The minimum age to apply to become a volunteer at Stanford Health Care is 16. However, for some of our roles, including all inpatient unit roles, volunteers must be 18.

Individuals are required to complete the requirements within 30 days of selection, but volunteers can complete the requirements and begin service sooner than 30 days. Onboarding requires the completion of online training modules, a background check, health clearance through Stanford Health Care’s Workforce Health & Wellness office, and attendance at a New Volunteer Orientation with Volunteer Resources.

For legal, risk, and compliance reasons, volunteers are not able to provide clinical assistance to patients (starting IVs, wound care, taking vitals, taking notes or scribe, etc.), regardless of any clinical licenses (MD, RN, NP, PA, MA, LVN, state board certificates, etc.). The role of a volunteer is non-clinical, assisting with ancillary support to patients and families. Volunteer hours will not qualify as clinical hours.

We do not offer opportunities for Internships or Externships through the Volunteer Resources department. Please visit www.careers.stanfordhealthcare.org for more information.

Volunteers at the Hospital and Clinics do not conduct research or volunteer in the lab. Please visit the Stanford Medicine website at www.med.stanford.edu to search for lab opportunities.

Volunteer Resources does not oversee clinical or non-clinical shadowing opportunities. All inquiries should be directed to visitingobserver@stanfordhealthcare.org

More information about volunteering at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital can be found on their website here: www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/volunteer

More information about volunteering at Stanford Tri-Valley can be found on their website here: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/tri-valley/patients-and-visitors/volunteers.html