Adult Volunteering

Volunteering at Nationwide Children's Hospital is not a good match for everyone. We are happy to share about our program to make sure you are well-informed.

Thank you for being so excited to volunteer!

The process of becoming a volunteer will vary person to person depending on how quickly an applicant completes requirements.

All of our volunteer assignments are in areas where the department has requested a volunteer. The objective of being a volunteer is to support patients, families, and staff. Volunteering at NCH is an unpaid service role.

Yes, we have a large number of college students in our volunteer ranks. Communicate with your liaison and every effort will be made to work with your schedule. If you are a college student home for the summer, you will need to apply early in late winter to allow for our application and placement process.

Shadowing, observation, and internship hours are scheduled through the Education Department. Call (614) 355-0678.

We respond to the needs of the staff when placing volunteers. If a department has requested a volunteer, then that is where we place them.

Yes, if you have not volunteered in more than one year. Please call or email for more information.

Thank you for thinking of Nationwide Children's Hospital. We know some breaks can be 4-6 weeks or longer. If you have volunteered with us before, contact us prior to your break and let us know your availability. You may need to complete some paperwork. If you have never been a volunteer, this just isn’t enough time to get through our process. Please plan on starting at the beginning of the school year or in the summer, then we would welcome you back during your breaks.

This is at the discretion of your volunteer liaison. When volunteers are assigned to an area, the staff is in no way obligated or expecting to write a letter of recommendation. Hours of service can be provided as a record for you.

Patient unit volunteers are self-starters who need to feel at ease interacting with patients and their parents/adults who are with them. The hospital’s units; however, are not divided by age. So on a unit, a volunteer would need to enjoy interacting with any age patient—infants, toddlers, school-age, teens and even the occasional adult.

Many people think assignments only involve playing with children. We have many departments requesting volunteer assistance in more support service roles.

It may be possible to place you in assignments on the same day and at the same time, but generally, departments request only one volunteer per shift. So, you would not be in the same assignment.

Volunteers are required to purchase and wear a uniform while volunteering. If financial hardship exists, arrangements can be made to get a uniform at no charge. In addition to the uniform polo or vest, volunteers must wear their name badge, long pants (no jeans or leggings) or knee-length skirt, and closed-toe shoes. Artificial/gel nails are not permitted.

Great! You are available year-round. Feel free to apply during any application period.

Please apply in July. We want to make sure you have enough time to apply, get trained and volunteer for the minimum service requirement. 

Welcome Home! We appreciate your desire to help. Please apply in January or March as we need time to process your application and have you attend orientation. The placement opportunity for summer college students is in our Sibling Clubhouse. This area is extremely volunteer dependent and a great opportunity for volunteers. See information about the Clubhouse.

If you are available to volunteer past the summer, we would be happy to discuss other volunteer opportunities with you.