I think I should...

[Future Doc1]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I want to volunteer at a hospital; can anybody share some advice on how to do this and what to do while I volunteer--anything to avoid or stuff like that would be really helpful 🙂

 

[esprit88]

Just going on my personal experience: most of the volunteering available in a hospital is stuff like working in the gift shop or pushing someone's wheelchair. If you want more patient contact, I would try a retirement home, hospice, etc. Also, if you want the kind of serious patient contact that med schools like to see, I would strongly suggest you get your CNA certification through a local community college or something. Then you can volunteer just about anywhere and get a much more medically relevant volunteer position.

good luck!

 

[Future Doc1]

Just going on my personal experience: most of the volunteering available in a hospital is stuff like working in the gift shop or pushing someone's wheelchair. If you want more patient contact, I would try a retirement home, hospice, etc. Also, if you want the kind of serious patient contact that med schools like to see, I would strongly suggest you get your CNA certification through a local community college or something. Then you can volunteer just about anywhere and get a much more medically relevant volunteer position.

good luck!

Well I would do that but the problem is is that I am in high school but I do still want the medically relevant volunteering position that med schools like to see. Can I get this certification while still being a high school student?

 

[AshiPanda]

Here in Florida, we have technical schools that collaborate with high schools that let you spend half your day at the technical college getting a certification or license in one of their offered fields. CNA, phlebotomy and nursing are among those. It's great because high-schoolers can leave high school ready to get a decent job. If you can't afford to only be at high school half a day, you could look into taking CNA classes at night, it's just a few hours per day and lasts for about two months. There are also very accelerated CNA classes that are only two weeks long.

I took the 2-month CNA course and was a CNA while going through nursing school. Now I'm a Licensed Practical Nurse and I want to become a doctor! XD

 

[Future Doc1]

Here in Florida, we have technical schools that collaborate with high schools that let you spend half your day at the technical college getting a certification or license in one of their offered fields. CNA, phlebotomy and nursing are among those. It's great because high-schoolers can leave high school ready to get a decent job. If you can't afford to only be at high school half a day, you could look into taking CNA classes at night, it's just a few hours per day and lasts for about two months. There are also very accelerated CNA classes that are only two weeks long.

I took the 2-month CNA course and was a CNA while going through nursing school. Now I'm a Licensed Practical Nurse and I want to become a doctor! XD

I guess I'll see if that works here--thanks 😀

 

[combatwombat]

If you live in a big city, steer clear of volunteering at hospitals. I tried that twice, and both times they put me in the most boring positions you can imagine. Liability rules prevent them from letting you do anything interesting (though you may be able to observe some interesting stuff going on). You might have better luck trying to volunteer at a suburban or rural hospital.

Nursing homes and hospices are hard places to work, especially if they are designed for elders with cognitive impairment. If you think you can handle it though it might show a lot of maturity on your part; also the old folks you work with might really appreciate it.

If I were you I'd also look into getting EMT-B certification. My brother did it in 6 weeks over the summer.

 

[synapsefire]

To start volunteering, call up a nearby hospital and ask for volunteer services. They will provide you information and the application process.

From my experience, if you want patient contact, you should volunteer in pediatrics or maternity. I was able to keep an eye on children while parents were away, feed them, change diapers, play games, do rounds and ask parents if they need anything, send stuff to lab, do patient transports from ICU to peds, and etc. Some things to avoid are medical records and lab (you will be filling out papers the whole time).

 

[Arm N Hammer]

To start volunteering, call up a nearby hospital and ask for volunteer services. They will provide you information and the application process.

From my experience, if you want patient contact, you should volunteer in pediatrics or maternity. I was able to keep an eye on children while parents were away, feed them, change diapers, play games, do rounds and ask parents if they need anything, send stuff to lab, do patient transports from ICU to peds, and etc. Some things to avoid are medical records and lab (you will be filling out papers the whole time).

yeah do that

 

[mathlegend]

I'm volunteering in the ER at my local hospital right now. Small, no traumas or stuff that require surgery. I talk to patients, get them stuff, assist nurses, clean up, etc. Its like an unpaid job. I know a lot of hospitals that don't allow people under 18 to volunteer in the ER, but mine does

 

[EyEnStein 07]

check your local public or private hospital website. For example, if its a big hospital thats associated with a university or a school of medicine, then they will definately have a page that will start up volunteers. Usually the page has numbers or an application, fill one out, call and send it in. its pretty simple. The one im at now they called me for an interview after i submitted my application.

I think volunteering at a hospital is good, if you want to change your mind to another similar profession you can have oppotunity there by searching or you can get a lot of exposure that can lead to maybe reserach or somethign if you talk to doctors.

 

[Future Doc1]

I'm volunteering in the ER at my local hospital right now. Small, no traumas or stuff that require surgery. I talk to patients, get them stuff, assist nurses, clean up, etc. Its like an unpaid job. I know a lot of hospitals that don't allow people under 18 to volunteer in the ER, but mine does

Do you have any medical certification?

 

[Future Doc1]

check your local public or private hospital website. For example, if its a big hospital thats associated with a university or a school of medicine, then they will definately have a page that will start up volunteers. Usually the page has numbers or an application, fill one out, call and send it in. its pretty simple. The one im at now they called me for an interview after i submitted my application.

I think volunteering at a hospital is good, if you want to change your mind to another similar profession you can have oppotunity there by searching or you can get a lot of exposure that can lead to maybe reserach or somethign if you talk to doctors.

Good advice 🙂👍
thanks