Volunteer

Please note: If you are a college or high school student, do not complete the adult volunteer application. Instead, please follow the student volunteer application procedure listed below under Types of Volunteers > College Students. Thank you!

As of August 2024, the College Fall program is full. The College Student Application will return for the summer programs at a later date.

Because the Barnes-Jewish Hospital mission is to take exceptional care of people, we are always looking for volunteers who wish to be of help to others. Our volunteers are an important part of the care team assisting patients and families or assisting the people who care for our patients. We offer opportunities for meaningful experiences and the chance to make a difference in people's lives.

Our volunteer activities include:

• Helping patients and families navigate our campus
• Providing assistance to patient-care floors
• Welcoming patients arriving for treatment
• Supporting administrative offices in the hospital

We have opportunities for three types of volunteers:

• Adult volunteers: Fill the majority of positions that are based on availability and a specific skill set
• College students: Fill a wide range of volunteer positions that allow them to gain experience in health care
• Patient, Family and Community Advisors: Meet quarterly with hospital leaders to share feedback and insights on their personal experience at the hospital
• Teen programs: Gives high school students a chance to help us meet our mission while also learning about the hospital and the variety of careers the health care field offers

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

PATIENT AND FAMILY NAVIGATION

Navigating the Barnes-Jewish Hospital campus can be a daunting task. We strive to ensure our patients and their guests get to where they need to go easily and quickly. Our volunteers play an important role by greeting patients and helping escort them to their destination.

PATIENT CARE SUPPORT

• Staff Support: Keeping our care units running requires constant attention; no two days are the same. Volunteers help ensure our staff have the supplies and support they need to do their jobs efficiently. This may involve restocking supplies, running errands for nurses or just lending a hand when asked.
• Patient Support: The experience our patients have in our hospital beyond medical care is part of the healing process. Our volunteers can help make sure our patients receive the best care possible by visiting with them and helping to ensure they have their needs met.

SURGICAL RECEPTION

Coming to the hospital for surgery can be an emotional and intimidating event for some patients and their guests. Our volunteers help make the process easier by answering their questions over the phone before they arrive, escorting them to pre-operative areas when they arrive and supporting their guests as they wait for the surgical procedure to end. Surgical reception volunteers may also assist with various clerical duties to help days run smoothly.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Because the Volunteer Department works with more than 600 volunteers, it often needs volunteer help. Those who work in the Volunteer Department may be asked to help with general office duties such as answering phones, doing data entry or greeting visitors to the office. In some cases, volunteers may participate in specific projects within the department.

PATIENT, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY ADVISOR

A patient, family and community advisor serves as an advisor to hospital leaders, providing feedback and personal insights on the patient experience at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. These volunteers have first-hand experience at the hospital and meet in-person quarterly as a Patient, Family and Community Advisory Council (PFAC) to share stories, participate in work groups and partner with hospital teams to identify opportunities that positively impact the patient experience.

TYPES OF VOLUNTEERS

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and a range of ages. They may want to give back to the hospital for care they or a family member received here, they may be looking for a new life experience or want to be involved in caring for those in need.

ADULT VOLUNTEERS

Adult volunteers bring a wealth of experiences to Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Whether a volunteer wants direct patient interaction or wants to work behind the scenes, he or she will be able to find the opportunity that fits best. We expect our adult volunteers to work at least once a week on a regular schedule for a minimum of six months.

COLLEGE STUDENTS

Volunteering is a great way for students to gain valuable experience learning how a hospital works and gaining insight into the different careers available in the health care field. College students are asked to volunteer at least once a week for a four-hour shift for a minimum of two semesters.

Application deadlines:

• Fall – Open enrollment to apply June 1 to August 1 based on availability. All accepted candidates must begin volunteering by the second Friday of September.
• Spring – Open enrollment to apply October 1 to December 1. All accepted candidates must begin volunteering by the last Friday of January.
• Summer – Open enrollment to apply March 1 to May 1. All accepted candidates must begin volunteering by the second Friday of June.
• Must commit to a minimum of 60 hours of service or more.

• If all positions are filled, the student may choose to be placed on a waiting list to be contacted when slots open.
• Attendance: no more than three absences either excused or unexcused. All absences must be reported in advance to site volunteer supervisor and volunteer coordinator.
• Volunteer must log hours weekly either by VicTouch or VicNet.
• Letter of Verification of Service of 60 hours or more will be provided up to two years after volunteer becomes inactive.

TEEN VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

High school students aged 16 and older qualify to volunteer in our community service, year round and summer teen programs. The programs provide an immersion into the hospital and offers exposure to a wide variety of health care careers.

Community Service Program Students volunteer through their high school for specific community service credit hours. Sessions are from January – May.

Year Round Teen Program Students volunteering during the school year must volunteer until the end of the school year. Requests to volunteer for this program should be sent to [email protected]. A teen packet will be sent to you for completion. All information must be completed and submitted at one time. If you have submitted an online application you will still need to complete the teen packet . The online application is only for college student and adult volunteers at this time. Once all the required information has been received, you will be contacted to schedule an interview and discuss our volunteer program.

Summer Teen Program Students must enroll for at least seven weeks, for a total of 60 hours. We start accepting applications in February. The deadline to submit the Summer Teen Program application is April 1. Students interested in beginning the application process should call 314.362.5324.

BECOMING A VOLUNTEER

Becoming a Barnes-Jewish volunteer is easy and only takes a few steps.

1. Complete the online application
   1. Adult volunteers
   2. Patient, Family and Community Advisor volunteer
2. Submit references once the application is received
3. Participate in an interview
4. Participate in orientation

The entire process can take as little as a week but is usually completed within three weeks.

SPECIAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

We offer inpatients special services, such as our spiritual care, transplant mentorship, and CHAMP therapy dog programs. Those who qualify to be a part of one of these programs are vetted and must meet special criteria. To inquire, please contact our office.

CONTACT VOLUNTEER SERVICES

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.