Volunteer opportunities at Sharp Memorial Hospital

You will be evaluated at each of the following three steps. Based on our assessment, we will either invite you to proceed to the next step or decline your application. The steps are as follows:

• The essay answers on your online application

• Your participation, professionalism and attentiveness at the information session

• Your one-on-one personal interview

Most shifts last three to four hours, the same day and time each week. We make it easy and flexible to schedule your volunteer hours. All of our clinical departments utilize a live, cloud-based scheduling program that's accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week and allows opportunities for flexible scheduling and self-scheduling make-up shifts for missed shifts. A few volunteer roles allow for twice a month scheduling.

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide short-term volunteer opportunities for students that are only in San Diego during the summer.

Shift times are scheduled in three- or four-hour increments with starting times as early as 6 to 8 am and most shifts ending by 8 pm. There are a few exceptions of shifts ending between 10 pm and midnight. Some departments offer weekend shifts and some departments only offer shifts Monday through Friday between 8 am and 4 pm.

There are a few roles within Integrative Healing that have shorter volunteer shifts and possibly variable days such as two-hour shifts every other week.

Current roles within Integrative Healing include comfort hand massage, reiki, Healing Touch and aromatherapy. You must already have a certification in reiki and/or Healing Touch to perform these roles.

Arts for Healing roles include art at the bedside and music performance. Performing musicians must audition for a volunteer position. Volunteers providing art at the bedside do not need to have training in the arts or art experience.

Our goal is to provide assistance where it is most needed. We can't guarantee specific departments but we work hard to accommodate your main interests.

After your department training checklist has been turned in to Volunteer Services, you can utilize our cloud-based scheduling program to self-schedule one extra shift each week.

This is determined on a case-by-case basis, and depends on your performance and attendance.

You can investigate transferring to other departments after completing six months in your first department. This is determined on a case-by-case basis, and depends on your performance and attendance.

Radiology, Surgery, Trauma, Laboratory, EKG, Medical Records, Coding and Billing, Research, Respiratory Therapy, Nutrition, Peer Counseling, Social Work, Imaging, IT, Accounting and Finance do not have volunteer roles. We do not have a pediatrics department or opportunities involving children or babies.

Only after you complete the minimum commitment of 100 hours for adult or high school volunteers, can we provide a letter that reflects which department or departments you were assigned, what your duties/responsibilities were, start date and end date (or if you are still active) and how many hours you volunteered. This is the extent of information that we can provide.

No, unfortunately this is not available within our volunteer program.

No, unfortunately this is not available within our volunteer program.

We cannot provide externship or internship opportunities within the volunteer program and we cannot sign any type of contract or verification regarding hours for those types of educational programs.

You cannot use your medical licenses or medical skills while volunteering and your licenses are not used to determine where you can volunteer.

Parking is available free of charge in both of our visitor parking garages.

All leave of absences of two weeks or more must be arranged through the volunteer office. Your same schedule and same department cannot be guaranteed if you are reinstated into the program.

Although volunteerism is a great way to gain experience, utilize existing skills and understand the culture of Sharp HealthCare, it does not improve your chances or guarantee you will get a job at Sharp. Volunteers must go through the same application and interview process as general applicants.