College Volunteers

Kelly, I commend you and your organization for providing students this opportunity, which can be win-win for everyone involved. Having worked as a service-learning school administrator with students ages 2 ½ through college, I would offer this advice: Even though these students are in college, they still need lots of guidance. Be sure the college provides a liaison supervisor to reinforce common goals you agree to as partners with them. This college supervisor should be actively involved in your program and not expect your staff to handle all the student-related concerns (keeping track of where students are, what they are doing, evaluation, grading, transportation problems, liability problems, discipline problems, etc.).

You might be interested in reading my blog post about hospice volunteer medical students. A contact e-mail address is included in the research article.

These are some hospice-related activities high school and college students can do:

1. Do in-office work, including filing, faxing, and preparing admission packets.
2. Host tea parties, movies, and other social events at nursing homes.
3. Provide one-on-one time and attention by reading to, writing letters for, playing games with, or simply talking and listening to patients.
4. Videotape, record, or make booklets of patients’ life reviews.
5. Assist families with yard work, cleaning out the garage, planting flowers, small paint jobs, and home-building projects (i.e. wheelchair ramp).
6. Assist patients and families by doing errands, walking dogs, picking up groceries, etc.

I wish you and this amazing partnership many rainbow smiles.

Frances Shani Parker, Author
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes” (includes a chapter on school-nursing home partnerships)
"Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog"

by Rashani Rea & Kathy Douglas

Those who companion suffering daily, such as hospice nurses and volunteers, will surely appreciate this beautiful work. With 62 original art collages by Rashani Réa, five beautiful chapters by Kathy Douglas, and a foreword by Jean Watson, this exquisite book is a peaceful refuge for contemplation, inquiry, reflection and inspiration for those who traverse the joys and sorrows of nursing.

Kathy Douglas, RN, MPH-HA is a nationally recognized nurse leader, filmmaker and entrepreneur.

Rashani Réa is a prolific artist and musician, a creatrice of sanctuaries and a respected spiritual mentor.

“This is a beloved book and beyond a book. It is an evocative, poetic, ecstatic, and inspirited sacred, experiential calling. A calling to you--YES, YOU.”

— Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, Living Legend (AAN)

“Those who companion suffering daily need to turn inward to metabolize what they have witnessed. This exquisite book, filled with beautiful images and poetic wise words, is the inspiration and support needed to grow a wise heart.”

— Frank Ostaseski, founder and director of the Metta Institute and author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully

“In this unique time of the COVID-19 pandemic, this book should be considered a tribute to the tremendous courage being displayed by nurses around the world. There is much wisdom conveyed throughout by those who have been there serving others with such grace.”

— Greg Schneider President, HVA, co-author of The Changing Face of Hospice Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care

Buy Now

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Frances Shani Parker October 8, 2008 at 8:19am

Kelly, I commend you and your organization for providing students this opportunity, which can be win-win for everyone involved. Having worked as a service-learning school administrator with students ages 2 ½ through college, I would offer this advice: Even though these students are in college, they still need lots of guidance. Be sure the college provides a liaison supervisor to reinforce common goals you agree to as partners with them. This college supervisor should be actively involved in your program and not expect your staff to handle all the student-related concerns (keeping track of where students are, what they are doing, evaluation, grading, transportation problems, liability problems, discipline problems, etc.).

You might be interested in reading my blog post about hospice volunteer medical students. A contact e-mail address is included in the research article.

These are some hospice-related activities high school and college students can do:

1. Do in-office work, including filing, faxing, and preparing admission packets.
2. Host tea parties, movies, and other social events at nursing homes.
3. Provide one-on-one time and attention by reading to, writing letters for, playing games with, or simply talking and listening to patients.
4. Videotape, record, or make booklets of patients’ life reviews.
5. Assist families with yard work, cleaning out the garage, planting flowers, small paint jobs, and home-building projects (i.e. wheelchair ramp).
6. Assist patients and families by doing errands, walking dogs, picking up groceries, etc.

I wish you and this amazing partnership many rainbow smiles.

Frances Shani Parker, Author
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes” (includes a chapter on school-nursing home partnerships)
"Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog"

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