Healthcare or Social Work Students - Get Experience Volunteering with Hospice!

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Are you studying nursing? Are you a pre-med student? Do you aspire to be a PA or a Social Worker? Here's an opportunity to get some experience in hospice care. Consider volunteering or interning. We have several student volunteers, and they are getting amazing real-world experience for their future careers.

A volunteer coordinator works directly with you to identify opportunities to match your goals and abilities. Hospice interns work behind the scenes at the office and with the hospice team out and about.

All volunteers and interns receive free training at a local office. In the volunteer orientation, you will learn about the following:

• The goals and philosophy of hospice care
• The physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of death and dying
• Listening and communication skills
• Patient and family rights
• Professional boundaries
• Family relationships
• Grief and loss
• Spiritual and cultural diversity
• Patient confidentiality

Time Commitment

After completing training, volunteers determine the time they commit to service. Whether you give two hours a month or six hours a week, all volunteer hours are appreciated and needed. Compassus will work around your schedule.

The Qualities of An Effective Hospice Volunteer/Intern

An effective hospice volunteer should have a compassionate and kind attitude toward their patients. They should strive to provide comfort and support for both the patient and their family members. They should be reliable, punctual, and prepared for the tasks assigned to them. Good communication skills are essential in this role, and hospice volunteers should have a good understanding of hospice services, as well as the hospice philosophy of care, taught during training. Finally, hospice volunteers should be non-judgmental and respectful towards patients and their families.

Additional qualities of an effective hospice volunteer/intern include:

• Good listener
• Dependable
• Patient
• Flexible
• Empathetic and open
• Willing to serve, whether directly with families or behind the scenes

By having these qualities, hospice volunteers and interns can provide quality care to those in need of hospice services, as well as support for their families. Their presence can be a great source of comfort and help to both the patient and family members during this difficult time.