{"id":5048,"date":"2015-10-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-14T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/2015\/10\/14\/not-your-typical-public-service-volunteer-position\/"},"modified":"2021-08-03T09:51:26","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T15:51:26","slug":"not-your-typical-public-service-volunteer-position","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/not-your-typical-public-service-volunteer-position\/","title":{"rendered":"Not your typical public service volunteer position"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
A CSU student volunteers at Medical Center of the Rockies Emergency Department as part of UCHealth’s volunteer\/student program. The student volunteers get experience, as well as school credits, in the program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Colorado State University student Wahida Khan is thinking about a career in health care. The senior is majoring in biomedical and chemical engineering, but it wasn\u2019t until her experience at Medical Center of the Rockies that she realized she had made the right choice in setting her sights on medical school.<\/p>\n

While she was searching for volunteer opportunities, CSU advisors told Khan about MCR\u2019s Emergency Room Volunteer program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe MCR emergency department volunteer program has been incredible for the students,\u201d said CSU Health Professions Advisor Linda Stoddard. \u201cIt gives them a good overview of the health care industry and the culture of it, which is really good for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since January, Khan has spent three hours each Saturday volunteering in MCR\u2019s emergency room. Her day\u2019s duties may include stocking carts, replenishing blankets, answering patient questions or running to get something for a nurse. She\u2019s an extra set of hands and another smiling face to help with the patients, said ER Charge Nurse Bob Olsen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe benefit from (the volunteers\u2019) great service because they are so humble and enthusiastic,\u201d added Dr. Jamie Teumer, MCR\u2019s chief of staff and ER medical director.<\/p>\n

But for Khan, it\u2019s more than just helping the hospital. She\u2019s helping herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s allowed me to know that I\u2019ve made the right choice of premed, but also to know that I need to work on my skills,\u201d Khan said.<\/p>\n

One of the toughest challenges for the CSU student volunteers \u2014 which Olsen has observed and Khan agrees with \u2014 is communicating with patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cOlder volunteers are more comfortable in their own skin when talking with staff and patients,\u201d said Olsen, who previously worked at Poudre Valley Hospital with its successful ER volunteer program. \u201cThe students seem to be shyer and more reserved \u2014 until you get to know them. Then what you realize is that these kids are incredibly smart. It\u2019s jaw-dropping how mature and intelligent they are at this age.\u201d<\/p>\n

Khan is happy for the opportunity to improve. \u201cThis is not your typical public service volunteer position,\u201d she said. \u201cThese people come in with health conditions and need to be comforted. Being a volunteer is a way for me to get comfortable talking to people, especially patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teumer believes it\u2019s these experiences that benefit the students the most.<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides the exposure to our processes, they get a better understanding of the human side of it,\u201d he said. \u201cEven if they decide not to go into this profession, they\u2019ll take those life lessons with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

And for some volunteers, their experiences help them decide \u2014 before they spend lots of time and money \u2014 to follow a different career path.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had one case where a volunteer came through the program and witnessed a trauma,\u201d Olsen said. \u201cThat volunteer came back and said that they had learned something from it \u2014 that this was not for them. It\u2019s a bit of an education for the students. They get a chance to see in close proximity if it\u2019s what they want to do. It\u2019s another tool to help them decide what\u2019s best for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Khan said she\u2019s realized how valuable volunteering can be. Unlike a shadowing program \u2014 what she called a passive opportunity to see what a professional does \u2014 MCR\u2019s volunteer program provides active opportunities where one can \u201cactually help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVolunteering is more about who you meet and how you change from those interactions,\u201d she said. \u201cI remember certain patients based on the conversations I had with them. As a premedical student, I am taught to think, analyze and interpret. As a volunteer, I get to feel, empathize and reflect. The volunteering experience teaches how medicine is much more than drugs, tests and scans.\u201d<\/p>\n

About 45 students are now enrolled in the MCR volunteer program. Although most work in the ER, some also volunteer in the surgical waiting room and front desk.<\/p>\n

Because of the program\u2019s success, MCR Director of Volunteer and Guest Services Linda Fisher recently expanded the program. She\u2019s added more spots, hours and opportunities that better fit school schedules and provide additional help in the ER. The program\u2019s recruitment also is based on the student\u2019s college semester rotations.<\/p>\n

The program accepts new volunteers in the fall, spring and summer semesters, but the current volunteers get first choice to extend their volunteer stays at MCR.<\/p>\n

Although students don\u2019t get paid or earn college credit, Fisher has built incentives into the program, such as being able to shadow an ER technician or nurse after 50 volunteer hours or getting to ride along with EMS after 100 volunteer hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe needed to have a progressive program,\u201d Fisher said. \u201cOur ER program is a good example of how you must adapt volunteer programs to specific age groups. These students want to make a difference, and they want to be able to not only help meet our needs at the hospital, but to have a learning experience. It\u2019s a partnership that benefits everyone involved.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Colorado State University student Wahida Khan is thinking about a career in health care. The senior is majoring in biomedical and chemical engineering, but it wasn\u2019t until her experience at Medical Center of the Rockies that she realized she had made the right choice in setting her sights on medical school. While she was searching […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2164,"featured_media":1758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[122,174,171],"class_list":["post-5048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-colorado-state-university","tag-medical-center-of-the-rockies","tag-volunteer-services"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNot your typical public service volunteer position - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Colorado State University student Wahida Khan is thinking about a career in health care. 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