Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering at Lakeland Regional Medical Center is not only a great way to help your community; it is a great way to help yourself! While performing many valuable services for our patients, families and staff, volunteers have the opportunity to
- Offer assistance to patients and families
- Assist our clinical staff - allowing them to focus more time on our patients
- Make a difference in someone's life
- Learn or develop skills
- Gain work experience
- Build self-esteem and self-confidence
- Improve health
- Meet new people
- Feel needed and valued
From the first Red Cross volunteers in 1916 to the chartering of the first Auxiliary in 1956 to our current Volunteer Service program, volunteering at Lakeland Regional Medical Center has a long and rich history. Once known as "Pink Ladies" operating the Sewing Guild and Gift Cart, the role of the hospital volunteer has grown and changed along with the hospital it serves. The program now includes opportunities for men and women of all ages with a variety of skills and experience.
Today our volunteers can serve in the following assignments:
Waiting Room Host & Hostesses - Are you a compassionate individual who always wanted to volunteer but was afraid your limited walking abilities would prevent you from giving service at a place as large as the hospital? Our intensive care and surgical waiting rooms need patient and caring volunteers to staff our family waiting areas. This is often a time of great anxiety for our families, and a warm, caring volunteer can make this experience a little less stressful. These are all seated positions but volunteers do need to be able to circulate and let people in and out of secure areas.
Escort/Errand Service - Attention mall walkers! How would you like to get that walking done while lending assistance to our clinical teams? Escort/Errand service volunteers often record five miles or more while running x-rays to and from the units, picking up and delivering to our labs, admitting and discharging patients plus a myriad of errands to help deliver services to our patients and their families. If you like to be active and enjoy meeting new people in an exciting and interesting environment, you will want to join our Escort/Errand team today!
Courtesy Tram - Friendly conscientious individuals needed to drive courtesy tram escorting visitors from parking to entrance. If you love the outdoors and meeting lots of people this is the place for you. Must be at least 17 years of age with valid drivers license. Drivers must pass a physical and drug screen to qualify.
Escort/Errand Service - Attention mall walkers! How would you like to get that walking done while lending assistance to our clinical teams? Escort/Errand service volunteers often record five miles or more while running x-rays to and from the units, picking up and delivering to our labs, admitting and discharging patients plus a myriad of errands to help deliver services to our patients and their families. If you like to be active and enjoy meeting new people in an exciting and interesting environment, you will want to join our Escort/Errand team today!
Patient Information - Only enthusiastic and outgoing persons need to apply for our patient information desk. Here our Volunteers field all patient information calls and connect friends and family to the patient's room. Minimal computer experience is helpful. Patience and compassion is a must. We have openings on all weekdays, evenings and weekends.
Gift Shop - Do you love people? Do you love to shop? Come share your knowledge, experience and time in our beautiful Gift Shop. The shop is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 am until 6 pm and Saturday & Sunday from Noon - 4:30. We have openings on weekends and weekday afternoons.
Lakeland Regional Cancer Center - Our state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility is in need of volunteers to assist in our waiting areas escorting patients to and from treatment, courtesy tram and to help with light office work. Cancer survivors and their families find their unique experience gives them a special empathy for those facing the challenges and fear a cancer diagnosis can bring. However, we welcome anyone with a compassionate heart and desire to help others in the warm and caring environment of our cancer center.
Pet Therapy - If you and your certified therapy dog would like to share that special TLC only an animal can bring, you will want to sign up for our Pet Therapy program. Many patients miss the affection of their own four legged family members during their hospital stay and a few moments with your affectionate pet brighten their day. Hours are flexible and we have many openings available.
Medical Records - Every time a person is admitted to our institution, we need to locate and retrieve their file from the thousands of files we have stored in our Medical Records department and deliver it to the floor. Medical Records is certainly not the most glamorous or exciting area our volunteers give service, but the impact they have on our ability to respond to the needs of our patients is immeasurable. This is the ideal position for someone with limited mobility as this is a seated position that does not require walking.
Flower Delivery - No volunteer feels more loved and welcomed than when delivering flowers. If you would like to bring a smile to the faces of our patients, you will enjoy our floral service. Our flower desk is open weekdays from 10 am - 2 p.m. We have openings on many afternoons.
Healing Arts - Artists and musicians are needed to bring the healing power of the arts to our patients, visitors and staff. Opportunities include playing relaxing and soothing music on our beautiful baby grand piano and facilitating art experiences with patients and their families in our waiting rooms and in-patient units. If you are a musician or visual artist, this is a great way to put your talent to good use.
Mobile Library Cart - Bring a smile and a complimentary magazine or art activity to patients who cannot leave their rooms. This service is for outgoing individuals who enjoy walking and are physically able to push a small cart loaded with magazines. Weekday, evening and weekend opportunities are available.
Medical Records - Every time a person is admitted to our institution, we need to locate and retrieve their file from the thousands of files we have stored in our Medical Records department and deliver it to the floor. Medical Records is certainly not the most glamorous or exciting area our volunteers give service, but the impact they have on our ability to respond to the needs of our patients is immeasurable. This is the ideal position for someone with limited mobility as this is a seated position that does not require walking.
Emergency Room - Did you know that the LRMC Emergency Department is the second busiest ER in Florida? We are a Level II Trauma center and see seriously critical patients on a regular basis. Our staff is looking for volunteers to escort patients to the treatment area, run tests to and from the labs, sit with a frightened patients while they wait for family to arrive, help re-stock supplies and many other challenging and rewarding tasks to help people at their most critical time of need. If you have the time, energy and the interest, our ER is for you. The ER is open 24/7 and volunteers are needed round the clock.
Nightingale Nurse - Are you a retired or inactive RN or LPN? As a Nightingale Nurse Volunteer at LRMC you will have the privilege of spending time one-on-one with a patient who needs YOU, and what only YOU can provide - things that do not require the skills of a nurse, just the heart of a nurse. Positions open weekdays, evenings and weekends.
Teen Volunteer Program - Teens work side by side with clinical staff and adult volunteers gaining valuable work skills in a character-building environment. Students interested in a career in medicine find this a great way to learn about the many healthcare professions and opportunities. After completing their initial Summer Program, teens can continue to volunteer year-round in their assigned service area. Applications are accepted each year until March 31st.
All adult volunteers must pass a criminal background check and submit to an annual TB skin test. All volunteers at LRMC may be required to purchase a uniform depending on service area selected. Volunteers are given a meal voucher worth up to $6.00 in our hospital cafeteria for every day they give service.
All adult volunteers must pass a criminal background check and submit to an annual TB skin test. All volunteers at LRMC may be required to purchase a uniform depending on service area selected. Volunteers are given a meal voucher worth up to $6.00 in our hospital cafeteria for every day they give service.
We have several other opportunities available. Please call the Volunteer Services office at 687-1115 for more information or to schedule an interview.
