What type of volunteer service would be most appropriate?

[ohhoneybear]

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I'm ending my freshmen year of college in a month and I want to volunteer this summer. There are 2 major hospitals in my area. The biggest one is only taking volunteers for the gift shop...should I even bother? I kinda wanted to interact with patients.
My other options include: a blood bank where I would process the blood and assist patients.
Another option is planned parenthood which is something I really would like to do.
Which one do you think would be most beneficial?

 

[sinombre]

I'm ending my freshmen year of college in a month and I want to volunteer this summer. There are 2 major hospitals in my area. The biggest one is only taking volunteers for the gift shop...should I even bother? I kinda wanted to interact with patients.
My other options include: a blood bank where I would process the blood and assist patients.
Another option is planned parenthood which is something I really would like to do.
Which one do you think would be most beneficial?

Well, I definitely wouldn't do the gift shop. The other two sound fine.

 

[jemstone]

What would you be doing at planned parenthood? I think blood bank would be a great option. Don't bother with the gift shop. You could also try hospice.

 

[McNCheese]

No to the gift shop, unless gift shops are your passion. Get a volunteer position in a clinical setting, and if you really want to do something with Planned Parenthood, do that too.

Do activities that you are passionate about, and make sure to get some clinical experience. The "most beneficial" experience will be one that you are interested in and are able to gain a lot from.

 

[Planes2Doc]

No to the gift shop, unless gift shops are your passion. Get a volunteer position in a clinical setting, and if you really want to do something with Planned Parenthood, do that too.

Do activities that you are passionate about, and make sure to get some clinical experience. The "most beneficial" experience will be one that you are interested in and are able to gain a lot from.

I heart snow globes. If they have snow globes, I'm so there!

On a serious note, you definitely want to get the clinical experience you need. Therefore, see if you can find a hospital that will put you in an ED or other clinical place. I realize most people on SDN do non-clinical volunteering, but it's not necessary. Clinical experience, however, is necessary. Hospital volunteering is nice because it kills two birds with one stone.

You should keep looking, otherwise do whichever one fits your schedule best. Please don't do the gift shop.