VCUHS Volunteer Opportunities for Adults
Adult volunteers are welcomed at the following sites. Not all sites need help every day and some may already have a full volunteer staff. Please read the brief descriptions listed below. The volunteer office will assist in finding the right volunteer opportunity for you.
*Indicates a weekend volunteer opportunity
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Arthur Ashe Reading Program
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This is a literacy effort for inner-city youth to be exposed to a variety of literary resources. Volunteers are stationed in the main waiting area of the Children’s Pavilion where they offer to read to children. Children can then select a book to take home. Volunteers come weekly for a morning or an afternoon session.
The CHEC Library is an information center for patients and staff who are interested in learning about any aspect of their diagnosis, treatment, etc. Volunteers are stationed at the desk, answer the phone and assist drop-in visitors.
Volunteers work on the pediatric unit with in-house patients. Many times volunteers will be in the playroom, unless the Child Life Specialist requests that the volunteer works one-on-one in a patient’s room. The coordinator for the unit is Heather Kinney who interviews each volunteer who may be interested in this opportunity and accepts volunteers based on the interview and the current needs of the unit.
Clinic Assistant
Many clinics enjoy having adult volunteers to help them keep the clinic running smoothly. Women’s Health, Mammography at Stony Point, Asthma Nursing, Wound Care, and Geriatric Medicine are among the clinic offices seeking volunteers to help in a variety of ways. Volunteers might perform clerical tasks, answer telephones, and/or enter data in the computer system.
Clerical
There are several clinic offices that are seeking volunteer office help, mainly filing in their medical records department. Pulling charts for patient visits and replacing them in the system is a never-ending job and can be overwhelming for a busy office. Any help is in this area always appreciated.
Dogs on Call – The Center for Human-Animal Interaction
This is a very active program for volunteers who have well-mannered dogs. The owner/pet team visits patients both in-house and in clinics. The dogs are carefully screened by their vet and by the Delta Society before being accepted into the program. Once accepted, the dogs and their owners thoroughly enjoy the experience.
Gift Shop*
Always a fun place to volunteer! Our gift shop has expanded and always needs lots of help greeting and assisting customers, stocking, and working the cash register.
Hayes E Willis Clinic
Located in Southside Plaza, this clinic offers health care to a diverse population of patients who live in the area. Volunteers are located at the reception desk. Reach Out and Read materials are available for distribution by volunteers and staff. This is an especially good volunteer opportunity for a bi-lingual volunteer. (Bi-lingual volunteers should not attempt to interpret medical information or physician/patient dialog, but are very helpful with registration of patients).
Information Desk*
Volunteers are always needed to assist with directing patients and their families through our buildings. Ambulatory Care Center offers volunteer opportunities Monday through Friday, Gateway Information and many new information desks in the Critical Care Building welcome volunteers seven days a week.
Mail and Flower Delivery
Volunteers sort and deliver the mail to patients in the morning on weekdays. Another volunteer delivers flowers in the afternoon. This opportunity does require the ability to walk for extended periods of time and throughout a large medical complex.
Massey Cancer Center
Working from the Linen-Powell Library, volunteers stock a hospitality cart and offer reading materials and snacks to patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. They also help put together information for patients and staff, sit at the information desk in the Library, and work on various fundraising projects to raise funds for hospitality cart items.
MCC – Stony Point
The VCUHS satellite facility at Stony Point maintains a branch of the Linen-Powell library offering the same services as the downtown library. This site is frequently preferred by volunteers who do not choose to drive downtown. It is not as busy as the downtown library, making it a quieter place to volunteer.
Meeter/Greeter for Critical Care Hospital*
Volunteers are needed at several of the units in the new hospital. There is a space set aside for volunteers to act as a greeter to guests and families. They act as liaison between the families and the patient’s care providers, often notifying the nursing station that a guest has arrived and letting guests know when they may visit. The volunteer can also direct the guest to the waiting area for the unit, cafeteria, gift shop, etc.
Nursing Unit Assistant*
This is usually an opportunity for College and Junior Volunteers, but nursing units have also taken adults who are interested in a weekly volunteer opportunity. Often adults who are “re-thinking” career choices and considering a career in nursing take advantage of this opportunity assisting the staff at the nurses station, answering phones and making packets.
Palliative Care Unit*
The patients on this unit are hospitalized for pain management or for end of life issues. Volunteers sit at the nursing station answering phones and call bells and helping with special projects, often working with families as much as or more than patients. There is a full kitchen on the unit and many times volunteers make cookies and coffee for visitors and guests. The coordinator of this unit is very energetic and makes it an interesting and gratifying place to volunteer.
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology – ASK Clinic
Volunteers work in the play area with patients (and frequently their siblings) who are waiting for treatment. They may also be asked to sit beside a child undergoing chemotherapy to play a game or assist with an art project. Volunteers also make sure the play area is neat, keep the toys clean, and maintain the toy shelves.
Peri-Surgery/Surgical Waiting Area
Volunteers work at the reception desk assisting the staff when patients are admitted for surgery, keeping track of waiting family and friends, and giving updates when they are available.
VCUHS Auxiliary
This is an opportunity for individuals who are interested in promoting the welfare of the health system and the patients, visitors, and staff. The Auxiliary arranges many on-site fundraising projects and donates the proceeds to enhance patient care. They also run the hospital gift shop and sponsor other endeavors, such as the Arthur Ashe Reading Room. Individuals can also become involved on the Auxiliary Board, which meets monthly.
Volunteer Visitor
Volunteer visitors take magazines to the various nursing units, making sure the waiting rooms are stocked with reading materials, and offer reading materials to patients when appropriate. A smile and friendly word goes a long way!
Thank you for interest in volunteering with VCUHS!