ORiENTATiON EXPERiENCE

Yesterday, I went to the orientation so I could begin volunteering at Virtua Hospital. It was supposed to be from 5:00 to 6:30, but it ended up only being an hour. Usually orientations are extremely boring, but this one was great because it had cookies, crackers and cheese, and beverages as well. YUM :) I'm very excited about volunteering there. The people in the hospital are very nice and welcoming. I had no idea that hospitals use so many volunteers. I thought that there weren't going to be many people there, but to my surprise, every seat was filled. Most of the topics that were discussed during the orientation were rules and job opportunities. The rules aren't very demanding, more like common sense. For example, high school students that volunteer there have to wear yellow polo shirts that says junior volunteer and we must have a photo ID on at all times. I might as well invest all my money in polos because they seem to be all I wear anymore because I need them for school, work, and now to volunteer (great!). I also have to take a PPD test and a guidance reference form completed before I can start to volunteer. I'm sure Egan is going to love this! For people that don't know what a PPD test is because I surely didn't before I went here, it is a tuberculosis test. Tuberculosis is a deadly disease caused by mycobacteria (fungus). It usually attacks your lungs, but can also affect the central nervous system, the lymphatic system which carries clear fluid to your organs, the circulatory system which is nutrients, bones, joints, skin, and other types of systems in your body. Most of the job opportunites that the director of volunteers discussed weren't topics that I need for my senior project. They were more like doing admissions, water pitchers, making beds, and such. I talked to Diane (director) prior to the orientation and at the end of the orientation and she told me that she has a girl in the ultrasound department, but that until she's finished she will try to put me somewhere in radiology. I think it's great because now I can touch other aspects of radiology as well. Ms. Williams that is the social worker here just so happens to be her niece! It really is a small world! I'm very excited to start my internship there.