Volunteer Opportunities

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in volunteering.

As a volunteer, you provide your time, passion, talents, and dedication throughout our hospital and offer an extra dimension of care to our patients, their families, and other visitors. Our volunteers are an integral part of the hospital team!

We are looking for people who are committed, kind, and have a history of going above and beyond. We want proactive, responsible applicants seeking an opportunity to improve the patient experience. Whether you are interested in greeting and directing visitors, bringing your certified therapy dog for regular visits, or assisting with various non-clinical tasks, we can match you with the right opportunity.

Contact Us

Mount Sinai West Hospital
1000 10th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Volunteer Office, Lobby Level
Tel: 212-523-7155
mswvolservices2@mountsinai.org

Volunteer Programs

We offer special volunteer programs for our patients. Some of these are:

Lobby Ambassadors help visitors, patients, and their families feel more comfortable in our hospital. Ambassadors greet patients and visitors with a friendly smile and a great attitude; they are often the first face seen by guests who enter our facilities. By proactively addressing questions, concerns, and requests, ambassadors complement the work of our staff. They offer directions, escort patients, and provide information to those looking for a little help.

Patient Care Support Volunteers provide friendly visits, fulfill small requests, and help orient new patients to the hospital and the unit. The main focus is to make sure we meet patients’ non-clinical needs. Availability in:
• Medical and Surgical Patient Care Units
• Inpatient Rehabilitation Patient Care Unit

Emergency Department Patient Care Support Volunteers provide non-clinical support by utilizing communication, companionship, and fast-paced problem-solving techniques to enhance the overall ED experience. This opportunity is appropriate for volunteers 18 years and older.

Our Pet Therapy Dog Program allows volunteers whose dogs are qualified with an approved therapy dog organization to engage with patients and staff throughout the hospital. Volunteers must be 18 years or older to participate in this program and must be able to commit to at least two visits per month.

Our Summer Junior Medical Program, or JuMP, enables students, ages 15 to 17, to learn from health care professionals about the day-to-day responsibilities of a hospital staff member in clinical and non-clinical areas. It is an eight-week program and participants must commit to 100 hours of volunteer service.

Take 10 provides staff support by engaging in relaxation and stress reduction techniques, including serving tea, offering snacks, and aromatherapy items.

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

Other ways you can help include:

Donating current magazines, for distribution to our patients.
Knitting lap blankets. If you are interested, please contact us for requirements.
Sharing your musical talents at patient bed sides. Musicians are accompanied by volunteer guides who are familiar with the facilities and serve as liaisons between musicians and patients, enabling the performers to focus on the performance. If interested, please contact Musicians on Call.
Ambulatory Surgery Support
Administrative Volunteer
o   Nursing Education
o   Outpatient Departments

Requirements and Expectations

All volunteers must have a valid social security number and be at least 15 years old to volunteer. Some programs have an age requirement of 18 years old, e.g., Emergency Department
To contribute to our volunteer program, we require a minimum time commitment of 150 hours. Volunteers are required to work at least one 3-hour shift per week.
Our summer JuMP program is for students interested in health care who are willing to commit to 100 hours of volunteer work. The application process mirrors our other programs; however, we only accept JuMP applications between January 1 and March 31 and have a limited number of slots.
All volunteers must have a valid social security number and be at least 15 years old to volunteer. Some programs have an age requirement of 18 years old (e.g. Emergency Department)
To contribute to our volunteer program, we require a minimum time commitment of 150 hours. Volunteers are required to work at least one 3-hour shift per week.
Our summer JuMP program is for students interested in health care who are willing to commit to 100 hours of volunteer work. The application process mirrors our other programs, however, we only accept JuMP applications between January 1 and March 31 and have a limited number of slots.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following documents:

A completed Application Form
One letter of recommendation or completed reference form (someone not related to you)
A resume (not required but highly recommended)

You may submit these items by mail, fax, email, or in person. We cannot accept or consider an incomplete application.

Mount Sinai West
1000 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10019
Room 1G-49
Tel: 212-523-7155
Fax: 212-523-6480
MSWVolunteers@chpnet.org

Application Process

To apply, please submit the following documents through the link below:

A completed Application Form
One letter of recommendation (not a relative)
A resume (recommended but not required)

* https://www.volgistics.com/appform/169275320

Once we receive your application, we:

Review applications monthly to see whether we have a need that you can fill. We review all applications but only contact applicants whose interests and availabilities best match our needs.
Interview requests are sent via email. Interviews are scheduled to discuss possible volunteer placements, your interests, and what you can contribute as a volunteer. An interview does not guarantee acceptance.

The full process from application to volunteer can take 4 – 8 weeks.

If we invite you to join our volunteer team, you will need to complete the following:

Volunteer Medical Clearance by your personal physician. This is required by New York State Public Health Law. Prospective volunteers are responsible for any costs associated with obtaining medical clearance, not including the required drug test, which is provided by the hospital.
Background Check performed by Volunteer Services staff.
Read and understand the Volunteer Handbook and Code of Conduct.
Hands-on training with an experienced volunteer.

FAQ

How do I become a volunteer at Mount Sinai West Hospital?

The first step is to complete the volunteer application.

What is the time commitment to volunteer at MSW?

150-hour minimum requirement for most of our placements and a 100-hour minimum for Summer JuMP Program.

What is the age required to volunteer? 15 years old and older.

Do I need prior hospital or clinical experience to apply?
Not at all.

Will I have an opportunity to shadow and interact with hospital professionals?
We do not place volunteers in shadowing positions, but volunteers are working closely with hospital personnel and professionals.

Would a job be offered from this opportunity?
Job offers are the exception, not the rule. Should you be job searching, please look for job opportunities on our careers website, as our volunteer opportunities do not guarantee employment.