A little online research can help you track down every nearby hospital. Use Google Maps to make your list of possible volunteer spots! Search the internet for a phone number for volunteer services, or write down the main phone number for the hospital. Make a plan for how you’ll get there, too, whether you have a car or you’ll need to use public transportation (or get a ride from someone else).
For example, a hospital might require you to work 4 hours per week or 100 hours per year. Some hospitals have special volunteer programs and internships for students. Requirements also change based on the position. Even if you can start volunteering at 16, you might not be able to talk to patients until you’re 18. If you’re under 18, you’ll need permission from your parents to volunteer at a hospital.
You can also contact the volunteer office directly, usually by phone or email, to ask them what volunteer opportunities are available.
If you want to interact with visitors, many hospitals need door greeters, volunteer receptionists, and gift shop cashiers. If you prefer helping patients look for positions that involve delivering gifts, socializing with patients, or entertaining them. You might want to interact with children, in which case you might volunteer as a baby cuddler, play with adolescent children, or help bring them to and from appointments. If you prefer not to interact with anyone, you could volunteer to do administrative work like filing, shredding, inventory, or other tasks.
Choose more than one area of interest on your application, just in case you don’t get your first choice. Most hospitals conduct background and criminal checks as part of the screening process, so be sure to report any history on the application. Send in the application as soon as possible, as slots may be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you’re applying to a special summer program, check the application dates to ensure you stay within the deadline.
Remember: this isn’t a formal job interview! Give honest answers and just be yourself; the hospital needs volunteers and genuinely wants to find a good placement for you.
You’ll also likely have to pass a drug and alcohol test before being cleared. Some hospitals also require influenza (flu) vaccination and varicella (chicken pox) vaccination or immunity. If you don’t have the necessary vaccinations, you’ll need to get them before volunteering. Visit your primary care doctor or local health department if you need to get your vaccinations or a TB test.
You’ll get your official assignment during orientation, which might be online or in-person, depending on the hospital. Pay attention and ask questions during orientation to excel as a volunteer. It’s also a great time to meet some of the people you might be working with. Some hospitals require orientation before you complete your application. In that case, you’ll get information about the application and interview process during orientation.
Maintain some distance between yourself and the patients you work with. Being caring and helpful is important, but giving out contact information blurs your professional boundaries and compromises your objectivity. Avoid physical contact with the patients unless it’s required as part of your job. This prevents you from passing any germs back and forth between you and the patients.
Remember to keep to other work attire policies if the hospital also has them, including footwear and masks. For example, some hospitals require volunteers to wear flat, closed-toe shoes. Be prepared to pay a small fee for your own uniform, as hospitals often charge volunteers for them. If you ever lose your badge, let your supervisor know.
For example, if you want to tell a story about your work at the hospital, be careful not to include the patient’s name or any specifics about them. Remember: you’re also responsible for knowing and following the hospital’s other policies, including emergency procedures and infection control.
For example, some patients might expect special treatment from you after you accept a gift, which is why it’s so important to be polite and refuse. You could lose your volunteer position otherwise. If a patient gives you something, try saying, “This is very nice of you, but I can’t accept this,” or “You’re very kind, but no, thank you. " If a patient insists that you accept a gift, take it and give it to your supervisor. Let them know that you politely declined, but the patient wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
If you aren’t sure of your career path yet, write down your thoughts and reflections in a notebook as you observe the hospital each shift. Explore different departments if you can, so you can get as much experience as possible in all areas of the hospital. Be sure to add your volunteer work to your resume or college application! Even if it isn’t related to your career goals, it shows that you’re a dedicated worker, which is a valuable trait.
For example, if a child staying overnight in the hospital is bored, you can make it your mission to find them a few toys to play with.
