VolunTEEN program opens opportunities to explore various career paths

KENANSVILLE — Every year ECU Health Duplin Hospital welcomes a group of teens to their VolunTEEN program. Here students learn about potential careers in healthcare and gain hands-on experience in various hospital areas where they can immediately start making a difference.

Nancy Farrior, ECU Health Duplin Hospital Volunteer Services manager, has been running the program for the past six years. Last summer Farrior had 20 teen volunteers who went above and beyond the program requirements completing more than 900 hours as a group.

“They were supposed to do, per their application, 30 hours a piece, so 600 hours. But they actually did 999 hours,” said Farrior, adding that the volunteers shine for going above and beyond the call of duty.

“I have four college kids that started out as teens that are still coming back and volunteering during the summer,” said Farrior, adding that two young ladies who volunteered with her when they were teenagers are now full-time employees. “And I have several that are in college going into the medical field, that I wrote their college recommendation letters for.”

VolunTEENs go through an orientation comparable to that of a new employee and have to complete educational modules, learn about infection control, and personal protective equipment.

“It’s very hands-on and exposes them to different areas of the hospital,” said Farrior. “It’s just not all clinical.”

The group of young VolunTEENs actively contributed to the operations of the emergency room. Stationed in the nurses’ area of the emergency room, the students had the opportunity to observe patient care, learn how to properly escort a patient on a wheelchair, and even run specimens to the lab.

“They’re basically a leg. But they get to see a lot. It’s just been a wonderful experience all the way around,” Farrior told Duplin Journal, explaining that these young volunteers were active learners in different departments, gaining valuable experience along the way.

“They really liked working in the Women’s Center because of the babies,” Farrior added.

VolunTEENs also assisted at the second north nurses station, answered call bells from patients, and helped in diverse areas such as oncology and surgical units.

“ECU Health also supports Duplin County Health Sciences Academy as well. It’s one of two in our system,” Laura Maready, ECU Health Duplin Hospital director of strategic relations, told Duplin Journal. “We’re really proud of it.”

“Our volunteer program is the very same. They come in and they’re able to observe and get a feel for what working in the healthcare field might look like, said Maready, explaining the program complements the school curriculum…  It’s a great pool to jump into here as a small fish.”

Farrior added that most of the students, including those who are now in college, take advantage of the Duplin County Health Care Academy.

“We’re very fortunate in our county to have this. [Students] are required to do 25 hours of volunteer time,” said Farrior. “I moved away for 28 years, and it has just been a fabulous experience to be back here with this hospital and back in Duplin County.”

Farrior also oversees adult volunteers and currently has 14.

“We have volunteering time year-round at the hospital in a variety of different positions,” said Maready, adding that they have volunteer chaplains who serve the community.

“I have eight chaplains and actually have one employee that volunteers,” said Farrior, adding that employees pursuing higher levels of education often take advantage of the programs offered.

The healthcare industry needs more workers, making this program particularly important to make young adults aware of the opportunities.

“The healthcare industry right now is struggling as far as really losing a lot of the workers, specifically nurses,” said Maready. “It’s a tough industry to work in, but it’s a very rewarding industry to work in, especially for our community. …  You’re helping your family, your neighbors, your friends. … So it’s just vitally important that we reach out to these kids and make them aware of what we’re doing here. … The technology that we have at this hospital that we’re able to serve patients with, and our community with is on the leading edge.”

For Maready, the volunteer program provides a great starting point for young adults to explore various career paths and could lead to a pathway through community college for an associate degree, a four-year school for an undergraduate degree, and even on to graduate school.

She shared that they have volunteers who have progressed to work in different departments and even pursued higher education to further their careers. One of them is a volunteer who went on to work in food and nutrition services, then went to college, and now she is working there as a dietician.

“Once the volunTEENS see the possibilities, they can actually work here. And then once they start working here, we encourage them to really rise up in whatever they’re in and seek opportunities for higher education,” said Maready. “We’re a one-stop shop for a young person coming in.”

For more information about any of the volunteer programs at ECU Duplin Hospital, call 910-296-2629.