- In 1944 a New Jersey high school class began volunteering at a local hospital, which kicked off a nationally recognized hospital volunteer program called Candy Stripers. They are named Candy Stripers because of the white and colored stripes on the uniforms they wore while on duty. Today, Candy Stripers rarely wear uniforms that are striped but they still provide valuable services to hospital patients and staff alike. For many years Candy Striper positions were only filled by females, but today the program is open to both young men and young women.
- While Candy Stripers are not actual nurses or trained medical personnel, they are called upon to provide services that don't require such training. Whether it is delivering flowers to patient rooms, manning the information desk in the front lobby or working in the hospital's gift shop, Candy Stripers perform many different functions.
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Candy Stripers are supervised by a registered nurse. Hours are generally part-time though there are some volunteers who put in 40 hours a week.
Candy Stripers are generally scheduled for the same times and days each week and are expected to cover their shift or find someone who can cover it for them if they are unable to make it to the hospital.
Candy Stripers fill their day with tasks that do not require medical training. This might entail reading to a hospital patient or delivering flowers left by the flower shop. Candy Stripers are often utilized to transport patients who have been discharged to their waiting vehicles, or to x-ray or to the blood lab. Candy Stripers may be responsible for handling the front desk in the lobby, which would include directing visitors throughout the facility upon their arrival.
A Candy Striper is not usually asked to perform housekeeping duties but it would not be unusual for a Candy Striper to be asked to arrange flowers in a room or fluff patients' pillows.
A Candy Striper is an unpaid volunteer position and the program utilizes a wide range of age groups. Students as well as adults sign up across America and each hospital supervises its own Candy Striper program. In some hospitals, the volunteer organization is also asked to conduct fundraisers for the hospital scholarship programs and other needs.
