Society for Healthcare
Volunteer Leaders
Hello,
We are interested in knowing how long it takes for a volunteer to onboard at your hospital and the steps that they take, e.g., application, interview, orientation, employee health, competencies, etc.
Is your general orientation done online or in person? If you do it in person, how long is it?
Thank you for your help! Nancy
We are very fortunate. Because my Director is a RN, we are not reliant on any other departments. We do our own background checks, badges and she is able to order the lab work. We have been doing this for a couple of years now. Our turn around time from application to being "on the job" is about 10 business days.
Orientation is sent out in an email a week after start date.
onboarding primarily depends on the candidate's time in completing the electronic take home orientation. The orientation to view is on our website, however, I provide hard copy forms to sign. I do not do DocuSign. The steps include application (hardcopy or electronic), interview, completion of orientation paperwork utilizing the online orientation, volunteer data base set up once all documents are completed, employee health calendar set up for their health appointment with drug screen, criminal background check. Once cleared; follow up appt for uniform, ID badge, placement and training scheduling. Timeframe can run a week to a month. Our VS is one FTE with a current onboarding of a PRN coordinator for Hospice.
Several years ago I switched my onboarding processes and included the volunteer orientation with the hospital employee orientation. I interview interested volunteer applicants, assess skills and determine an appropriate volunteer placement. Our HR department conducts all testing and background checks free of charge for the incoming volunteer. The volunteer attends hospital orientation for all the necessary HIPAA, safety, confidentiality, etc. Following orientation, I do some specific volunteer orientation and then schedule them for orientation to their specific volunteer role. The process has been good for us as I don't have to wait to have orientations when I have several new volunteers -- I can just work them into orientation every two weeks that the hospital is hosting.
Have Questions?
Contact us at shvl.email@gmail.com
