Generic clinical volunteering, how "bad" is it?

[RareUsername]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello all,

I've been able to secure a volunteer position at a local clinic. My duties mostly involve checking patients in and some back of house work. The people there are sweet and the overall environment is very positive. I am happy here, but the nature of the commitment makes observing hands-on care difficult. While it "checks off all the boxes" related to what clinical volunteering should be at the very minimum, I'm concerned that it may be dismissed or looked down upon on my application.
I really have no sense of perspective on how this may be looked at, which is what I hope to gather some information on in asking this question.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Goro]

This is fine.

Clinical exposure means learning what you're getting into. Your job description does the trick. You don't need to be learning how to do procedures on people..that's what med school is for.

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.
Some types of volunteer activities are more appealing than others. Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimer’s or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.