Volunteering at a hospital can be a great way to give back to your community while also determining whether or not you want to pursue a career in medicine. It can also be a great way to boost your application for various types of medical schools. Volunteering at a hospital can benefit you personally because it allows you to interact with people who require assistance.
Before becoming a hospital volunteer, there are a few things to think about. You should be aware that working in a hospital can put your health at risk. People in hospitals are ill, and some of them have viral infections that can spread to workers. Though hospitals make every effort to keep people with viral or other infectious diseases away from other patients and employees, a person’s diagnosis isn’t always known when they arrive. You should be up to date on all required vaccinations and be aware that working as a hospital volunteer entails some risk.
Furthermore, you may come into contact with experiences that are deeply saddening, disturbing, or distressing in some cases. Good mental health, a strong support system, and a high tolerance for certain sights, such as blood, will all likely aid you greatly in your volunteer work. You won’t typically come into contact with many severely injured patients, as this is the responsibility of doctors and nurses. However, you may be exposed to some frightening situations from time to time, and seeing them in person is not the same as seeing them on television. You might not be a good hospital volunteer if you faint at the sight of blood or vomit when someone else does.
After you’ve considered these factors and decided to volunteer at a hospital, the next step is to figure out what you want to do. You might want to volunteer at an admissions desk, visit with patients, help with paperwork, or assist in a more hands-on medical capacity. Because you are untrained, you will not be able to provide much medical care. Working as a hospital chaplain or a baholder are two other ways to serve that are typically reserved for adults. Chaplaincy may necessitate education, as well as religious flexibility and tolerance. Even if you’re Catholic and work in a Catholic hospital, you can expect a large number of people of various faiths to visit.
Candy stripers were the nickname for teen volunteers in the past, who were almost always girls. Since both boys and girls can work in hospitals, this term is no longer widely used. Contact the hospital where you’d like to work and inquire about volunteer opportunities once you’ve had a chance to consider what you’d like to do, or if you have no preference. Expect to be interviewed for a job and to be trained. Hospitals occasionally partner with local high schools or Volunteer Centers to recruit volunteers, so you should check with them first.
If you work directly with patients, you may be responsible for running errands, reading aloud, and directing visitors. Hospitals also require people to greet and direct visitors, as well as assist with all of the administrative tasks that come with running a hospital. It’s a great way to keep your job and help sick people and their families if you’re cheerful, helpful, and willing to take on any task. If you want to work in administration, learning organizational skills, good phone manners, computer skills, and basic office duties can help.