The Art of Volunteering

May 5, 2005 -- In the years leading up to my nursing school stint, I volunteered in lots of San Francisco hospitals, clinics, and healthcare services. You don't just walk in the door and magically transform lives... There's an art to it. Most important are the things that -- even with the best of intentions -- you must never do. A volunteer must never:

  • Do anything invasive
  • Give medical advice or information to a patient or family
  • Give food or water without authorization
  • Tell a family that a patient has died
  • Make judgements about lifestyle, esp. domestic violence
  • Handle controlled substances
  • Help break up a fight or restrain a patient
  • Do schoolwork in the ER
  • Read medical records

Here are more thoughts on my experiences as a volunteer...