunteering tips?

[Dark Ace]

Hi everyone,

I am going to starting volunteering in the ER soon. The thing worrying me is what the supervisors told me. They actually warned me against starting out in the ER since it's so fast paced and intense. I was told that many people don't enjoy it at first because you have to be really sharp and assertive in that kind of environment. So as you can imagine I'm a bit nervous.

Am I worrying too much? And for those of you have volunteered in the ER, do you have any tips, suggestions for doing well?

Thanks so much!!

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[sylvanthus]

You're a volunteer, you're not going to be managing traumas. Seriously, the ERs I worked at had the volunteers stocking and cleaning rooms. I seriously doubt that is going to be too much to handle.

 

[drshark]

Don't let it scare you, it's definitely face paced but very fun, and sometimes slow. There is usually at least one intense/cool case barging in through the emergency room doors on my shift, the rest are usually people who are incarcerated, homeless patients, psych evals, and a few of you're average joes. It's definitely the best place to volunteer if you want to see some rare or gross cases lol, it will be fun.

 

[MedPR]

ER volunteering sucks. As others have mentioned, you get promoted to housekeeper on your very first day. Congratulations!

However, if you can get to know some of the physicians it might turn into a decent shadowing opportunity.

 

[drshark]

well I guess because I research in the ER it's cooler for me b.c I don't have to clean or anything like that, but I do see the volunteers enjoying what they are doing and shadowing the docs on cool cases. Definitely no CPR or staples though 😳 lol

 

[MedPR]

well I guess because I research in the ER it's cooler for me b.c I don't have to clean or anything like that, but I do see the volunteers enjoying what they are doing and shadowing the docs on cool cases. Definitely no CPR or staples though 😳 lol

Yea that's one of the perks I get for volunteering in an urgent care clinic. I barely do anything though. I spend most of the day shadowing the NPs and occasionally helping the MAs clean rooms or get supplies.

 

[milosavljevic]

Sorry, apparently I'm an idiot.

 

[MedPR]

Make sure your pants have pockets. For what, you might ask?:

1. Small post-it note pad (or scratch paper) and pen for writing down tasks that will help the ER techs and nurses (usually entails cleaning or re-stocking certain areas).

2. Pair of gloves. ER room/bed turnover is very important in hospitals, and you never know what you might have to touch 😱

1. It shouldn't be too hard to remember the few things you are taught as a volunteer.

2. Have you been in the ED before? There are boxes of gloves everywhere.

 

[NightGod]

1. It shouldn't be too hard to remember the few things you are taught as a volunteer.

2. Have you been in the ED before? There are boxes of gloves everywhere.

In fact, one of your jobs is usually to restock the gloves! It's thrilling stuff, I tell ya.

Honestly, the most important thing in ER volunteering is to bring up the fact that you're a pre-med student and not another bored kid with angry parents who want them out of the house or something. By that, I don't mean go around bragging, but if someone asks you why you volunteered (and they will, I promise you), mention that you're interested in medicine and are there trying to learn more about it. In my experience, once the docs knew why I was there, they went out of their way to talk to me about medicine and their experiences in it and include me in any learning vignettes that they could (my hospital had PAs come through on rotation, there were very few things they could involve me in due to HIPAA, but I had some fun story times and interesting an practical demonstration of pulse-ox monitors). Plus you're likely to get pulled into room for stuff that's more on the 'fringe' of your responsibilities, like helping with moving patients or checking out cool X-rays and the like. As a rule, you're not going to be popping staples into anyone's face or anything, but knowing why you're there makes them more likely to involve you in the small ways they are able to that fall within the legal environment that pervades medicine these days (as a bonus, you get to learn more about that legal environment and what the limitations are). Shadowing is also a real possibility if you don't end up having all the doctors you formed a bond with disappear within about 3 months of each other because they didn't like the re-organization the hospital went through #NotBitter

 

[MedPR]

Also, don't wear your white coat.

 

[docmayer]

I have over 100 hours in the ER as a volunteer. I get so bored after the first hour I just leave, take a 30 minute break, and come back (in hopes there is something to do).
You'll be fine, lol...trust

 

[Flim Flam Man]

they won't expect much from you on your first day, especially if you are wearing a volunteer uniform, just get used to telling people you don't know how to do things and it will all go ok, don't be afraid to ask questions, people might get annoyed at first but theres really no way around it

 

[emtthink]

In fact, one of your jobs is usually to restock the gloves! It's thrilling stuff, I tell ya.

I got "promoted" after a while and they let me restock the kleenex

 

[NurWollen]

You know, a lot of people say ER volunteering is merely a hoop to jump through. I disagree. Yes, you'll spend time stocking linens, but if you show that you are happy to do that, the nurses will give you grunt work to do, little things like doing inventory of supplies in rooms that they hate doing. If you can do that, they will start letting you do things like brace a young patient's like while he's being sutured. Being able to actually touch a patient was a privilege I feel honored to have had. Be content with little things like that, and you'll really enjoy it. We're not big shots, and going in there with 'future doctor' plastered in your expression is about the worst thing you.

 

[NightGod]

I got "promoted" after a while and they let me restock the kleenex

You mean you got to touch something that patients might one day touch themselves? You must have been there for YEARS to get that kind of promotion!

 

[curt656]

Your number one job as an ER volunteer is to STAY OUT OF THE WAY!!! You will do nothing but mundane tasks like changing bed sheets, bring water to patients, and the occasional assisting of transferring a patient from gurney to bed (i.e. large patients). Just soak it in and observe as much as you can. Otherwise, there isn't much for you to do.

 

[HalfListic]

Here's a tip for anyone who reads this and has a year or more before applying. After I got EMT-B certified, and even during certification which was only a few months long, my ER volunteering was much better! I did a lot more; set up and ran EKGs, splinting, oxygen, transport. It still got mundane after a while, but it was much more hands on than my time as a regular volunteer.

Just a thought

 

[MedPR]

You know, a lot of people say ER volunteering is merely a hoop to jump through. I disagree. Yes, you'll spend time stocking linens, but if you show that you are happy to do that, the nurses will give you grunt work to do, little things like doing inventory of supplies in rooms that they hate doing. If you can do that, they will start letting you do things like brace a young patient's like while he's being sutured. Being able to actually touch a patient was a privilege I feel honored to have had. Be content with little things like that, and you'll really enjoy it. We're not big shots, and going in there with 'future doctor' plastered in your expression is about the worst thing you.

+1. Though I think your experience being able to help with patients is unique. Unless you were in a small community hospital or something. I've volunteered in a large inner-city ED and didn't get to do anything but grunt work.

 

[NightGod]

+1. Though I think your experience being able to help with patients is unique. Unless you were in a small community hospital or something. I've volunteered in a large inner-city ED and didn't get to do anything but grunt work.

I was at a small community hospital and even then my patient contact was limited to helping transfer patients between bed & gurney. HIPAA and malpractice laws being what they are these days, there's very little they can let you do without some sort of additional training (like HalfListic's EMT-B experience) no matter how much they like you or want to let you do.

All that said, don't skip an ER volunteer gig because it will be boring, because it will. Do it because of the exposure it gives you to the people who are working in the medical field. The nice part about being in a smaller hospital was the fact that we did occasionally have slower days (one night was so bad they actually cleared the board and started saying things were quiet!). While those slow days have the potential to bore you to tears, they also give you a chance to talk with the doctors and nurses about their jobs. THAT'S what makes volunteering so valuable, IMHO. If you still want to be a doctor after talking to a burned out doctor/nurse or two for a couple hours, you've probably made the right career choice.

 

[MedPR]

I was at a small community hospital and even then my patient contact was limited to helping transfer patients between bed & gurney. HIPAA and malpractice laws being what they are these days, there's very little they can let you do without some sort of additional training (like HalfListic's EMT-B experience) no matter how much they like you or want to let you do.

All that said, don't skip an ER volunteer gig because it will be boring, because it will. Do it because of the exposure it gives you to the people who are working in the medical field. The nice part about being in a smaller hospital was the fact that we did occasionally have slower days (one night was so bad they actually cleared the board and started saying things were quiet!). While those slow days have the potential to bore you to tears, they also give you a chance to talk with the doctors and nurses about their jobs. THAT'S what makes volunteering so valuable, IMHO. If you still want to be a doctor after talking to a burned out doctor/nurse or two for a couple hours, you've probably made the right career choice.

+1. I'm currently volunteering in an urgent care clinic, but it's primarily become an opportunity to shadow NPs and the MD who owns and runs it. I occasionally (rarely) help the MAs clean rooms and restock stuff, but that's only because there's no patients around. They never ask or tell me to do anything so it's a pretty sweet gig. Once all that stuff is done I spend the rest of my time there talking to the NPs and med student about stuff and it's really a lot of fun. The med student is a graduated 4th year who went to school in europe and is applying to residencies this fall. He's got a lot of great input regarding his non-trad process as well.

 

[Flim Flam Man]

oh and don't give anyone water or food without first checking with the nurse, could be bad if they have been told no and they try to trick you into giving them some

 

[psychkub]

oh and don't give anyone water or food without first checking with the nurse, could be bad if they have been told no and they try to trick you into giving them some

+1 to this! Also, don't give out warm blankets either, since some of your patients might have fevers.

I think above all, don't take anything that happens too personally. The ER is pretty intense at times, and so the staff that work there develop tough personalities over the years. I worked in the ER for 2 years and would often get annoyed at how some of the clinical staff treated me. They have a lot going on at times, so just try to be as helpful as possible without getting in the way.

 

[Flim Flam Man]

+1 to this! Also, don't give out warm blankets either, since some of your patients might have fevers.

I think above all, don't take anything that happens too personally. The ER is pretty intense at times, and so the staff that work there develop tough personalities over the years. I worked in the ER for 2 years and would often get annoyed at how some of the clinical staff treated me. They have a lot going on at times, so just try to be as helpful as possible without getting in the way.

for sure don't take anything personally, you will be at the bottom of the totem poll and people will probably take out their frustration out on you if they are having a bad day, just ignore it and move on. I've gotten a lot of cranky snide remarks from grumpy nurses before

 

[emtthink]

Here's a tip for anyone who reads this and has a year or more before applying. After I got EMT-B certified, and even during certification which was only a few months long, my ER volunteering was much better! I did a lot more; set up and ran EKGs, splinting, oxygen, transport. It still got mundane after a while, but it was much more hands on than my time as a regular volunteer.

Just a thought

I was an EMT for 3 years before I started volunteering, they didn't let me do any of that stuff, and almost all of the nurses and doctors knew me. Granted I did do some things that technically I was not allowed to do (like helping getting a pt out of a car via a Georgia lift), but no procedures. I was also volunteering in the busiest ER in my state.

 

[SpecterGT260]

You're a volunteer, you're not going to be managing traumas. Seriously, the ERs I worked at had the volunteers stocking and cleaning rooms. I seriously doubt that is going to be too much to handle.

👍

 

[HalfListic]

I was an EMT for 3 years before I started volunteering, they didn't let me do any of that stuff, and almost all of the nurses and doctors knew me. Granted I did do some things that technically I was not allowed to do (like helping getting a pt out of a car via a Georgia lift), but no procedures. I was also volunteering in the busiest ER in my state.

Thats too bad, since EMTs are certified for all of those procedures. But Im sure it was an insurance thing and they didn't take the time to make you a volunteer "staff" member.

But, yes, I do suggest EMT cert to anyone. I think most ERs will be more lenient and it was a great experience for me to get more hands on and independent with patients. At the very minimum, you will have your clinical shifts for EMT class and you will HAVE to do those procedures and more, so you will at least have some experience.

 

[emtthink]

Thats too bad, since EMTs are certified for all of those procedures. But Im sure it was an insurance thing and they didn't take the time to make you a volunteer "staff" member.

But, yes, I do suggest EMT cert to anyone. I think most ERs will be more lenient and it was a great experience for me to get more hands on and independent with patients. At the very minimum, you will have your clinical shifts for EMT class and you will HAVE to do those procedures and more, so you will at least have some experience.

Lucky for me I was able to get hired on with an agency so I have 4 years working as an EMT in a 911 system, so I've pretty much seen it all, a couple weeks ago I had a guy with a flail chest

 

[Cinclus]

Hi everyone,

I am going to starting volunteering in the ER soon. The thing worrying me is what the supervisors told me. They actually warned me against starting out in the ER since it's so fast paced and intense. I was told that many people don't enjoy it at first because you have to be really sharp and assertive in that kind of environment. So as you can imagine I'm a bit nervous.

Am I worrying too much? And for those of you have volunteered in the ER, do you have any tips, suggestions for doing well?

Thanks so much!!

Be friendly and personable with the ED staff; try to get to know them. If they know and like you, your time spent volunteering will be much more pleasant and interesting. They will often pull you aside to see cool things, for instance, or explain certain things if they know you're interested in medicine. I saw too many volunteers just sitting around texting, being unsociable, waiting for a room to become vacant so they could clean it. They looked super bored and uninterested, and the staff didn't really appreciate their presence, as a result.

 

[shaggybill]

If your ED is anything like the one I work in, don't take anything too seriously. 75% of ED patients aren't really having an emergency, and most of the clinical staff knows this. They just do their jobs and try to have fun making the best out of the crap that gets handed to them, hanging in there for the occasional patient who actually does make their job worthwhile.

Whatever you do, don't be the quiet little mouse who hides in the corner. Be proactive, but don't be obnoxious and act like you own the place either. Take cues from the what you see around you. If everyone is busting their butts, then bust your butt too, doing what you can. If everyone is chill and having fun, then do the same.

 

[WhyDoWeFall]

Yea I disagree with it being boring. Maybe it depends on the hospital you shadow. I shadowed a long time ago but the hospital was a level 1 trauma center so I got to go up to the helicopter, do CPR, assist in a spinal tap, and overall I saw a lot of cool things. I actually work at the same hospital now. I think it all depends on how the Physicians see you and how open your hospital is in letting people shadow.

 

[NightGod]

Yea I disagree with it being boring. Maybe it depends on the hospital you shadow. I shadowed a long time ago but the hospital was a level 1 trauma center so I got to go up to the helicopter, do CPR, assist in a spinal tap, and overall I saw a lot of cool things. I actually work at the same hospital now. I think it all depends on how the Physicians see you and how open your hospital is in letting people shadow.

Shadowing and volunteering are two very different things.

 

[rushrhees]

I volunteer at a reasonably busy ER in suburban Chicago, it is mostly boring. The nurses generally like me and that, but direct patient contact is usually discouraged unless a patient directly asks you for something. It is worth doing, perhaps can give you material for your PS, but do not expect to revive patients.

 

[NightGod]

I volunteer at a reasonably busy ER in suburban Chicago, it is mostly boring. The nurses generally like me and that, but direct patient contact is usually discouraged unless a patient directly asks you for something. It is worth doing, perhaps can give you material for your PS, but do not expect to revive patients.

Very much true. The majority of my patient contact went something like "Would you like a chicken salad or tuna sandwich with those graham crackers and Sprite?" and "Do you want me to get you a blanket off the shelf or should I run down to get one out of the warmer for you?" Of course, there's the ever important, "Sure, the bathroom is right over here".

I'd also recommend against asking anyone not wearing a hospital ID how they're doing-it might feel like the polite thing to do, but you'll just look like a ******* =p

 

[Dmr6186]

Here's a tip for anyone who reads this and has a year or more before applying. After I got EMT-B certified, and even during certification which was only a few months long, my ER volunteering was much better! I did a lot more; set up and ran EKGs, splinting, oxygen, transport. It still got mundane after a while, but it was much more hands on than my time as a regular volunteer.

Just a thought

I think this is a rare case though. You need to be certified through the hospital to run EKGs on patients. Plus, as a volunteer, you are not employed by the hospital, so you are not authorized to to view any patient procedures or even really help with anything since those things are reserved for the nurses, techs and doctors. One of the ER doctors at my hospital wanted a volunteer to watch him put in a line through a patient's femoral artery. He was later told he was not allowed to watch any patient procedures due to HIPAA laws, even if the doctor lets him. So just be careful since you want yourself covered and the hospital covered too.

Anyway, just show lots of initiative. Change sheets when you see a patient get discharged. Restock gloves, blankets and sheets. If someone asks for food or drink, always ask the nurse first if it is allowed. Go around the ER and talk to each individual patient and family member to see if they need anything. Honestly, you will be looked on extremely favorably if you help out even with these little things. Because in actuality, they are not little at all. These are real tasks that techs need to perform as part of their job. As a volunteer, you are helping them with their job and making their life easier, and they will be extremely thankful for it if you see something that needs to be done, and you just do it. Of course it will take a couple weeks to get used to, but that's normal and to be expected. the ER is the best place in the hospital, so good luck!

 

[drshark]

oh and don't give anyone water or food without first checking with the nurse, could be bad if they have been told no and they try to trick you into giving them some

+1

 

[COMedic2Doc]

I think this is a rare case though. You need to be certified through the hospital to run EKGs on patients. Plus, as a volunteer, you are not employed by the hospital, so you are not authorized to to view any patient procedures or even really help with anything since those things are reserved for the nurses, techs and doctors. One of the ER doctors at my hospital wanted a volunteer to watch him put in a line through a patient's femoral artery. He was later told he was not allowed to watch any patient procedures due to HIPAA laws, even if the doctor lets him. So just be careful since you want yourself covered and the hospital covered too.

Anyway, just show lots of initiative. Change sheets when you see a patient get discharged. Restock gloves, blankets and sheets. If someone asks for food or drink, always ask the nurse first if it is allowed. Go around the ER and talk to each individual patient and family member to see if they need anything. Honestly, you will be looked on extremely favorably if you help out even with these little things. Because in actuality, they are not little at all. These are real tasks that techs need to perform as part of their job. As a volunteer, you are helping them with their job and making their life easier, and they will be extremely thankful for it if you see something that needs to be done, and you just do it. Of course it will take a couple weeks to get used to, but that's normal and to be expected. the ER is the best place in the hospital, so good luck!

+1 to this. EKGs need to be done by qualified personnel, which you will not be. So don't sweat knowing everything. Be personable and friendly to all staff, including the techs, and you'll notice this pays off huge in the end. Don't tout the pre-med stuff excessively, instead show genuine interest in learning about mankind in various states. When asked to do stuff, do it without talking back or giving attitude and you'll notice a huge appreciation from the nurses and staff which pays off in the end. Overall, have a great time, learn a lot, and let things take their course.

Oh and for the record, I'm a Paramedic with real responsibilities when it comes to patients and yep I still have to do lots of cleaning (kinda expecting this won't change as an MS except it might not be cleaning and instead other mundane tasks).

 

[MedPR]

I kind of learned how to read EKGs while volunteering at an urgent care clinic. I learned from an NP student, though, so who knows (no offense to NPs).

 

[dntke1518]

Here's a tip for anyone who reads this and has a year or more before applying. After I got EMT-B certified, and even during certification which was only a few months long, my ER volunteering was much better! I did a lot more; set up and ran EKGs, splinting, oxygen, transport. It still got mundane after a while, but it was much more hands on than my time as a regular volunteer.

Just a thought

I was able to do the same. I worked 12 hr nights on the weekends through out 3 years of my undergrad as an EMT and I HAD to do most of that (EKG, Oxygen, Wound cleaning, ect...) because it was just myself, a nurse, and the physician (5 bed ER).

 

[Erek94]

Here's a tip for anyone who reads this and has a year or more before applying. After I got EMT-B certified, and even during certification which was only a few months long, my ER volunteering was much better! I did a lot more; set up and ran EKGs, splinting, oxygen, transport. It still got mundane after a while, but it was much more hands on than my time as a regular volunteer.

Just a thought

This is my experience as well, I became EMT-B certified and tried getting a tech job in multiple EDs but was unsuccessful. Eventually I just offered to volunteer and ended up doing more than the other volunteers because I was certified. Also, try to shadow an EM doctor, I did 10x more stuff in one 10 overnight shift than my entire month of volunteer ( 25 hrs).

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

clean beds, rooms, stock, MAYBE room a patient or 2... try not to look bored... I did it for a bit and couldn't take the boredom and after having been an EMT it just sucked... didn't even put it on my app

 

[Capltd29]

You may consider doing a search for ER Scribe jobs. I was a scribe for almost two years, and I got paid and got a TON of experience. You basically shadow a different doctor everyday. Not every area has them, but its definitely a worthwhile venture if you can find one.

 

[UrshumMurshum]

If you want clinical experience, become a hospice volunteer.

I did hospital volunteering, they had me mostly doing administrative work. Clinical experience was limited to guiding patients to their rooms.

Basically it was nothing compared to what I learned from being involved with hospice.