Hello,
I am about to start volunteering at a hospital soon, and I was wondering what I as a high schooler can expect from such an experience. Will I be directly working with patients? Or is it simply desk work? What should I be aware of before I start volunteering?
Thanks in advance!
I notice this is from February but in case anyone is wondering -
It definitely depends on the hospital.
At the hospital where I volunteer (as a high school student), there are many different positions. Some volunteers do more clerical tasks and others are “candy stripers” on patient floors.
A friend of mine who volunteers elsewhere said that all teen volunteers work directly with patients.
As a minor, you are definitely limited in that you can’t do many things involving patient interaction. For example, you can’t operate stretchers. But you can talk to patients, deliver mail, and help out the nurses. However, I have yet to meet a high school student under 18 who has a directly medical volunteer position in a hospital.
If you want a role more directly involving patients, you should let your supervisor know and they can tell you if that would be possible at your particular institution.