Learning the Ropes

Once my supervisor, Moira, and I met up, she began to show me the ropes. She first took me into the Learning Recourse office where she taught me how to sign in by punching in the last four digits of my social security number. Then we took a key and matched it to a locker for my bag. She showed me where the volunteer jackets were and where to wash my hands. 

Then, we went upstairs to the first level where she showed me where the toys were kept. I had to get the "moose key" to get into the closet where the buckets of toys were kept. As we walked upstairs, she discussed with me about the confidentiality of the patients and how important it is to act as a volunteer and not a social worker. I am there to act as a distraction, not a therapist. I also learned that if a child accidently tells me something that deservers immediate attention, such as abuse, I must tell her or a social worker so the hospital can lend its services. I learned that Children's Memorial, a place that I thought I knew so well, was so much more than a hospital; it was a miracle center. 

Moira also showed me where to clean the toys after being played with. Wiping the toys and washing my hands consistently were stressed tremendously because the hospital's main job is to keep children healthy. This was the easiest and most effective way. Next to the room where we cleaned the toys was a room for families to wait outside of the waiting room. Along with not being a therapist, I was also not to act as a babysitter. If the parents had to go with a child to his or her room, volunteers are not allowed to babysit the siblings. Therefore, the entire family is allowed to wait in a comfortable room with a television and toys. 

While I was given a ton of information in a short period of time, I felt prepared and eager to begin my work.