A good volunteer has a friendly, customer-focused attitude and excellent communication skills. In addition to those qualities, Penn Medicine Radnor is looking for mature individuals, who are responsible, dependable, passionate, and committed. Candidates with a willingness to service, a professional demeanor, and a positive attitude toward staff, patients, and visitors make great volunteers. Medical or clinical experience is not required.
We will discuss your interests and needs during the interview process. Placements are based on organizational need and the qualifications, skills, and background of each individual volunteer. We generally assign volunteers into one of the following types of positions:
- Ambassador/Greeter: Greet and assist patients and visitors, directing/escorting them throughout the facility, patient transport, etc.
- Patient Care: Assist in clinical departments providing general patient support, stocking/unpacking supplies, assisting clinical staff with cleaning, patient transport, etc.
- Clerical/Administrative: Assist with clerical and administrative tasks, such as sorting and delivering mail, answering phones, filing, assisting with special projects, etc.
Please note: Our Volunteer Programs have limited openings and we receive a high volume of applications, so not all individuals who apply and interview will be accepted.
Year-Round Session: For this session, there are no formal start/end dates. Volunteers in this session are expected to continue their service through the summer, holidays, etc., unless other arrangements are made after beginning service. Availability changes will be accommodated when possible but cannot be guaranteed. During the school year, the shifts offered are Monday — Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, if you are interested in volunteering during other times, please indicate this on your application.
Summer Session: Volunteers in this session are expected to volunteer between June and August and to continue their service through holidays, etc., unless other arrangements are made after beginning service. Availability changes will not be accommodated during this session.
Year-Round Session: Yes. Volunteers must commit to one shift per week (at least 2 hours per shift) and are expected to complete a minimum of 50 hours. A signed verification of hours and a certificate of completion will be supplied to teens who follow all policies and procedures and meet the minimum hour requirement.
Summer Session: Yes. Volunteers must commit to one shift per week (at least 3 hours per shift) and are expected to complete a minimum of 30 hours with no more than 2 weeks of absences throughout the summer. A signed verification of hours and a certificate of completion will be supplied to teens who follow all policies and procedures and meet the minimum hour requirement. This session begins in June and concludes in August. Please review your summer commitments for time away, such as camp, sports, vacation, educational classes/programs, or other commitments. Students who need more than 2 weeks off will not be eligible for the Summer Session.
Please note: Volunteer opportunities at Penn Medicine Radnor are designed to provide ongoing support to our operations; therefore, we are unable to accommodate short-term volunteer commitments at this time.
After completing the Application Packet in its entirety, please return the Application Packet and all required documents to Volunteer Services as indicated in the packet. Volunteer Services will review the submitted packet, which make take up to 30 days. Applicants will be notified if any required documentation is missing. Please note: incomplete submissions or those with missing documentation may take longer than 30 days for processing. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the Application Packet is complete and all documents are attached before submission. When the application review is complete, Volunteer Services will determine if the applicant is eligible to move forward to the next step, which is an in person interview. The applicant will be contacted by Volunteer Services to schedule an interview.
Year-Round Session: No, there is no deadline. When open, applications are accepted on a rolling basis and we welcome you to apply to this session at any time.
Summer Session: Yes. Applications are accepted beginning on March 1st and the deadline is March 31st. Interviews will be offered on a first come, first served basis and orientation will be conducted in May/early June.
Typically, it takes about 6-8 weeks, depending on time required for health screenings, availability for interviews, etc.
While there may be some opportunities within clinical departments to interact with nurses, physicians, etc., Volunteer Services does not facilitate any internships, externships, clinical observation, or shadowing experiences.
No. Volunteer opportunities are managed independently at each location so we are unable to provide any information about opportunities at other locations.
Penn Medicine Radnor is sincerely grateful for all of the time our volunteers devote to our programs and services; however, we are not providing financial compensation for volunteers at this time.
Year-Round Session: The Year-Round Session of the Teen Volunteer Program has reached capacity and we are not accepting applications at this time. Please check back at a later date for additional opportunities.
The Teen Volunteer Program at Penn Medicine Radnor has reached capacity and we are not accepting applications at this time. Please check back at a later date for additional opportunities.
Penn Medicine Radnor greatly appreciates and relies upon the independent and responsible support of our Tenn Volunteers while providing educational opportunities and career exploration. A key focus is teaching soft skills needed for future employment or post-secondary educational programs. This starts with a student’s requirement to interact with Penn Medicine Radnor Volunteer Services staff independent of their parent/guardian.
As a parent/guardian, we ask you to prepare your child for this opportunity by:
- Allowing your child to take responsibility for the entire application process, including communication questions, requesting additional information, etc. This will help prepare them to communicate with patients and staff. Calls/emails/inquiries from parents, guardians, or other family members will not be accepted.
- Allowing the teen to complete the application packet themselves and supplying their own phone number and email address. If they don’t have an email account, now is a great time to create one!
- Reminding your child to check their voicemails and emails (including spam/junk folders) daily, be prompt, responsible, and professional in responding to inquiries from our department.
- Practicing/roleplaying communication skills and encouraging them to write down questions in advance of calling or emailing the department.
- Encouraging them to be responsible in completing all information provided by setting dedicated time aside to complete all steps outlined in the application packet.
Why are these components important while volunteering at Penn Medicine Radnor?
- Completing the Pre-Application Screening Form and Application Packet should be given the same level of detail as completing a school project. Would a teacher accept incomplete work?
- Staff and patients will expect students to follow directions in completing tasks to keep them and others safe, i.e. deliver medical items to patients or staff, adhering to privacy and confidentiality policies, etc. If initial paperwork is not fully completed as outlined, will they be able to follow our safety guidelines?
- Students will be working with patients, visitors, and staff and need to communicate with them and follow instructions. If they cannot make inquiries themselves, will they be able to communicate while volunteering?
- A student’s volunteer experience is Penn Medicine Radnor’s first impression and may offer the opportunity to be considered for future employment. Give a great first impression so we can provide a great reference!
- Communication and being responsible are required skills for college or employment opportunities. By learning these needed skills early, students have a great advantage!
It is important to know that Teen Volunteers are expected to appropriately interact with patients, staff, and visitors and adhere to Penn Medicine Radnor’s policies, procedures, and code of conduct. This will help them gain experience and invaluable professional skills for their future.