As students rush to find ways to meet their required volunteer hours, juniors Rhea Kotak and Zola Ray have found the perfect solution/opportunity: volunteering at Hackensack Hospital.
Both Kotak and Ray recall finding this program fairly easily.
“I was researching different volunteering opportunities that dealt with medical professions and I came across the Hackensack hospital,” Kotak said. “It was the top rated one.”
Ray, luckily, found it even more effortlessly: through the school. “I found out about this internship through a field trip that I went on for my Biomedical Engineering class that I take.”
While the first step was simple, getting accepted to the program wasn’t as straightforward and easy.
“I applied through their website and I had to write an essay in order to get accepted,” Kotak said. “And, after I got accepted, I needed to complete several medical forms, get a bunch of shots, vaccinations, blood tests, tuberculosis tested, flu tested, and more to actually get cleared for the job.”
Although it may seem like a hassle, all of the tests and forms are essential as it helps ensure the safety of all around them, especially since such a huge part of their job is working with sick patients.
“I work at the front desk, in the neurology department, and help bring disabled patients to their respective rooms,” Ray said. “I always look forward to hearing their different stories, interacting with [them], and getting to know them.”
Despite the excitement, Ray adds that the job isn’t always easy.
“Sometimes when I’m working at the front desk/reception of the hospital it can definitely be difficult hearing some of the families and patients stories,” Ray said. “But, I continue to remind myself that they are here to be taken care of and they will be by incredible medical professionals.”
Similar to Ray, Kotak explains the delights and struggles her job.
“I’m placed on the general floor so the head nurse gives me tasks everyday such as giving labs to other parts of the hospital, taking blood work, talking to the patients, getting them food if they need anything, putting paperwork in files, organizing, stuff like that,” Kotak said.“[But,] sometimes you can visibly tell that someone isn’t getting better, or if they are in an isolation room and they’ll be screaming for help. But, it makes my day when I can help them through their struggles and make them laugh and [be] happy after being in the hospital.”
While these struggles could be too much to handle for some, Kotak and Ray understand it comes with the job. They also know it is something they need to get used to and learn how to manage as they both plan on pursuing medical careers in the future.
“My goal is to become a Sports Medicine Physician which requires me to go through residency in which I will have to be in a hospital environment,” Ray said. “I love working with medical professionals and being surrounded by the hospital environment.”
Although Kotak’s future is not as thoroughly planned out, she knows that this volunteering opportunity is a great stepping stone.
“I want to pursue a career in the medical field and I thought hands on experience would be best with deciding what I actually want to do. Since I haven’t been there for that long I don’t know yet, but it is giving me insight in the different fields available.”
