What Are the Dangers of Hospital Volunteering?

Hospital volunteering can be rewarding, but involves some risk.

The need for volunteers in hospitals is growing as the population of the United States ages. The non-monetary rewards are plentiful, and the experience gained can be useful in nearly all future careers.

Duties

A volunteer's duties are broad. They can include, among other tasks, transporting patients in all areas of the hospital, reading to children, working in gift shops or running errands for hospital staff (See Reference 1). The jobs, however, are not without risks.

Exposures

Anyone working in a hospital, whether paid or volunteer, is subject to extensive exposure to germs and diseases. Nearly all hospitals have procedures in place to try to minimize the risk.

Waivers

Many hospitals and other healthcare entities require volunteers to sign a waiver acknowledging awareness of certain risks. These include, but are not limited to, loss of or damage to property, injury, physical, emotional or mental trauma, disability and/or death.

Cost

Volunteers are not reimbursed financially for their time. In some hospitals, volunteers also must purchase their own uniform clothing. (See Reference 2)

Privacy

Some hospital volunteer applicants object to undergoing intense background scrutiny. For example, adult volunteers at the Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Conn., must agree to a background check and a review of their credit report. (See Reference 3)

References

• Yale-New Haven Hospital: Volunteer Opportunities
• Massachusetts General Hospital: Volunteers
• Greenwich Hospital: Volunteering