Volunteering at ER

[418865]

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So, this was my first day (saturday 12-3pm) volunteering at ER. I was quite excited as I heard that out of majority of the hospital volunteering..ER is the most 'exciting' one where u dont hv to do paperwork and assist the nurses with billing and whatnot. The nurse in charge basically gave me a very quick tour of the ER and told me to just roam around..that's what I literally did for 1 and a half hours and it was so awkward! Most of the patients were either asleep or didn't need anything..so I stood in a corner for sometimes and then switched it up..the nurse wouldn't even let me sit down in a corner or anything..like what the heck. Am I doing something wrong? Should I go and introduce myself to the patients? Should I actively ask nurses if they need anything for me to do?

 

[sector9]

I would find a nice, welcoming nurse or tech and ask them "What do the other volunteers do?" or "What have other volunteers done to make your job easier?" or something like that.

I've volunteered in two ERs and both of them had different expectations from the volunteers. You just need to figure out what that is!

 

[kpcrew]

This happens a lot, you just need to be proactive and find a nurse who is willing to help you out and give you useful things to do. Otherwise it's not going to be a great experience.

 

[Mountaineer12]

I just started volunteering in an ER too. I was pretty much told to walk around from room to room and ask patients if they want any drinks, snacks, blankets, etc. Whenever a dirty room is listed, I go clean that an put new sheets on it. I put blankets in the warmer. Just basic stuff to keep the patients and the nurses happy. Whenever it gets really slow I just start organizing blankets or sheets or start sanitizing everything. It can get boring sometimes, but I'm sure you can find something to make the time go by.

 

[FFMedic]

If you really want some quick experience with the ER environment, get your EMT or medic license. EMT takes about 3-4 months depending on where you go and runs about $500-$1000. You'll also be more help to them there and may get some clinical time in the ER.

 

[bucks2010]

If you really want some quick experience with the ER environment, get your EMT or medic license. EMT takes about 3-4 months depending on where you go and runs about $500-$1000. You'll also be more help to them there and may get some clinical time in the ER.

This, or find a paying job in the hospital.

Also not sure what the peak hrs are in your ED but you'll probably get more out of it if you volunteer then, which at most places means somewhere from 3p-3a. High-volume times mean there will be more for you to do (rooms to clean, etc.).

 

[Shooter McGavin]

My university has a volunteering program through a local academic hospital. However I've heard that most of the activities are like those previously listed (cleaning up, doing paperwork, sitting around, feeling useless). I guess nobody said volunteering had to be fun. I just hope I can learn something rather than "checking a box."

 

[emc0105]

If you have downtime, ask doctors if you can shadow them. I mean obviously don't approach them if they're in the middle of something or make a nuisance of yourself, but when they're between patients introduce yourself and say that you're interested in medicine. I doubt they'll say no, especially if you're in a teaching hospital.

 

[V5RED]

I volunteered in an ER all summer. Most of the time it was extremely boring. I am currently volunteering in a nursing unit of the cardiology department and it is much better. The people are much more talkative and there, are more things for the volunteers to do.

I actually like going to my volunteer shift now. I would see if you can switch to something similar.

 

[TheUPSIDEdown]

Wow that sucks. I've had a great experience so far in the ED.. We restock the carts, clean rooms, have flush wars with the techs, and since I volunteer at a trauma ED we sometimes get to see some hardcore traumas come in, and we often help them out with getting certain things out of the carts or throwing away trash.

When it gets slow, there is usually another volunteer there to talk to or someone on the staff that's ready to bull****.

 

[Morsetlis]

Depends on the hospital and the environment.

I volunteered at 4 different hospitals and only one was "fun". Three ED's, one ward. I actually got to talk to attendings and residents on the wards and discuss cases with them, which might be more intellectually stimulating than the ED's.

 

[PantherPride]

I just started volunteering in an ER too. I was pretty much told to walk around from room to room and ask patients if they want any drinks, snacks, blankets, etc. Whenever a dirty room is listed, I go clean that an put new sheets on it. I put blankets in the warmer. Just basic stuff to keep the patients and the nurses happy. Whenever it gets really slow I just start organizing blankets or sheets or start sanitizing everything. It can get boring sometimes, but I'm sure you can find something to make the time go by.

I also did this while I was volunteering in the ER. Sometimes though, I'd do some "creeping" on the computer monitors and see what kind of patients were coming in, so I could tell what room the patient would be put in and what was wrong with them. That way I'd know if something interesting was coming in

 

[JonnyL]

Nurses are easily annoyed by people who aren't patients and doctors from my experience. Try out ER for a few more weeks, if you don't like it or you're not doing much, switch departments.

 

[Morsetlis]

Nurses are easily annoyed

Truer the older they are, in my experience...

 

[418865]

woah there are some really helpful pieces of advices..thanks to all who is pitching in!

yeah, I think the time I chose (saturday noon...lol) is just generally slower. I have an option of switching to Sat 9-midnight..idk if I wanna volunteer on a saturday night lol. But yeah, I think I'll try to be more proactive. I was not shy or anything because I've been volunteering for a while and I know it can be quite boring at times but I had no idea I was going to experience that at ED. If I could sit at a corner or somewhere and do filing or whatever and keep myself busy...I wudn't have mind..but there I was..roaming the ward and coming back to the same spot in like every 5 minutes like a freak lol.

But I really like the EMT idea too! I'm realizing it's hard to do "hands on" things for any hospital volunteering unless you have some real certifications/training.

 

[Morsetlis]

Being an EMT is pretty fun... 20% of the time. The other 80% you're playing cards in the ambulance in a hospital/nursing home's parking lot.

Kinda hard to get an ER tech job in the ER (at least in my city) with just an EMT: Most people need extra EKG tech training, CNA training, and/or Phlebotomy training.

Then again it depends on who you know.

 

[JonnyL]

I understand what you mean by just standing there. Volunteering isn't an important job by any means. The most you can do is just do the mundane tasks they ask you to do and just get used to the atmosphere.

 

[Drogo]

I also did this while I was volunteering in the ER. Sometimes though, I'd do some "creeping" on the computer monitors and see what kind of patients were coming in, so I could tell what room the patient would be put in and what was wrong with them. That way I'd know if something interesting was coming in

The ED I volunteer in actually gives us access to all the info and I get to see exactly what's going on with all the patients in the ED. It's pretty cool 😎.

I do a lot of patient transporting, removing/attaching ECG wires and replacing/adjusting of oxygen tanks to help out the nurse some and I get to explore many areas. So far I'm enjoying it as patient contact was my main goal and I get as much as I'd like.

 

[418865]

I understand what you mean by just standing there. Volunteering isn't an important job by any means. The most you can do is just do the mundane tasks they ask you to do and just get used to the atmosphere.

that's how i'm feeling...i was thinking.."might as well just email one of the ED doctors and ask them if I could shadow them" instead of standing around doing absolutely nothing and feeling like useless and "not wanted" by nurses who keep staring me down as if I'm worthless and don't even exist. lol. okay it's not that intense..but you get the point...

 

[bucks2010]

woah there are some really helpful pieces of advices..thanks to all who is pitching in!

yeah, I think the time I chose (saturday noon...lol) is just generally slower. I have an option of switching to Sat 9-midnight..idk if I wanna volunteer on a saturday night lol. But yeah, I think I'll try to be more proactive. I was not shy or anything because I've been volunteering for a while and I know it can be quite boring at times but I had no idea I was going to experience that at ED. If I could sit at a corner or somewhere and do filing or whatever and keep myself busy...I wudn't have mind..but there I was..roaming the ward and coming back to the same spot in like every 5 minutes like a freak lol.

But I really like the EMT idea too! I'm realizing it's hard to do "hands on" things for any hospital volunteering unless you have some real certifications/training.

Unfortunately that is the nature of the beast. You're a liability for the hospital and thus aren't able to do anything with any remote potential to negatively affect patients.

You may be able to volunteer to transport (though keep in mind most larger hospitals pay people to do this...) if you take a BLS class.

If I were you, I would find a job, any job, within a somewhat-large hospital/hospital system. Your first gig may not be the most enjoyable experience [think housekeeping or dietary], but with time you should be able to transfer into a position that is more to your liking. I should note that even if you do something like housekeeping or dietary, you will still get 100X more patient experience than by volunteering in the hospital.

Some hospitals require CNA training to be an aide/transport but note that not all hospitals do. Some (like mine) will actually pay for you to take a CNA course once you are hired. So don't jump to spend the $600 out of pocket to take the class on your own, unless you have to.

 

[Morsetlis]

Yeah I've never heard of hospitals paying for your training within my city (San Diego), but that might be the case at more rural or understaffed hospitals (I can't imagine any hospital here being understaffed).

 

[bucks2010]

Yeah I've never heard of hospitals paying for your training within my city (San Diego), but that might be the case at more rural or understaffed hospitals (I can't imagine any hospital here being understaffed).

Mine was all paid for, and my hospital is neither rural nor understaffed.

 

[music2doc]

Yeah I've never heard of hospitals paying for your training within my city (San Diego), but that might be the case at more rural or understaffed hospitals (I can't imagine any hospital here being understaffed).

Many will as a benefit once you're employed. For instance, mine is a major hospital in a large metro area but they will apply the education benefit toward certification courses (as long as they are offered at a college/university and apply to a degree or certificate program directly related to a position at the hospital which you state you are currently pursuing).

 

[ShockDoctrine]

Just keep asking what else you can do. The nurse will surely be happy to have a helper around. You can eventually take on more responsibilities and have something to do for the whole 3 hours.

 

[Morsetlis]

Just keep asking what else you can do. The nurse will surely be happy to have a helper around. You can eventually take on more responsibilities and have something to do for the whole 3 hours.

Actually they'll be like "He's a volunteer? Send him to the secretary/bloodbank we don't want any HIPAA violations"...

 

[isoquin]

Depends on your age, and the hospital. See this as a learning experience, and try shadowing again. Next time however, I recommend linking up with a specific physician beforehand so you can see their perspective. It also gives you an anchor-person to return to throughout the day. Don't give up!

 

[Drogo]

Actually they'll be like "He's a volunteer? Send him to the secretary/bloodbank we don't want any HIPAA violations"...

Nice generalization, I think somes hospitals can be a bit unique and some will definitely have a certain way of incorporating their volunteers or will barely utilize them at all. Between my hospital and the bigger one it's like night and day; and this is only because of person running the volunteer program.

For instance all day today I had a lot of patient contact and I was running all around the hospital helping patients and nurses; and I really felt like a part of the team (at times I feel more like an employee than a volunteer).

My goal as far as volunteering was to be involved in a nice amount of patient contact and being immersed in the emergency center and the different areas surrounding it. Where I'm at it has met those expecations and has even exceeded them.

I urge others to find a great volunteer leader at a hospital and let them know you really want to help and learn, within certain boundaries of course.

 

[Disinence2]

If its a teaching hospital, and you see a resident who's not ridic busy, be brave introduce yourself, say your a pre-med ask if you can tag along if he does anything interesting.

Chances are good if there not busy they will hook you up. If you do get a little shadowing in be sure to be interested but don't slow the resident down!

Even as a med student I tried to hook up the ER volunteers as it seems 90% of them are either pre-MD or pre-PA students.

 

[Morsetlis]

how about you just take a book, kill time, and check the box on your application? This doesn't have to be something meaningful; it's a garbage requirement in a garbage application process. You'll have plenty of time to do things that matter after you get in.

+1

 

[Drogo]

How about you just take a book, kill time, and check the box on your application? This doesn't have to be something meaningful; it's a garbage requirement in a garbage application process. You'll have plenty of time to do things that matter after you get in.

Like an orthopedic surgeon recently told me 'you just have to jump through the hoops'. *as I sit in my oh so cute little volunteer shirt*

 

[Doctor246853]

My university has a volunteering program through a local academic hospital. However I've heard that most of the activities are like those previously listed (cleaning up, doing paperwork, sitting around, feeling useless). I guess nobody said volunteering had to be fun. I just hope I can learn something rather than "checking a box."

I'm probably going to get a little heat for this but I just stated volunteering at a hosptial ONLY to check off this box. I already have all the clinical work but just to be safe I volunteer at another hospital. We can't do anything that has to do with touching a patient and I really dont care, I do it all day long. So...check off that box and get a clinical job if you can.😎

 

[ShockDoctrine]

Actually they'll be like "He's a volunteer? Send him to the secretary/bloodbank we don't want any HIPAA violations"...

better than sitting around, no?

and that is not always the case. I always ask what else I can do and if there's nothing to be done, then the OP can bring a book or flashcards or something to study with.

 

[418865]

better than sitting around, no?

and that is not always the case. I always ask what else I can do and if there's nothing to be done, then the OP can bring a book or flashcards or something to study with.

Yeah...usually in my downtime while volunteering at say Dental Clinic or another unit...I'd usually just do some reading/homework..but at ER..the nurse wouldn't even let me sit down and won't even assign me to do anything. I actually liked the environment of ER..don't get me wrong..I just couldn't stand the fact that I was the only person doing absolutely nothing useful and looking like a load to everyone else..but thanks everyone for your posts...basically get even more proactive and talk to the residents/doctors..instead of relying all upon the nurses.