Time commitment
The required time commitment is dependent upon the volunteer’s placement (see below). Volunteers placed in a role within an inpatient nursing unit are required to commit to one shift per week (3-4 hours) for a minimum of one year. Nursing unit volunteers must also be at least 18 years old. Volunteers placed with our Guest Services, community programs, or administrative roles are required to commit to one shift per week (3-4 hours) for a minimum of six months. These volunteers must be at least 16 years old.
Individual volunteers are scheduled for shifts (on the same day and time) on a weekly basis; placements are assigned for a six -month or one-year period. Please consider your schedule, school, work, commute time, and family obligations before making the weekly commitment to volunteer.
In coordination with your availability, we try to accommodate your interests and talents, while keeping in mind the needs of our health care system. We do not place volunteers for internship, shadowing or observing positions. Volunteer hours do not qualify as "clinical hours".
Types of volunteering opportunities
Nursing Unit Opportunities
Volunteers placed in inpatient nursing units will support nursing staff with stocking supplies, cleaning equipment, or rounding on patients to offer amenities and ensure their needs are being met. Nursing unit volunteers must be at least 18 years old. This role requires a commitment of one shift per week for a minimum of one year. All nursing unit roles will be located at the main hospital in Palo Alto.
Guest Services, Community Programs, or Administrative Opportunities
Volunteer roles with our Guest Services department, community-based programs, or administrative opportunities require a commitment of one shift per week for a minimum of six months
- Escort and orient patients through the facility, manage flow of patient traffic, provide patients and families with concierge type information, arrange for public transportation as necessary, and deliver amenities
- Greet patients and family members, provide wayfinding, act as a liaison between clinical staff and family members, keep lobby area neat, restock supplies, deliver amenities (listed above), bring patients to dressing area
- Assist in the instruction of chair exercise and mobility classes for seniors, connect with older adults by making weekly phone calls, collect data, provide program recommendations to older adults, assist with classes for oncology and neuroscience patients
- Support data entry records and light filing, interview inpatients on their experience using a set list of questions and record the answers into a database, support back office work important to patient care
Volunteering with children
Please contact the Volunteer Services department at Stanford Children's Hospital.
Volunteering in the East Bay
If you are interested in volunteering at Stanford Health Care, Emeryville, please submit an application below. If you are interested in volunteering at our Stanford ValleyCare Livermore or Pleasanton locations, please contact the Volunteer Services department at Stanford ValleyCare.
How do I become a volunteer?
- Group Interview: We schedule group interviews with our Volunteer Resources staff to explain our program, requirements, expectations, and roles within a 90 minute session. Individuals also provide information about themselves including motivation, interests, and availability. These interviews are located at Stanford Hospital campus in Palo Alto.
- Online Curriculum: After attending the group interview, individuals who are selected to move forward are emailed a link, user ID, and password to access the curriculum for completion. This step can take up to 8 hours.
- Background Check: Individuals over the age of 18 must complete an online authorization for criminal background check. The information will be provided after the group interview.
- Health Screening (TB test / vaccines): All perspective volunteers will need to bring their immunization record at one of our Occupational Health Services locations (Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Jose), titers may be drawn and/or additional vaccination may be needed. Volunteers 18 and under will need to be accompanied by an adult for the screening.
- Applicants will be given instructions on how to get their photos taken at Security in the main hospital.
- Volunteer Orientation: After the requirements above are completed, individuals attend a 2-hour orientation to review policies, C-I-CARE and additional program information. Information about parking, uniforms, and logging hours will also be discussed during orientation.
Volunteer locations
Volunteers are placed in a role based on their availability, and the current needs of the organization. Locations of volunteering opportunities could include:
- Stanford Hospital – 300 Pasteur Drive, Palo Alto
- Stanford Cancer Center Palo Alto – 875 Blake Wilbur Drive, Palo Alto
- Stanford Women's Cancer Center – 900 Blake Wilbur Drive, Palo Alto
- Stanford Medicine Outpatient Center – 450 Broadway Street, Redwood City
- Stanford Cancer Center South Bay – 2589 Samaritan Drive, San Jose
- Stanford Health Care, Emeryville – 5800 Hollis Street, Emeryville