For my second year service project, I chose to volunteer at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. As a volunteer, my main responsibility was to prepare patients to be discharged from the hospital. I then transported them to pick up areas to be brought home. I also dispatched the volunteer phone where I facilitated the scheduling of patient discharges, flower deliveries, and therapy dog visits. On weekends I was a greeter at an information desk where I helped visitors and patients navigate the hospital. The target population was the volunteer staff, nurses, doctors, patients and their families at the hospital. Volunteering at the hospital was transformational by providing me with exposure to a fast paced environment and the knowledge of how to work with several health care professionals. Directly interacting with patients and their families is extremely eye opening, and it has taught me to never take good health for granted. I loved getting to know the nursing staff on floors I visited often, and I made connections with several patients. My role as a volunteer has given me a glimpse into the tremendous responsibility a healthcare worker has. I have learned that a smile and a helping hand can go a long way in a settings that may be stressful or unfamiliar.
