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Volunteering as a Ward Assistant
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Reply 20
17
sillyvicky
Go on the hospitals that ur interested in volunteering at trusts site.
Just find the head of PALS email (it ill be on there somewhere) send them a quick email saying youre interested in volunteering.
Just find the head of PALS email (it ill be on there somewhere) send them a quick email saying youre interested in volunteering.
Don't contact PALS, they have nothing to do with volunteering. Contact Voluntary Services, or if there isn't a specific number/email address for them, contact HR and ask to be redirected.
Reply 21
Revd. Mike
Don't contact PALS, they have nothing to do with volunteering. Contact Voluntary Services, or if there isn't a specific number/email address for them, contact HR and ask to be redirected.
Must be different at different hospitals then as that definatly the case at UHND
Reply 22
16
geriatrics is hard, but still oddly satisfying. Its made me aware of all the things I take for granted. some of them are neuro degen, but with most you can see the intelligence in their eyes, they tell you about their families and friends and stuff - or try to. Respect to the ward people, they do a absolutly great job.
Reply 23
15
How do you guys get into volunteering???? It seems that every time i ask for volunteering, it either actually a hospital shop or Im too young!!!
Reply 24
petzneo
How do you guys get into volunteering???? It seems that every time i ask for volunteering, it either actually a hospital shop or Im too young!!!
How old are you i started when i turned 16
Reply 25
17
Had a good first day 
My daily duties include clearing up the messy crash trolley, wiping it down, putting all the stuff in it in a loogical and tidy manner, cleaning drug trollies, making tea/drinks etc for patients and visitors, generally helping out with stuff, depending on how many transfers there have been; making beds, and helping out with delivering meals. There are lots of Doctors and Nurses around who chat to me, and everyone's really nice hehe.
There's a very sweet old lady who's bossing everyone around hehe. I asked her what she fancied for dinner, and she said very firmly: "The creme caramel! don't you dare tell me I'm not allowed to have it just because I'm diabetic, I fancy a treat, d'you hear?" She made me go and check with the ward sister, who said it was alright provided the doctor came and checked her insulin etc. Hehe.
Also, good news: I'm allowed to wear my red shoes
My daily duties include clearing up the messy crash trolley, wiping it down, putting all the stuff in it in a loogical and tidy manner, cleaning drug trollies, making tea/drinks etc for patients and visitors, generally helping out with stuff, depending on how many transfers there have been; making beds, and helping out with delivering meals. There are lots of Doctors and Nurses around who chat to me, and everyone's really nice hehe.
There's a very sweet old lady who's bossing everyone around hehe. I asked her what she fancied for dinner, and she said very firmly: "The creme caramel! don't you dare tell me I'm not allowed to have it just because I'm diabetic, I fancy a treat, d'you hear?" She made me go and check with the ward sister, who said it was alright provided the doctor came and checked her insulin etc. Hehe.
Also, good news: I'm allowed to wear my red shoes
Reply 26
They got a doctor to check the insulin?! Hell, round here the patient's lucky if they get a nurse to do it...
Am I bitter about the understaffing on the wards? ....Never
Am I bitter about the understaffing on the wards? ....Never
Reply 27
17
Becca-Sarah
They got a doctor to check the insulin?! Hell, round here the patient's lucky if they get a nurse to do it...
Am I bitter about the understaffing on the wards? ....Never
Am I bitter about the understaffing on the wards? ....Never
Reply 28
17
Revd. Mike
My daily duties include clearing up the messy crash trolley, wiping it down, putting all the stuff in it in a loogical and tidy manner,
Reply 29
11
Renal
The pre-arranged order logical and tidy manner?
Yeah I was going to say, I hope you didn't decide to alphabetically order all the equipment or something. Then again seeing as I barely know my stethoscope from my thermometer, I doubt I could do a crash trolley alphabetically anyway.
Reply 30
Renal
I would never, ever, trust a ward staff nurse to check or adjust the doseage of any drug I am taking.
What about the grizzled veterans? I felt safe in the hands of the Sister on the ward I was at.
Reply 31
17
Some, maybe.
But the point is that, in general, as regards diabetes on the wards here, doctors do insulin, nurses do BM.
But the point is that, in general, as regards diabetes on the wards here, doctors do insulin, nurses do BM.
Reply 32
17
Renal
The pre-arranged order logical and tidy manner?
Whenever the trolley gets used it seems that the crash team just throws stuff back into it however they like. So when I clean it I have to put all the orange needles into the one tray, all the blue into another, all the geudel airways in one corner, laryngoscopes in another etc.
Reply 33
I had my last time volunteering as a ward assistant before exams today!
That's all I have to say, really. I didn't do exciting things like you. Though one of the patients I talked to was absolutely fascinating - they'd sneaked under the Iron Curtain years ago.
That's all I have to say, really. I didn't do exciting things like you. Though one of the patients I talked to was absolutely fascinating - they'd sneaked under the Iron Curtain years ago.
Reply 34
17
Revd. Mike
Whenever the trolley gets used it seems that the crash team just throws stuff back into it however they like. So when I clean it I have to put all the orange needles into the one tray, all the blue into another, all the geudel airways in one corner, laryngoscopes in another etc.
Reply 35
11
theredsox
they'd sneaked under the Iron Curtain years ago.
they'd sneaked under the Iron Curtain years ago.
From cubicle 4 to 5?
Reply 36
17
Renal
There should be a pre-arranged order, i.e. suction catheters in top drawer left tray, et tubes in top drawer second left tray.
Well, nothing's labelled, and apart from the top drawer which is divided into sections for needles, syringes, tourniquets etc, everything else was a mess, literally entwined and piled on top of eachother. Defib pads mixed in with dressings, tracheal inducer thingy shoved through the chain of safety glasses and so on.
Reply 37
17
Revd. Mike
Well, nothing's labelled, and apart from the top drawer which is divided into sections for needles, syringes, tourniquets etc, everything else was a mess, literally entwined and piled on top of eachother. Defib pads mixed in with dressings, tracheal inducer thingy shoved through the chain of safety glasses and so on.
Reply 38
17
I got confused for an SHO twice yesterday Once I was asked to check a patients insulin, and once if I'd recannulate someone. I was even wearing an ID on my chest that said VOLUNTEER
Apparently I look like one of the regular SHOs on the ward.
Once I was asked to check a patients insulin, and once if I'd recannulate someone. I was even wearing an ID on my chest that said VOLUNTEER Apparently I look like one of the regular SHOs on the ward.
Reply 39
that is encouraging
Related discussions
- Year 12 work experience for nursing
- what types of volunteer work is good for getting into healthcare?
- Advice for an aspiring clinical psychologist
- GEM options
- Taking a gap year to reapply for Medicine – jobs/volunteering advice?
- Am i a failure?
- Volunteering as a ward volunteer
- Getting a place on midwifery degree
- Medicine in Russell Group Universities
- kings college hospital volunteering
- Unable to Choose between Children's Nursing or Primary Teaching
- How to list this experience in my CV?
- Psychology undergraduate
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