Junior Volunteers
High School Students with a Passion for Helping
Liam
2023 Junior Volunteer
Junior Volunteers Learn on the Job
For more than two decades, Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital has welcomed junior volunteers every summer. Many of Sentara's own nurse leaders and clinicians got their start through the program and now enjoy opportunities to give back to the next generation.
Junior volunteers shadow nurses, doctors, medical imagining professionals, and others to gain valuable hands-on experience supporting patients and assisting staff from every hospital division. Students "graduate" from the program with a deeper understanding of the wide range of healthcare careers and a more grounded understanding of the experience of working in a fast-paced hospital environment.
In the words of 2023 Junior Volunteer Marget Lee "Joining the Junior Volunteer program will only benefit you, whatever career path you choose to follow."
Learn more about the Program
Our Junior Volunteer Program gives high school students the opportunity to experience what it is like to work in the healthcare field while giving back to their community.
The program has the goals of:
-Exposing students to careers in health and healthcare
-Increasing knowledge of personal and community health
-Giving experience in a hospital setting to high school students
The Junior Volunteer Application is an online based application. It opens in February of the same year
Who should apply?
Any 15-18 year old high school interested in healthcare careers or want to experience what it looks like to work in a healthcare setting.
How many hours will I complete if I finish the program?
You will receive around 25 hours of volunteer time. There will be an opportunity to receive more hours at request.
When will I volunteer?
During orientation we will be scheduling placements. You will be placed in a department, day, and time that works for you. You will have one or two placements that are in a 3 or 4-hour shift. We work with your schedule as best we can.
When are the Cohort orientations?
There will be two cohorts this summer. Please choose one cohort. Each cohort will be four weeks total with two mandatory sessions. Orientation Part 1 must be complete before attending Part 2. Part 1 and Part 2 must be complete before you begin volunteering. The All Day Sessions will contain both Part 1 and Part 2. For each session there will be a limit of 10 individuals.
Orientation Part 1 Options:
June 4 at 1 pm- 3:45 pm OR June 5 at 9:30 am - 12:15 pm
July 9 at 1 pm - 3:45 pm OR July at 10 9:30 am- 12:15 pm
Orientation Part 2 Options:
June 5 at 12:45 pm- 3:45 pm OR June 6 at 9:30 am - 12 pm
July 10 at 2 pm- 4:30 pm OR July 11 at 1 pm- 3:30 pm
All Day Sessions
June 7 at 9:30 am- 4 pm
July 12 at 9:30 am- 4 pm
Where will I volunteer in the hospital?
We try to place students in an area/department they are interested in. It is not guaranteed that you will get your first choice department due to spacing and scheduling. There are areas of the hospital that we do not place student volunteers due to safety concerns. Two examples are our labor and delivery floor and the operating room.
Can I still do this program if I have a job or other volunteer experience?
We try to work with student's schedules to open up the opportunity to all. However, we do not guarantee you will be able to do both. Both orientation dates are mandatory. We recommend reaching out to Diana with any questions around scheduling.
What is the last day to apply?
The last date to apply will be April 7, 2024
Can I join both cohorts?
To make sure everyone has an opportunity, each person can only participate in one cohort
I am going to turn 15 in the summer, can I participate?
We will only accept those who turn 15 on or before their orientation date.
Do you require the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Yes, we currently require COVID-19 and other vaccines to be able to participate in the Junior Volunteer program. There is an option to try to get a medical or religious exemption, but it is not guaranteed.
What will I be doing at the hospital?
During orientation you will explore healthcare careers, have an in-depth tour of the hospital, meet with your preceptor and team, opportunity to give back to your community, and more! Once you are placed in a department you will have shadowing experience and possibly even help support caring for patients depending on the department.
If you have any other questions, please email Diana Webb at dmwebb2@sentara.com.
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