MMC program allows nurses in the community to volunteer time, talents

Long Branch — Monmouth Medical Center has introduced a volunteer program designed to allow nurses to volunteer their nursing skills to enhance and support the clinical care of hospital patients.
Participants in the Florence Nightingale Volunteer Nurse Program are able to volunteer on a requested unit of interest and experience. They must have a minimum of one year previous hospital experience as a nurse, be able to demonstrate initiative and work as a team member and commit to a minimum of four volunteer hours each week.

“We designed this program with nurses in mind who have not worked in clinical practice for many years but want to give back to the community, who want to provide comfort but don’t want the commitment of employment, or who are thinking about returning to the workforce,” says Diane Poulios, the nurse recruiting manager for Monmouth Medical Center’s Human Resources Department. “With wide-ranging opportunities to use their expertise and compassion, volunteer nurses will be able to give back and truly make a difference.”

She notes that the immediate goal of the program is to provide paid nursing staff with competent volunteer nurses who will support and assist them in the caring of patients with respect to hourly rounding, activities of daily living and environment of care issues, using professional and therapeutic communication skills.

“The ultimate goal is to provide therapeutic patient communication and enhance patient satisfaction,” she adds.

A short training program with a Volunteer Department orientation and continued nursing education opportunities will provide necessary patient care information for volunteers, who work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Volunteers also can participate in nursing educational in-services, staff meetings, and award ceremonies at the hospital.

Volunteers work in coordination with the unit-based nurse managers and nursing education and are under the direction of Laura Siemientkowski, coordinator of Volunteer Services at Monmouth Medical Center.
For more information about the Volunteer Nurse Liaison Program, call Laura Siemientkowski at 732-923-6671, or Diane Poulios at 732-923-6658.