When you volunteer at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware and the surrounding campuses in the Delaware Valley, you are joining an impressive team of more than 750 volunteers who selflessly devote thousands of hours each year to the hospital. Our volunteers are the heart of the organization—they dedicate time and energy to support the hospital staff and our patients and families.
Our volunteers support over 80 departments throughout the hospital in a variety of roles from working directly with patients and families to working behind the scenes to support the staff. The volunteers at Nemours Children's make a difference by providing a special human connection that often eases the stress during difficult times.
These moments leave a lasting impression. The impact of your service to our program is much larger than you can imagine.
Hear from our volunteers about their experience and opportunties at Nemours.
Volunteers at Nemours are valued members of the health care team providing services to more than 80 departments through the hospital and outpatient sites located in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Many work directly with patients and their families. Others choose to work behind the scenes, supporting the staff in clerical and reception roles. Online applications are available from September through April each year.
Complete and submit the online application, explaining why you would like to participate in our program.
Complete and submit the required forms:
Applications will not be reviewed if we do not receive both the application and the required forms.
Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email with additional requirements you will need to complete. Once you complete those requirements, you will need to attend an interview/information session.
After you attend one of our interview/information sessions and if we are able to make a match, you will be required to:
Volunteering at Nemours Children's allows you to gain experience preparing for future endeavors in health care and particularly in a pediatric medical setting. We offer volunteering opportunities throughout the year, working on a semester basis for college students. You must meet the standard 50-hour requirement within six months in order to be a participant in the college program. The college program provides services to more than 80 departments throughout the hospital and the Delaware Valley. Many college students work directly with patients and their families.
Please note that the Volunteer Office does not handle internships, externships, shadowing or observing. These requests should be directed to the department of interest.
Complete and submit the online application, explaining why you would like to participate in our program.
How to submit the required forms:
Sign up for an interview/information session.
After the interview/information session you attend, and if we are able to make a match, you will be required to:
Each summer high school students volunteer in order to gain experience working in a hospital setting. Students do support work that truly makes a difference in the overall care of patients and their families and do so in a variety of age-appropriate assignments. We offer positions in various departments throughout the hospital. Many placements allow the high school students to interact with patients and families at the hospital. Our summer high school volunteer program is highly competitive and applications are chosen through a lottery system. Placements are decided by the Volunteer Services Office staff based on the number of available openings in the hospital and the number of applications received.
Applicants must have consistent patience interacting with children from birth to age 18 as well as with their siblings and parents. They must also be able to speak and understand English and be willing to learn the skills necessary to be competent in their duties and responsibilities. Lastly, all student volunteers must adhere to the Nemours Standards of Behavior and be committed to the Nemours goal of helping children, everywhere, grow into healthy adults.
Requirements
The 2023 Summer High School Volunteer application is closed and the program is full. Please check back in early 2024 to learn more about the 2024 program and to apply.
The 2023 High School Volunteer application is closed and the program is full. Please check back in early 2024 to learn more about the 2024 program and to apply.
All potential candidates for the SHSVP, must attend an entire Interview Session to be considered for the program. Attendance at a session is mandatory but does not guarantee placement in the program.
2023 Interviews will be held March 8, from 4–6 p.m.; March 9, from 4–6 p.m.; and March 11, from 9–11 a.m. You will be asked to choose a session when filling out your application.
If you are accepted into the SHSVP, you will be required to:
Since 1985, Auxiliary members have helped the hospital’s patients and their families, visitors and the community. Members of the Auxiliary accomplish this by volunteering throughout the Hospital and raising funds through Gift Shop operations and donations.
As an Auxilian you will: help patients, families and staff, share you skills, form new friendships, take part in social and educational events, develop your leadership skills, and enrich your life. Auxiliary members can volunteer in any of the adult volunteer programs, as well as take part in a few programs specifically for Auxiliary members.
Auxiliary gifts to the Hospital include funding of the Sensory Playroom in the Child Life Clubhouse as well as the ZeroG Gait and Balance System in the Therapeutic and Rehabilitative Department. The Auxiliary also administers the Family Assistance Fund to help qualified patients and their families with nonmedical expenses. We invite you to join us in caring by becoming a member of the Auxiliary.
Complete and submit the online application, explaining why you would like to participate in our program.
In addition, complete and submit the required forms:
Applications will not be reviewed if we do not receive both the application and the required forms.
Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email with additional requirements you will need to complete. Once you complete those requirements, you will need to attend an interview/information session.
The dates of our Interview/Information sessions vary. Once your application has been received and reviewed, further instructions on how to sign up for an Interview/Information session will be given. All further information about volunteering will be given at the Interview/Information session. If you have any questions about the volunteering requirements, please contact the volunteer office.
After you attend one of our interview/information sessions and if we are able to make a match, you will be required to:
Offers stuffed animals, toys, jewlery, flowers and attractive gifts for patients, visitors and staff
Provides language nourishment that is critical to infant brain development by reading a selection of books to infants several times a day
Provide hot beverage services to family members and visitors
Involves reading aloud to children and visitors in hospital waiting areas in order to encourage a love of books.
Engage and encourage patients and siblings in play
Provide information and emotional support to patients and their families
Hospital policy requires that you must be 16 years or older in order to volunteer at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware.
Yes, volunteers wear a uniform shirt, jacket or apron.
All volunteers must be able to commit to volunteering for 50 hours over a 6-month span. Typically, a volunteer shift will be 3-4 hours once a week.
Absolutely, there are opportunities to complete more than 50 hours. Please note that 50 hours is the minimum.
Once you have been accepted as a volunteer you will be given a shift that will take place for 3-4 hours once each week. Please notify your supervisor if you need to miss your shift for some reason.
Once you have become accustomed to keeping up with one shift there may be an opportunity to add an additional shift. This opportunity is based on the hospital’s needs and how many active volunteers we have at a particular time. In order to volunteer more than once a week you need to be a volunteer for at least 1 month. Please reach out to the Volunteer Services Office if you want to increase the number of shifts you have per week.
No, you can’t complete all 50 hours at once. You will start with one 3-4 hour shift per week and may have the opportunity to pick up more shifts in order to complete your minimum 50 hour requirement.
In addition to the online application you will need to fill out the required paperwork, which can also be found online. You will need to attend an Interview/ Information session; clear medical requirements; clear background checks; and complete hospital required online training.
A TB test is a skin test or a blood test to see if you have been exposed to Tuberculosis.
Yes, but you need to have completed two consecutive TB tests within the past 6 months. You will need to provide documentation of any in the past 6 months.
During your application process we ask you to indicate your weekly availability and your top preferences of departments where you would like to volunteer. Your placement will be selected based on this information and the hospital’s needs.
There is a Sensory Support program at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. In order to qualify for this position you must be a volunteer with us for at least 6 months, meeting the requirement of 50 hours and in good standing.
If you are going to miss your shift, we ask that you contact your department supervisor to let him or her know you will be absent. If you will be missing more than two consecutive consecutive shifts, you will need to fill out a Leave of Absence form in the Volunteer Services Office.
Shifts are scheduled to accommodate the ongoing needs of Nemours. Please contact the Volunteer Services Office to see if your department can consider your request.
Job shadowing, internships, and externships are academic pursuits and therefore are not coordinated through the Volunteer Services department. If your goal is to shadow, please call the hospital’s general number (302) 651-4000 and ask to be connected to your department of interest.
No, although volunteering at a hospital will allow you to gain experience working in a hospital it is not structured to lead to a job.
How soon you start depends on you and how quickly you complete your application and fulfill all the requirements. Please note that it take an average of 30-45 days to on-board a new volunteer. Your start date could depend on how quickly you move through the process.
Opportunities are generally available from September through April each year. Most positions are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Limited positions are available in the evenings and on weekends.
As a volunteer, you will need to:
Our volunteer program does not accept applications from individuals who are required by law to complete court appointed community service hours.
Becoming a Nemours volunteer allows you to:
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