Find answers to common questions below.
Volunteer Requirements
The NGHS Volunteer Program welcomes adults, college students, and high school students 16 years of age or older.
Our adult volunteers are compassionate, empathetic, and engaged individuals who serve in a variety of areas, including Patient Friends, Emergency Services, Nursing Units, Intensive Care waiting area, Women’s Imaging, golf cart shuttle, pet therapy, Window Shops, Hospice, and information desks.
Please note that some specialty volunteer positions require more certifications or clearance, such as pet therapy, golf cart shuttles, and Mended Hearts.
Our college student volunteers are eager to gain experience and are excited to volunteer with patients and alongside medical staff. Most college volunteers volunteer in Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab, Medical Research, the Window Shops, or as Patient Friends in units such as Mother/Baby, Emergency department, Pediatrics, Med/Surg, and Oncology.
We recommend our college student applicants start their application no later than mid-term before the semester they wish to begin.
High School Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age to volunteer. NGHS High School Volunteers brighten spirits and prompt hope and healing with a smile, words of encouragement, or a listening ear. High School Volunteers perform non-clinical tasks and assist nursing units or in departments.
NGHS welcomes volunteer applicants 16 years of age and older at the time of the application submission.
Yes, NGHS volunteers are required to meet NGHS health requirements, which include IGRA (TB blood test), which is administered and paid for by NGHS Employee Health, 2 MMR vaccinations or MMR Titers, and Varicella immunization or immunity. Flu vaccinations are only required during flu season.
Check with your primary care provider to know if you have MMR/Varicella labs or vaccines on file and take documentation to your appointment with the NGHS Employee Health Office.
Volunteers are to report for their volunteer duty well-groomed and professionally dressed in their NGHS volunteer uniform and ID badge.
The Application Process
How do I apply to become an NGHS volunteer?
Adults should complete the adult application.
College Students should complete the college application.
High School Students should complete the High School application. If you are also dual-enrolled in a college, you are required to apply as a High School student volunteer.
The volunteer screening and onboarding process at NGHS can take up to 90 days. This process is designed to ensure the safety and well-being of patients and family members, as well as the success of the NGHS volunteer program. The volunteer services team may choose to decline a potential volunteer at any point during the review and onboarding process.
Year-round high school volunteers serve a minimum of one 3 – 4-hour shift per week in their assigned service area, Monday – Friday. Typically, students who participate as year-round high school volunteers are either participating in their school’s work-based learning program or are dual-enrolled. A 9 – 12-month commitment is required.
Summer-only high school volunteers serve one shift weekly over a 6–8-week period during June and July at designated campuses. This application opens annually in February.
The applications for these 2 programs are separate. Please only apply to the year-round high school volunteer program if you have year-round availability during the times listed above. If you have only summer availability, please wait for the summer application to open.
Common Questions
During the in-person interview, you will have the opportunity to discuss interests, skills, and potential placement opportunities. However, the needs of the system and placement opportunities change frequently; volunteers are not guaranteed placement in any given service area.
No. Each campus has its own unique needs. While there can be some overlap in roles across campuses, we strive to provide tailored volunteer support as needed to the specific departments and meet their unique needs. Thus, volunteer opportunities vary across campuses.
NGHS volunteers may serve in more than one area; however, the majority of college and adult volunteers prefer serving in one or two areas on a consistent basis.
Yes, Volunteer Services tracks volunteer service hours. Volunteers are responsible for signing in and out for each shift to record service hours.
Yes, Volunteer Services staff members may provide volunteer service hours or references on a case-by-case basis.
If you are a high school student and dual enrolled in a college, you are required to apply as a high school volunteer.
If a volunteer has not served in a year, they will need to contact the NGHS Volunteer Services department at volunteer@nghs.com.
Yes! High School students may apply to volunteer at any time of the year and may continue volunteering throughout the school year. High School volunteers are asked to volunteer weekly or bi-weekly and a volunteer services team member will coordinate the schedule on an individual basis with the high school volunteers. Students may also volunteer during the school year through their high school’s work-based learning program.
How to Apply
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Complete the online application.