Adult Volunteer Opportunities

MUSC Health system offers a variety of volunteer opportunities which can be classified into the four categories below. These assignments are available to volunteers that are 18 years or older. For a list of all our assignments by location, please see our Assignment Directory

Clinical | Non-Clinical | Administrative | Specialty

Clinical Support

Inpatient Units

Volunteers assist the clinical staff with various duties to include answering phones and patient call bells, stocking supplies, transporting patients in a wheelchair, and running errands. Volunteers also interact with patients at the bedside as they make rounds on the unit to visit and sit with each patient. Some volunteers also assist with feeding patients of specific units.

ICU’s

Volunteers in this role serve in two capacities. They monitor the waiting rooms, answer the phones, welcoming new visitors, and escort visitors to and from the patient rooms. Volunteers also work in the ICU alongside the clinical staff assisting with stocking supplies and running various errands.  

Pre/ Post-Op

Pre-Op (Holding) and Post-Op (PACU) volunteers assist with attending to patients before and after surgery. Pre-Op volunteers welcome patients and their families to the unit and assist the staff with preparing patients for surgery. Post-Op volunteers assist with attending to patients after surgery and transporting them to other units or discharging them if the patients are going home.  

Emergency Department

The Emergency Department is always in need of energetic and compassionate volunteers. The primary focus for these volunteers is to assist in providing as much comfort as possible for patients and visitors. Volunteers continuously make rounds in the waiting room and all sections of the Emergency Department visiting with patients and providing comfort measures such as an empathetic ear, blankets, pillows, light snacks and drinks (when allowed) and anything else of this nature.

Non-Clinical Support

Courtesy Cart

Volunteers take a cart with coffee, tea, snacks, and other treats to serve patients, visitors, and hospital staff. Volunteers take care to follow infection control practices such as wearing gloves and respecting patient precaution signs.

Central Supply/ Warehouse 

If you’re looking for a way to get a behind-the-scenes view of the various clinical units in the hospital, then this is the placement for you! These volunteers take orders for basic medical items and deliver them throughout the hospital. Great experience for those interested in a career in logistics.

Wayfinding/ Patient Transport

The Hospital can be big, intimidating, and confusing place. As a result, one of our biggest volunteer needs is for people with big smiles who love looking for people to help. These volunteers greet hospital visitors and assist them with finding their way around the hospital. These volunteers may also assist with escorting patients in wheelchairs to their destination in the hospital as well as escorting them to their transportation home during the discharge process.

Infusion Room

Volunteers sit and visit with patients during treatment. They also provide comfort materials like books, magazines, or snacks at the patient’s request.

Administrative

Infection Prevention and Control

Volunteers can split time between clinical and administrative settings. They assist the staff with data collection and observation on units. Volunteers also assist with computer-based projects and reports.

Medical Records/ Release of Information

These volunteers work in mostly an administrative environment assisting the staff with data entry and computer based projects. Some volunteers also assist with visiting patients on various units to collect information for patient satisfaction surveys.

Administrative and Clerical

Volunteers can provide tremendous support assisting with data entry, computer-based projects, answering phones, faxing and scanning documents, preparing paperwork, and a number of other administrative tasks.

Specialty Placements

Pharmacy

We offer two types of Pharmacy-related volunteer positions. Both require a current SC Issued Pharmacy Tech Registration

• Pharmacy Compounding is open to all interested volunteers. These volunteers assist with labelling, packaging, and distributing pharmacy orders as well as other projects.
• Retail Pharmacy is only open current MUSC and USC Pharmacy students. These volunteers work alongside Pharmacists and staff in one of our Outpatient Pharmacies.

Physical Therapy

Volunteers welcome patients and assist the PT staff by providing and preparing materials and equipment during patient visits. However, they are not allowed to administer physical direct patient care. Our PT staff loves what they do and love to teach and share what they can, so volunteers also get the opportunity to observe the patient-PT interactions, and they are encouraged to ask questions.

Trauma Survivors Network

Volunteers who have experienced traumatic incidents in their lives or have an interest in helping out have the opportunity to share, mentor, and interact with patients who are currently working through traumatic injuries. These volunteers assist with peer groups, activities, and various tasks needed to support the department.

Caring Clowns

We attempt to reach and cater to our patients in numerous ways. With the aid of witty jokes, fun stickers, and a few magic tricks, our Caring Clown volunteers make their way to different units and departments to brighten things up and spread smiles throughout the hospital.

Butterfly Beads

If you’re artistically inclined and you would like to donate time and energy but you’re not able to make it down to one of our locations on a regular basis, creating Butterfly Blood Draw Beads provides the perfect opportunity to share your talents from home. These volunteers put together colorful nursing badge accessories that the clinical staff uses to facilitate patient blood draws.

Community Donations

New toys, gently used books and magazines, or non-perishable snacks are always being accepted in order to enhance our patients' stay. Donations are kindly accepted and can be dropped off at the volunteer office. Check out our Support page for more info.

For more information or questions about these volunteer assignments, please see our Staff page for appropriate point of contact.