Hospitality Helps Parents Feel Better!

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You can make a parent feel better about having a child in the hospital by providing free comfort and self-care items from our Hospitality Cart. These small items make a big difference for parents!

The purpose of the Cook Children's Hospitality Cart Ambassador is to meet the basic comfort needs of inpatient parents/caregivers so they can better cope with the mental and physical stressors of having a hospitalized child.

The Hospitality Cart volunteer is someone who is outgoing, empathetic, and has the physical stamina to walk while pushing the cart around a medical unit. Individuals and teams of two are welcome. New volunteers will be trained and have the opportunity to shadow with an experienced Hospitality Cart Ambassador.

The Hospitality Cart volunteer will:

1. Sign out the Vocera badge (weekdays only) and pick up the room list from supervising staff. Room list has confidential information and must be in the volunteer's possession at all times. List should be face down when not in use.
2. Collect the cart. Make sure it is fully stocked with items from the inventory list (toiletries, blankets, fuzzy socks, magazines, puzzle books, adult coloring pages, snacks, and more).
3. Visit the rooms on the list per the set schedule.
4. Make sure items on cart are not touched by others.
5. Greet parents warmly. See if a comfort item is needed. (There is no charge for any of the items.)
6. Refer parents to their nurse for non cart-related needs.
7. Document rooms visited and any supplies given on log sheet.
8. Return cart to storage area and wipe down surfaces with disinfectant wipes.
9. Restock any items given away during the shift, as needed.
10. Inform supervising staff when supplies of any item become low.
11. Remove expiring snack and toiletry items from inventory and give to supervisor.
12. Make note of and provide feedback to supervisor regarding supplies requested or suggested by parents that are not currently offered on the cart.
13. Return room list to supervisor at end of shift. Place face down on desk.
14. Sign the Vocera back in and place in charging dock (weekday/work hours only).