I decided to apply to be a volunteer at UNC REX Healthcare. I plan to start in the fall of 2016 if I am accepted. At UNC REX Healthcare, their college volunteer program offers students hands-on experience while working in a professional health care environment. UNC Hospitals are some of the best hospitals in the nation and I would love to get the chance to volunteer there. This would be a great opportunity to actually learn more about the health care field. As a pre-med student at Chapel Hill, I plan to go medical school and work in the medical field. Volunteering at this hospital would allow me to see what it’s like to be a health care professional and the daily activities that they do. I like doing volunteer work and helping the community so this seems like the perfect fit for me.

At UNC Healthcare I could working in a variety of departments including working patient care floors, culinary and nutrition services, work in the pharmacy, physical therapy, or same-day surgery based on availability. With the fall and spring semester program, I must be willing to commit to volunteering two semesters, 12 week each semester. If I change my mind and decide to volunteer this summer, I must be willing to work 10 weeks. If I work in a clerical area I could potentially work from 5pm to 9pm. I would only have to work one four-hour shift once a week. The clinical volunteer opportunities are available Monday-Friday 8am to 12pm or 12pm to 4pm.

The requirements for this volunteering position are completely doable. The only thing I would have to do would be to complete orientation guidelines and be trained in my job-specific area in which they would assign me a job area based on availability first, then I’d get to choose which area if there were more than one open position. I would have to complete a drug screening, adhere to all UNC REX Healthcare policies and procedures, including dress code, be responsible for finding replacements when unavailable for my assigned shift, and complete a health assessment to screen for TB, Pertussis, Chicken Pox and Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

The application requirements only include answering the Application Questions, a submission of two references from adults who are familiar with my work ethic and character, and a resume. There won’t be any presentations due at the end of the volunteering period.

The volunteering position is of course unpaid. It counts toward community service hours and possibly getting an EE credit. The only costs I would have for this position would be the uniform fee which is $12 and transportation costs like gas or bus fees, Depending on which location I decide to work at. There is no room and board for the summer program, I would just have to commute from on campus housing or from my residence back home.

Overall, I would say that this a very good program. The strengths outweigh the weaknesses so this is definitely something that I would be interested in doing. I would be getting hands-on experience in an educative and professional environment. I actually enjoy working with people so getting to work with people is a plus for me. With either location I chose to work at it is close to home. The fee for the uniform is reasonable. The only weakness I found with this volunteering program is that it could potentially be somewhat time consuming depending on how I can formulate my schedule for next school year or this summer.