Useless volunteering - how to get meaningful clinical?

[panbimbo]

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I have been volunteering at the ED for about half a year now. At first, it was a lot of fun as it was new and I got to see and still get to see some crazy stuff. However, out of the maybe 250 hours I will have when I apply, maybe 10 of those hours will have been meaningful to me. Lots of my volunteering was sitting in the cafeteria, wandering the floor, asking patients if they need anything, and staying out of the way of nurses. I do not feel like I have helped at all. I've helped microscopically for the time I've put in. Sure, I've cleaned rooms, gotten patients water and blankets, and have had AWESOME conversations with patients, two in particular that were extremely memorable and I have written down. Overall, I have experience to talk about and it has helped me decide "yes" to medicine. But now I just feel useless because I do almost nothing and get in the way

I've considered scribing, CNA and EMT and I know for sure I would enjoy these. But I don't have the money to take a course for these.

Have I done enough? Should I continue to rack up hours even though it feels useless? Should I look elsewhere? Im in a big city hospital so maybe if I move to my local neighborhood clinic id be of more use? If I discontinue after 100 hours, is that suspicious?

I'm just lost.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using SDN mobile

 

[LizzyM]

I just talked to an applicant who didn't feel useful at a hospital and found meaningful interaction at a free clinic where there is a role for a front desk person who pulls charts (the place still uses paper charts but is moving to an electronic system), makes up new charts for new patients, gathers information from new patients and brings patients from the waiting area to the exam rooms. Something like that might be more your style.

 

[Goro]

I have been volunteering at the ED for about half a year now. At first, it was a lot of fun as it was new and I got to see and still get to see some crazy stuff. However, out of the maybe 250 hours I will have when I apply, maybe 10 of those hours will have been meaningful to me. Lots of my volunteering was sitting in the cafeteria, wandering the floor, asking patients if they need anything, and staying out of the way of nurses. I do not feel like I have helped at all. I've helped microscopically for the time I've put in. Sure, I've cleaned rooms, gotten patients water and blankets, and have had AWESOME conversations with patients, two in particular that were extremely memorable and I have written down. Overall, I have experience to talk about and it has helped me decide "yes" to medicine. But now I just feel useless because I do almost nothing and get in the way

I've considered scribing, CNA and EMT and I know for sure I would enjoy these. But I don't have the money to take a course for these.

Have I done enough? Should I continue to rack up hours even though it feels useless? Should I look elsewhere? Im in a big city hospital so maybe if I move to my local neighborhood clinic id be of more use? If I discontinue after 100 hours, is that suspicious?

I'm just lost.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using SDN mobile

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 Alzheimers 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.