Community Chat

[mistriTsquirrel]

On 4/8/2014 Deb1010again said:

On 4/8/2014 mistriTsquirrel said:

My brother told me that when he was at the hospital with my dad on Saturday, he could hear a patient sobbing in the next room after someone left the room. He suspected she'd gotten some bad news. He said he wanted to go over there to console her, but he didn't know how to go about it, or if it would be appropriate.

I wouldn't mind being a shoulder to cry on for people in her situation. It would be a very difficult job, but I believe that the kindness of a stranger can be transforming for some people.

I think that if I were crying in my hospital bed and a non-threatening-looking stranger came in and put their hand on my shoulder and held my hand as I sobbed, I would feel cared for...and it would give me a stronger belief in humanity.

I wonder if there is a way to volunteer for such a position...so I wouldn't just be a random (possibly creepy) stranger. I think the fact that I'm a woman would make people less creeped out, but obtaining a hospital identification would be the only way of going about that sort of thing with any regularity.

I know that hospitals have chaplains, but some people do not have religious affiliations...and those people need comforting too.

Check with the local United Way. They act as a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities in your community. They'll have a database you can access that will detail the various opportunities. You could also talk to them about what you want to do and they can put you in contact with the appropriate person at the local hospital, hospice and/or medical clinic.

Thanks [again] Deb!!

I can't pursue much volunteer work right now, but I'd like to in the future. I'm already committed to esophageal cancer awareness, but I'd like to add on other things when possible.

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[Winkk]

I agree that volunteering is worthwhile and enjoyable. But just as an FYI, I have applied to two local hospitals and the library and they are over booked with volunteers. I even tried working with veterans but was told they have more volunteers than they do veterans. You would think that at least the hospitals would have something, but they had no openings. This is a good thing for them, but not if you are looking to volunteer.

So it may take a little hunting to find the right position for you.

[Preds]

www.unitedway.org/take-action/how-to-find-a-volunteer-opportunity

www.ehow.com › … › Charities & Organizations › Volunteer Work

Just do a web search of ""How To Volunteer or How to Find Volunteer Work"" and get ideas and insperations from there. Good Luck on your search.

[lulu2]

I've been involved in volunteering at a hospital for many years There are things some do not realize. There is an extensive background check. You must be committed to a schedule. Some people want to volunteer only when it is convenient. I helped with scheduling in the gift shop. We had women who wanted to volunteer occasionally and only certain times of the year. You cannot run a shop like this. I have to say, even though our shift is only 3.5 hours, we work very hard. There is seldom a lull.

There are many areas of the hospital that use volunteers but in the one where I participate, volunteers are not used in the nursery. They monitor the entrance/exit at all times. When we deliver flowers to maternity, unlike other floors where we bring flowers to patient rooms, we must ring a bell and someone from maternity takes the flowers. We are not allowed inside.

[Mj12]

On 4/8/2014 lulu2 said:

I've been involved in volunteering at a hospital for many years There are things some do not realize. There is an extensive background check. You must be committed to a schedule. Some people want to volunteer only when it is convenient. I helped with scheduling in the gift shop. We had women who wanted to volunteer occasionally and only certain times of the year. You cannot run a shop like this. I have to say, even though our shift is only 3.5 hours, we work very hard. There is seldom a lull.

There are many areas of the hospital that use volunteers but in the one where I participate, volunteers are not used in the nursery. They monitor the entrance/exit at all times. When we deliver flowers to maternity, unlike other floors where we bring flowers to patient rooms, we must ring a bell and someone from maternity takes the flowers. We are not allowed inside.

THANK YOU for bringing up these important points! Thank GOD there is an extensive background check.

[Yuban3]

On 4/8/2014 lulu2 said:

I've been involved in volunteering at a hospital for many years There are things some do not realize. There is an extensive background check. You must be committed to a schedule. Some people want to volunteer only when it is convenient. I helped with scheduling in the gift shop. We had women who wanted to volunteer occasionally and only certain times of the year. You cannot run a shop like this. I have to say, even though our shift is only 3.5 hours, we work very hard. There is seldom a lull.

There are many areas of the hospital that use volunteers but in the one where I participate, volunteers are not used in the nursery. They monitor the entrance/exit at all times. When we deliver flowers to maternity, unlike other floors where we bring flowers to patient rooms, we must ring a bell and someone from maternity takes the flowers. We are not allowed inside.

Thank-you for that valuable information.

Do they make accommodations for volunteers? Meaning, if they can't walk very far, etc.

Do they give the volunteer things to help them out?

I don't know, but I would think that if one is a volunteer, and not a paid employee, that they would not have to.

Am I correct, or am I wrong?

[lulu2]

On 4/8/2014 Yuban3 said:

On 4/8/2014 lulu2 said:

I've been involved in volunteering at a hospital for many years There are things some do not realize. There is an extensive background check. You must be committed to a schedule. Some people want to volunteer only when it is convenient. I helped with scheduling in the gift shop. We had women who wanted to volunteer occasionally and only certain times of the year. You cannot run a shop like this. I have to say, even though our shift is only 3.5 hours, we work very hard. There is seldom a lull.

There are many areas of the hospital that use volunteers but in the one where I participate, volunteers are not used in the nursery. They monitor the entrance/exit at all times. When we deliver flowers to maternity, unlike other floors where we bring flowers to patient rooms, we must ring a bell and someone from maternity takes the flowers. We are not allowed inside.

Thank-you for that valuable information.

Do they make accommodations for volunteers? Meaning, if they can't walk very far, etc.

Do they give the volunteer things to help them out?

I don't know, but I would think that if one is a volunteer, and not a paid employee, that they would not have to.

Am I correct, or am I wrong?

If a volunteer has mobility problems, they would more than likely be given an office job.

In some areas, paid employees resent volunteers as they feel many things done by volunteers should be paid positions. One department cut employees, then upped the number of volunteers.

[CelticCrafter]

I remember when my dad volunteered at the hospital, he had to be tested for TB because he was going to be around patients.

[kristan]

I volunteer at the Humane Society every week walking the dogs. I also donate regularly to the shelter. Dogs are my passion.

[151949]

I'm sure any hospital that has a volunteer opportunity where all you would do is feed babies the list of volunteers would be a mile long. Why don't you volunteer to try and be helpful in other ways - how about feeding adult patients? Or help the staff pass food trays and set patients up so they can eat? How about filling and passing ice water pitchers? These are thing that would be helpful. I volunteer at our little community hospital and I pass trays, set patients up and feed whoever the aides tell me need help. Recently when I arrived they said they had a paitent who had 2 broken arms and really needed a private duty aide but until that happened would I just stay with her. I fed her , washed her , did her mouth care and washed and fixed her hair. The nurses and the patient were extremely grateful. The poor woman could not even blow her own nose.