Obtaining Volunteer Opportunities

[hokiemon]

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Hi,

I was wondering if someone could please share some information on how they obtained some volunteer experience in a clinical environment. What types of volunteer work are the most beneficial in terms of gaining exposure to the field of medicine and human interaction with patients.

Would hospitals allow for more experience with patient care as opposed to familly practices?

I would like to volunteer to confirm my desire to study medicine. I have always had a strong desire to become a doctor, a great interest in the field of biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology, but realize that aside from my interests in science, a big part of the profession is interactions w/ people suffering from a wide array of problems. I want to see how I respond to these situations and environments.

Thanks.

 

[LevatorAni]

As a nontraditional student you have the advantage of knowing more about yourself than most of your potential classmates. You're probably very aware of whether you're a "people person" or not. If you are, blending your new knowledge into patient interactions is fairly easy. My clinical experience is limited to the last 2 months (between 1st and 2nd year). I have had no problem with interacting with people no matter what ails them.

There are 8 students in my program and I have heard repeatedly that the traditional students are much more timid with the patients and seem to concentrate on the clinical aspect of medicine and have difficulty with the interpersonal side of it.

Bottom line: if you can relate to people on a variety of levels you'll have a much easier transition into being a clinician.

Go for it! It is well worth the hard work and sacrifices.

Back to your initial question: Clinical volunteer opportunities are hard to come by before med school. Most hospitals have volunteers working in guest relations. You may try for a position there. But, clinical experience and encounter generally comes after 1st year. Free clinics are great for this.

Good luck.

 

[MJB]

I just called the hospital volunteer line and went and met with the coordinator.

We had a nice discussion about what both they were looking for and what I was looking to get out of the experience. She has set me up to go into a program they call "Angels of the ER" where I should be able to interact with patients, doctors, nurses, etc...and basically am just a gopher in the ER from what it sounds like...I will post more about my experiences as I get started.

 

[ernieraisin]

i made the conscience decision NOT to volunteer at a hospital. i volunteered at my local hospital in high school and all i had to do was basically sit there and do paperwork. BORING...
instead, i chose to volunteer at the ronald mcdonald house. there, i was able to establish incredible relationships with children, many of whom are very ill. ive been volunteering there for 3 years now and know in my heart that no hospital settings were going to give me as much as this organizaion did.

having said that, its really up to you as far as what youre looking for. i know for myself that i was going to get bored easily and get burned out if my heart wasnt into it. so, my point is, find something that truly tugs away at your heart. i dont think clinical volunteering is all that important if you can show your other interpersonal skills.

 

[MJB]

I tend to agree with the previous poster...I told the lady at the volunteer office flat out that I was not interested in doing it unless it was something I thought I would be "into"...and that I had no interest in just volunteering to say I did it and put it on an application. I think she appreciated that..and I wouldn't have it any other way...I already have a JOB that bores me to death for about 45-50 hours a week..I don't need more.

Next summer, I hope to volunteer with Camp Quality...A camp for kids that have been diagnosed with Cancer...I would LOVE that, and it is a subject that is very near to my heart, so I know I would be into it.

 

[Em&M]

I just called the hospital volunteer line and went and met with the coordinator.

We had a nice discussion about what both they were looking for and what I was looking to get out of the experience. She has set me up to go into a program they call "Angels of the ER" where I should be able to interact with patients, doctors, nurses, etc...and basically am just a gopher in the ER from what it sounds like...I will post more about my experiences as I get started.

My job is pretty much the same in the ED but I try to focus on what I want to learn while I am in the Emergency Department. I watch the docs interact with patients, I take mental notes of their bedside manners, how they deal with difficult patients, how much information they give their patients. I watch the nurses and EMT's bustle around and pay attention to how patients react to them. I listen and pay attention to everything medically related that I can.

I have watched myself mature in the last year in everything from my way of thinking about the "patient experience" to the actual role of the doctor in this type of healthcare setting. Overall, it has been incredible. On the flipside, I volunteer with a younger girl (I am 28) and she is going premed and hates what we do. She constantly complains and never pays attention. She thinks that by volunteering, they were hiring her to be a doctor! I just sigh because I have such a different perspective in my old age.

I enjoy my time in the ER but for most of us with no formal medical (responder) training, there are a variety of rules and regulations that limit what you are actually "allowed" to do with the patients. I can perform minimal tasks for them and every once in awhile, I will be asked to help out with something like an EKG or taking temps but that is the extent of my "physical contact". Usually, I am pleasant and ask what I can do for them (usual response: "GET ME A DOCTOR"!) Easier said than done.

The point of all of this is that if you have clear goals and know what you want to see and learn, you will get something out of just about any experience. Just make sure that whatever you choose, you are sure that there IS something that you want to learn from it, even if it is just for a few months.

That being said, others mentioned this but just pick up the phone book (or go online) and start making calls, like MJB said, be upfront, tell them exactly what you are looking for. Be ready to hear "no" a few times. If you are embarrassed or nervous, tell yourself that you are certainly NOT the first person to be making this call, especially if it is for medically related experience. Just think; 20-30,000 people apply to medical schools every year and the majority of them have done some volunteer work just like you to gain clinical experience. 👍