Volunteer at Iowa Lutheran Hospital - Des Moines
Volunteer Opportunities at Iowa Lutheran Hospital
Volunteers at Iowa Lutheran Hospital make a difference for our patients, families and team members. Volunteers are needed in areas that range from patient and family contact, such as staffing waiting rooms, escorting or instruction; to clerical such as typing and filing; to customer service in gift shops and retail stores; to working at home on projects, such as sewing.
Volunteer assignments can be arranged on a schedule that suits you. We do require that volunteers make at least a 3-month commitment.
Volunteer Requirements
- Must be 18 or older. 18-year-olds need to be in college; no high school students.
- Complete a volunteer application
- Complete a health screening
- COVID vaccination required
- TB test
- Flu vaccine required (as applicable Oct-May)
- Pass a criminal background and dependent adult/child abuse registry check
- Interview/orientation.
- Complete necessary training
- Currently enrolled in college.
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Willing to commit to volunteering one shift, for a minimum of 2 to 4 hours once per week.
- Must volunteer for two semesters (Example: summer and fall, fall and spring, spring and summer).
- Must complete an application, health screening, and an interview/orientation. A seasonal flu vaccine and COVID vaccine are required.
- Must clear a criminal background check and dependent adult/child abuse registry check.
- Complete necessary training.
Accelerated Summer Volunteer Requirements
- Must commit to volunteering two shifts, for 2 to 4 hours, depending on volunteer position.
- Must volunteer for ten weeks. Early June through the middle of August.
- Currently enrolled in high school.
- Be 14-18 years of age or older.
- Commit to volunteering one shift, for a minimum of 2 to 4 hours once per week.
- Must volunteer for two semesters (Example: summer and fall, fall and spring, spring and summer). No summer only opportunities.
- Commit to volunteering a minimum of once per month. A typical volunteer assignment is once a week for 2-4 hours and can be arranged on a schedule that suits you. We ask our volunteers to make a six-month commitment.
- All dogs must maintain certification and registration in Therapy Dogs International, Inc.
- Each dog must pass the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC) and have a temperament test for suitability to become a Therapy Dog.
- Multiple dog TDI certification is required for volunteers who wish to bring more than one dog on visits.
Adult Volunteer
We have opportunities in patient care areas and non-patient areas such as the gift shop, family waiting rooms, clerical support, and more. A typical volunteer assignment is once a week for 2-4 hours and can be arranged on a schedule that suits you. We ask our volunteers to make a six-month commitment.
Adult Volunteer Service Spotlights
College Student Volunteer
We have opportunities to support patients, families and hospital staff in a variety of areas, including our patient comfort cart program, pediatric and adult emergency departments, hospital elder life program (HELP) and more. A typical volunteer assignment is once a week for 2-4 hours. We ask our volunteers to make a two semester commitment.
Accelerated Summer Volunteer Program
Beginning in Summer 2023, we are offering college volunteers an accelerated volunteer program opportunity. Openings in the program are on a first come, first serve basis. A volunteer assignment is twice a week for 2-4 hours. We ask volunteers to commit to 10 weeks, June through the middle of August.
For more information about the Accelerated Summer Volunteer Program, please contact Riley Maher, Volunteer Coordinator, at Riley.Maher@unitypoint.org or (515) 263-5231.
Teen Volunteer Opportunities
You can make a difference in the lives of patients, while gaining exposure to the health care field. Teens who choose to volunteer:
- Build connections in the community
- Develop skills that help with career advancement
- Improve self-esteem
- Have a more positive outlook on life
- Earn silver cord hours for graduation
- Earn scholarship opportunities
- Make new friends!
Opportunities
Your assignments as a volunteer will vary depending on your interests, availability, skills and experience. Assignments may include:
- Office Assistant
- Mailing/Special Projects
- Patient Escort
- Surgery Waiting Support
- Care Club Flowers
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
Animal assisted therapy is available for patients and families during their stay. We understand the unique bond between humans and animals and how it can enhance a positive attitude and assist in the healing process.
Upon evaluation by the animal assisted therapy program volunteer trainers, the animal must demonstrate behavior that it: is reliable; is controllable; is predictable; inspires confidence in the person s/he is interacting with; and the animal actively solicits interactions with people and is accepting and forgiving of differences in people's reactions and behavior.
Handlers must demonstrate they are reliable, confident, and natural in their interactions with people and animals; have control of their animal; inspire confidence in the person they are interacting with; and actively engage in interactions with people and accept and forgive differences in people's reactions and behavior.