September 29, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR JACQUELYN JURGA IN MA
Hello Hana in CA.
I was a volunteer 'Candy Striper' at a local hospital when I was in high
school. It was a rewarding community service. I suggest that you call
your local hospital to inquire if they have the program available. If they
do, or some modern version, I am sure they would appreciate a volunteer.
It has been more years than I care to admit to it being, however I found
being a candy striper helped me understand what a medical career would
entail. I worked the evening shift. Some of my duties were to fill all
water pitchers with ice and water, offer soft drinks, juice, answer bells,
bed pan duty, fluff pillows, give hand and feet rubs, help people get
changed and help change beds with people in them. Rocking children or
reading to them, playing with them if they could not sleep. One of my
favorite tasks was stringing the beads for little name bracelets for the
new born babies, and being a 'go-fer' for the nurses.
Good luck.