How to Become a Hospital Volunteer
Are you interested in a health related career and would like to get more exposure to medicine? Volunteering at a hospital is one of the best ways to see if a medical career is for you. It's also a great way to let medical school admissions committees that you are serious with your interest in medicine. Even though hospitals can be large and sometimes appear impersonal, read below to find out how to better navigate the path to becoming a hospital volunteer.
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Instructions
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Explore the hospital's website. It is rare that a hospital does not have a website. Learn about their specialties. These are usually some of the best hospital departments to volunteer in.
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Look for a volunteer services link. You will find information on how to apply, what departments you can volunteer in, what expectations they have of volunteers, etc. Try to familiarize yourself with this information. The more knowledgeable you are about the volunteer program, the more serious you will appear to the volunteer coordinator.
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Contact the volunteer department directly by phone or in person when possible. Volunteer offices get excited by enthusiastic prospective volunteers. Show that you are proactive. Arrange a time to fill out forms and express your excitement to be a hospital volunteer. Ask about any documents you need to provide them with. It's much better to get the paperwork done in one meeting.
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Volunteer in more than one department. You may be interested in emergency medicine or some type of surgery, but it is important to explore as many fields a possible. If possible, arrange to switch to a new department every couple of months. You are a hospital volunteer to help other people, but to also get an accurate perspective on different medical fields.
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Be willing to perform less than glorious work. Be enthusiastic about filling water pitchers or making beds. Keep a smile on your face. Nurses and doctors will be more willing to show you procedures if you work hard and don't complain.
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Ask thoughtful questions. Doctors and nurses generally love explaining procedures and why things are done in certain ways. If they see you are truly interested in their field, they will gladly explain things.
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Be thankful. Say thank you do nurses, doctors, and patients. Gratitude will go a long way and will open doors.
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Treat patients with the utmost respect. Listen to them. Hospitals can be lonely, and hospital volunteers can be great friends to patients.
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Tips & Warnings
Nurses are extremely knowledgeable and can help you out tremendously. Make friends with the nurses.
Hospitals can be stressful places. If somebody snaps at you, it's probably because they are under a lot of stress. Don't take it personally. But do listen to what they say to see how you could have done something differently.
Hospital staff are often unaware of what volunteers are and aren't allowed to do. If you are asked to do something you aren't supposed to do, (ex: clean up blood) speak up.
Resources
- Photo Credit Jacob Windham, Maggie Smith, Temistocle Lucarelli, Erika8213
