Got a volunteering gig!

[DoctorateofDave]

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Hey everyone, just wanted to share that I finally got a volunteering "gig" in my local hospital's pharmacy! I was just wondering what to expect or any advice from the wise crowds at SDN for my first day of volunteering. Also they told me in the application that I would have to commit to 50 hours of volunteering/year. This doesn't seem like very much to me, does anyone think it would be rude of me to request more? Thanks for the helpful hints ladies and gents 😛

 

[Bows]

Hey everyone, just wanted to share that I finally got a volunteering "gig" in my local hospital's pharmacy! I was just wondering what to expect or any advice from the wise crowds at SDN for my first day of volunteering. Also they told me in the application that I would have to commit to 50 hours of volunteering/year. This doesn't seem like very much to me, does anyone think it would be rude of me to request more? Thanks for the helpful hints ladies and gents 😛

That's fine. You don't really have to ask for more, just keep volunteering until you want to stop. Basically just listen to what your supervisor in the pharmacy says... Nothing you need to prepare for. They'll be like okay today you're going to label these meds, or stock these, and you just do it. 🙂

 

[dancingallday]

More than likely you'll do simple, inventory-related tasks (putting the order away, putting auxiliary labels on stuff, doing outdates, etc.) That's what our volunteers do; our volunteers are all senior citizens though, not pre-pharm students, so perhaps they may have you take on more serious tasks. No real need to prepare though, they'll tell you what to do. Congrats! 🙂

 

[prepharm727]

Hey that's great!!! Congrats! In what city/area were you able to get a volunteering gig if you don't mind me asking? I've been dying trying to get a volunt/shadow position in the NYC area.

 

[DoctorateofDave]

Hey that's great!!! Congrats! In what city/area were you able to get a volunteering gig if you don't mind me asking? I've been dying trying to get a volunt/shadow position in the NYC area.

Thanks!! I'm pretty excited!! I am in the northeast Ohio area, I got the gig in Canton, Ohio. I definitely feel the sting of trying to get my foot in the door for a volunteer position. 🙁

My high school offers a program where I was able to spend 1/3 of my school day of my junior year (last year) shadowing at the local hospital for 2 elective credits, so I was able to meet a lot of new people along with a few from the pharmacy. (Plus a lot of respiratory therapists, nurses, PA's, PT's, PTA's, OTA's and etc.) I emailed them early in the summer asking if they remembered me and luckily they did

My $.02 is to try to meet someone who works there, or works in their Human Resources department or volunteer/outreach. If your email/meeting with them is enthusiastic about the opportunity then you should get one🙂

 

[DoctorateofDave]

More than likely you'll do simple, inventory-related tasks (putting the order away, putting auxiliary labels on stuff, doing outdates, etc.) That's what our volunteers do; our volunteers are all senior citizens though, not pre-pharm students, so perhaps they may have you take on more serious tasks. No real need to prepare though, they'll tell you what to do. Congrats! 🙂

Thanks for all the replies guys I'm feeling a little less nervous!

Why senior citizens I wonder?😕

I bet this is a silly question, but what do volunteers wear? When I was shadowing I wore shirt + tie, but I'm not so sure about volunteering... inputs?

 

[Twentytwelve2]

Thanks for all the replies guys I'm feeling a little less nervous!

Why senior citizens I wonder?😕

I bet this is a silly question, but what do volunteers wear? When I was shadowing I wore shirt + tie, but I'm not so sure about volunteering... inputs?

Retirees enjoy spending the time volunteering to help the community and it lets them socialize more. I see many retirees at my pharmacy too. Also, you want to wear casual clothes but keep it clean, ie no skull logos or unprofessional shirts. I just wear colored t-shirts and jeans or khakis.