Volunteer descriptions for the Fargo region

Greet visitors and patients in lobby; accompany people to their destination and answer queries. This is the perfect position for those who want to walk and talk!

* Downtown - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sat-Sun from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

* MCSU - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

* Southpointe Clinic - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Distribute donated magazines to the lobbies in the clinic and hospital. Time can stand still while people wait - help them to pass the time!

Assist the famlies while they await their patient in surgery. Shifts vary.

Visit hospitalized patients as assigned by your partner MeritCare chaplain to help address spiritual needs of our families and patients. Specialized training and completion of "Befrienders" training (both provided) is mandatory.

Visiting with patients, reading, playing card games, etc. Assisting staff with re-stocking supplies, answering phone, helping with mealtime and other duties as needed. Must be post high school.

Pet Therapy dogs and their people. These 4-legged volunteers and their people visit our Children's Hospital and Rehab Unit. Bring a smile to a patient by the wagging of a tail! Pets must be graduates of Obedience School and the specialized pet therapy training program through FM Dog Obedience School.

* Shifts as arranged by FM Dog Obedience School

Greet visitors and patients in lobby; accompany people to their destination and answer queries. This is the perfect position for those who want to walk and talk!

* Downtown - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sat-Sun from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

* MCSU - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

* Southpointe Clinic - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Our Gift shops are filled to the brim with beautiful product and eager customers! You can check out our gift shops at www.meritcare.com. We have four positions available:

1. CASHIER - assist customers with purchase

2. MERCHANDISE - mark and display products

3. DISPLAY - make our products more wonderful

4. SHOPPER'S ASSISTANT - assist customers in finding items

* Downtown shop - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sat from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sun from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

* MCSU shop - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sat from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Interact with patients and families. Offer and serve beverages and re-stock supplies in area. Must be post high school.

Work with our patients in the psych and EDU areas utilizing art in a therapeutic fashion. Available to MSUM art students only - supervised by MSUM faculty.

Shifts as arranged by MSUM faculty.

Make and sell popcorn while chatting with staff and visitors at the downtown Food Court.

* We are currently looking for volunteers to staff this at MCSU - any weekday can be chosen.

Volunteer will assist staff by spending time with patients in this unit on the weekends. You may play card or board games with the patient, watch videos or TV, or just visit in this speciality area. Our volunteers show support to patients by utilizing active communication techniques. NOTE: due to the patient population, only females will be accepted as volunteers in this area. Varied shifts.

Greet patients as they come for OT or to Speech Therapy and direct them to appropriate area; assist patient's families on the Orthopedic floor to find patient's room number when the patient comes up from surgery. Assist staff with various office projects as needed. Excellent opportunity for volunteers that do not want a lot of walking.

Accompany our Psych and Rehab patients on weekly outings to movies or shopping.

There are four positions within this center. Must be post high school.

1. FOOD HOST - offer light snacks to patients in our Infusion Center; offer to visit as appropriate. Mon-Fri from 9 - 11 a.m. and 1:30 - 3 p.m.

2. LOBBY VISITOR - chat with patients and families in our lobby as they wait for appointments or treatments. Mon-Fri varied shifts from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

3. PHARMACY - this volunteer position puts on miles running various errands. Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Assist the families and visitors of patients in our Cardiac Intensive Care (2E) and Critical Intensive Care (3E) units, offering hospitality, taking and relaying messages, helping visitors access the family and tracking location of family within our facility.

Mon-Fri varied shifts from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sat-Sun varied shifts from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Visit hospitalized patients as assigned by your partner MeritCare chaplain to help address spiritual needs of our families and patients. Specialized training and completion of "Befrienders" training (both provided) is mandatory.

This is a volunteer position that can be accomplished at home. Knit caps for our Family Birth Center and NICU. All knitters follow our pattern and yarn is supplied so all caps are uniform. The MeritCare Auxiliary purchases the yarn, which has been approved to be the correct weight. Caps made by MeritCare knitters are proudly worn home by the hundres of babies born every year at MeritCare. We use pink and blue yarn and some of the knitters put in an occasional white stripe. But our new parents approve of the traditional pink and blue so we are pleased to give these famlies this keepsake.

Play our lovely baby grand piano for customer and staff entering our hospital.

Deliver mail to patients within the hospital.

Serve as an active member of the design and planning teams for new Sanford, Fargo, hospital and to enhance the decision making process of Sanford leadership; bring forward needs and concerns of family members and friends with a hospitalized patient - serve as their voice; consult with members of the public to ascertain varying opinions and insights; provide feedback, updates and guidance at meetings; participate actively in meetings in person or by using social media, understanding the ebb and flow of the process.

Volunteers need to commit to advisory process with length of time approximately the next 1-2 years.

Meetings will be announced and are generally 3-6 hours in length once a month and will typically be held at the dowtown Fargo campus. May be asked to respond to emails or have phone consultation conversations.

The volunteer will be assisting the customers operate the copier and fax machines and setting up a CaringBridge website if needed. The volunteer will assist in directing the customer to the list of reliable medical information websites. The volunteer will also be responsible for answering the phone as needed, restocking educational materials and offering general hospitality). Interpersonal skills are essential and a familiarity with basic computer skills is required.

Greet visitors and patients in lobby; accompany people to their destination and answer queries. This is the perfect position for those who want to walk and talk!

* Downtown - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sat-Sun from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

* MCSU - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

* Southpointe Clinic - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Assist patrons with navigating the food court, help to find seating and help clearing tables.

Assist families inquiring to the condition of their loved ones by answering the phone or the intercom; run errands within the unit.

Shifts vary.

Pet Therapy dogs and their people. These 4-legged volunteers and their people visit our Children's Hospital and Rehab Unit. Bring a smile to a patient by the wagging of a tail! Pets must be graduates of Obedience School and the specialized pet therapy training program through FM Dog Obedience School.

* Shifts as arranged by FM Dog Obedience School

Greet customers as they step off the elevator onto 2nd floor; Approach the guests and ask how we can be of assistance to them; Direct patients, families and visitors to their destination and ask if they have any questions; Offer hospitality by extending a friendly smile and a greeting.; Familiarize yourself with the current unit census.

Daily shifts - 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.; 12 - 4 p.m.; 4 - 8 p.m.

Assist with mailings and preparation for events that raise funds for MeritCare.

Assist patients attending education events. Help with registration, finding chairs, and distributing class materials. Class is held monthly excluding July and August.

Deliver bouquets to patient rooms.

Volunteer will promote a positive image of the EC by providing specific services which will tend to make the waiting as easy as possible for visitors and patients; Assist Nurse Assistant and Unit Clerk with designated duties; Offer hospitality by maintaining cleanliness of lobby, family room/crisis room: maintain professionalism and maturity regardless of their role in highly sensitive situations.

Daily varied shifts from 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Distribute donated magazines to the lobbies in the clinic and hospital. Time can stand still while people wait - help them to pass the time!

Greet our patients who present for EKG's ad Holter's.

Shifts vary.

Many groups -families, sewing circles, faith community groups- give us quilts/caps. We appreciate these generous gifts. They are distributed to: NICU, Children's Hospital, Coordinated Treatment Center, RMCC, PICU, EDU, Rehab and Red River Advocacy Center. We request the following:
* all quilts need to be at least 36" square, even those given to the NICU
* blankets need to be quilted or fleece, not knit or crocheted (these don't stand up in the laundry as well)
* Chemo caps - these caps protect the very fragile scalps of patients who have undergone treatment. Preferred are cloth caps from VERY soft fabric. Knit caps are acceptable when soft, baby yarn is used. Heavy, winter-type caps get too warm for the patients.
* all donations are handled by Volunteer Services for distribution due to privacy concerns for our patients
* only items from homes with no pets/no smoking accepted.

Make and sell popcorn while chatting with staff and visitors at the downtown Food Court.

* We are currently looking for volunteers to staff this at MCSU - any weekday can be chosen.

The job will be prepping and finishing art pieces. Art experience is helpful but not necessary. The artist says this isn’t the most thrilling job in the world but she guarantees a nice work environment and genuine satisfaction in a job well done! This is the perfect job for that friend of yours who has said they want to get involved but not just sure how.

Our Gift shops are filled to the brim with beautiful product and eager customers! You can check out our gift shops at www.meritcare.com. We have four positions available:

1. CASHIER - assist customers with purchase

2. MERCHANDISE - mark and display products

3. DISPLAY - make our products more wonderful

4. SHOPPER'S ASSISTANT - assist customers in finding items

* Downtown shop - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sat from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sun from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

* MCSU shop - varied shifts Mon-Fri from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sat from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Greet our cardiac patients and direct them to the registrar. Assist the patients by calling for transportation and escorting them to their destination or next appointment.

Shifts vary.

Assist our pediatric patients to find age appropriate toys or games; play with child as needed; help staff with tasks as needed.

Mon-Fri varied shifts from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sat-Sun afternoon.

We have two positions in the NICU:

1. CUDDLER - cuddle/rock babies as directed by staff. Must be 21 years or older. Varied shifts Sun-Sat from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. * NO openings for cuddlers at this time

2. VOLUNTEER - assist by re-stocking supplies, running errands, folding laundry and showing families around. Varied shifts Sun-Sat from 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Facilitate workshops for people with diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure or other on-going health conditions. After completion of 4-day leader training, volunteer leaders facilitate workshops which meet for 2 1/2 hours per week for 6 consecutive weeks. Workshops include relaxation techniques, weekly goal setting, effective management of symptoms and difficult emotions, and other self-management strategies. No previous teaching experience is required; health care background not necessary. Workshops held in various locations. Must be post high school.

Greet dialysis patients as they enter the clinic and provide general hospitality; alert staff that the patient has arrived; assist those in wheelchairs or with walkers; visit with patrons in the lobby area as appropriate; assist staff with other tasks as assigned (i.e. packet making, etc.)

* Bemidji and Detroit Lakes - Mon-Sat from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 - 3 p.m.

* Fargo - Mon-Sat from 7 - 11 a.m. and 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

*Morris - Mon, Wed, Fri from 9 - 11 a.m. or 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

* Thief River Falls - Mon, Wed, Fri - varied shifts from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Supervise children in the child care we operate for our employee's children.

Shifts vary.

Assist patients in the therapeutic pool area. These are out-patients who benefit from the warm water exercises. Perfect for any student considering Physical Therapy or Sports Medicine.

Greet dialysis patients as they enter the clinic and provide general hospitality; alert staff that the patient has arrived; assist those in wheelchairs or with walkers; visit with patrons in the lobby area as appropriate; assist staff with other tasks as assigned (i.e. packet making, etc.)

* Bemidji and Detroit Lakes - Mon-Sat from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 - 3 p.m.

* Fargo - Mon-Sat from 7 - 11 a.m. and 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

*Morris - Mon, Wed, Fri from 9 - 11 a.m. or 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

* Thief River Falls - Mon, Wed, Fri - varied shifts from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Greet dialysis patients as they enter the clinic and provide general hospitality; alert staff that the patient has arrived; assist those in wheelchairs or with walkers; visit with patrons in the lobby area as appropriate; assist staff with other tasks as assigned (i.e. packet making, etc.)

* Bemidji and Detroit Lakes - Mon-Sat from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 - 3 p.m.

* Fargo - Mon-Sat from 7 - 11 a.m. and 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

*Morris - Mon, Wed, Fri from 9 - 11 a.m. or 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

* Thief River Falls - Mon, Wed, Fri - varied shifts from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.