Volunteer Program

Volunteers provide their time and service to the most important person in the world- the patient. Your volunteerism helps promote the good will of the hospital and has a positive impact on your community. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) hospitals and other affiliated facilities while adhering to the organization’s mission, vision, and beliefs. To find out more about volunteer opportunities available across Hackensack Meridian Health please complete the inquiry form  for the hospital you are interested in volunteering for.

General Volunteer Requirements:

• Must be 16 years old and older
• Complete the HMH volunteer application including but not limited to
• Proof of required medical vaccinations
• Criminal background check (adults only)
• Attend a mandatory onboard training session
• Consent to and complete the Annual HMH Education Requirements
• Ability to commit to a minimum of a four (4) hour shift per week, to equate to a minimum requirement of 100 hours per year. Volunteers may complete more than the required hours
• Completion of relevant departmental training is required
• A uniform will be provided
• Willingness to learn and work as part of a interdisciplinary team
• Have a high degree of professionalism and the ability to follow instructions
• Treat all individuals with respect and dignity at all times
• Possess exceptional time management skills
• Highly reliable with time and attendance
• Have a personable manner
• Interact with patients, visitors, physicians, and team members

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

TCAB: Transforming Care At The Bedside

The Volunteer Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB) is an opportunity for volunteers to explore hospital processes and experiences, while connecting to purpose and what matters most to our patients, their families, and our team members. TCAB volunteers are trained by the appropriately designated leader, which includes a review of the expectations, roles and responsibilities. The volunteers will transform care by increasing the caregivers’ time at the bedside, promote workflow efficiencies, support the inpatient unit teams, and provide companionship to our patients. The volunteers will collaborate with the team members, leaders, patients, and families to help make a difference while enhancing the patient experience.

The TCAB program is designed for individuals who are:

• Age 18 and over
• Interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare field (i.e. premed, nursing, pharmacy, social work)
• Seeking an opportunity to gain exposure to acute care setting
• Looking to give back to their community

• Ability to commit to a minimum of a four (4) hour shift per week, to equate to a minimum requirement of 100 hours per year. TCAB Volunteers may complete more than the required hours.

If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please contact the site volunteer office and complete the requested information for the hospital you are interested in volunteering for.

Pet Therapy

Our Pet Therapy Program provides trained handlers and their dogs the opportunity to visit patients in their hospital room. All dogs must be registered through a certified

organization and screened for the appropriate clearance. To find out more information on our application process for the Pet Therapy Program please contact the site volunteer office and complete the requested information for the hospital you are interested in volunteering for.

PFAC- Patient and Family Advisory Council Member

Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFAC) consists of patients and family members who have received care at any HMH facility or are a part of the greater community. PFAC members bring their experience in partnering with the Office of Patient Experience, health care professionals, and leaders in sharing their unique perspectives. PFAC offers advice, feedback, and recommendations on planning, policies, and procedures.  Feedback provided by the PFAC will provide executive leadership with a patient and family centered view of how to enhance the quality, program development, service excellence, communications, patient safety, facility design, patient and family education, staff  education,  and patient and family satisfaction and loyalty while adhering to the organizations mission, vision and beliefs. HMH PFACs are an instrumental component in supporting Hackensack Meridian Health with its number one priority, which is keeping patient centered care and family needs at the forefront. The PFACs have collaborated on various initiatives, projects and feedback sessions to help enhance the patient and family experience and much more.

If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please email pfacnetwork@hmhn.org 

Pastoral Care Volunteer Program

Pastoral Care Volunteers demonstrate respect for every person’s culture and ethnicity, faith, religion and spiritual beliefs and practices.  Our volunteers provide support to patients and families through proactive visits to help  identify spiritual needs and ensure that they are connected to the desired resources throughout their stay. Pastoral Care Volunteers may deliver requested materials, such as bibles and prayer cards, and support organizational events and celebrations such as Ash Wednesday, Pastoral Care Week and Nurses Week. Volunteers may also assist with the clerical needs of the department and the Clinical Pastoral Education Program.If you are interested in volunteering for the Pastoral Care program,  please contact the site volunteer office and complete the requested information for the hospital you are interested in volunteering for.

HELP (Exclusively at Hackensack University Medical Center)

What is HELP? HELP is a comprehensive patient-care program that ensures optimal care for older adults in the hospital using delirium prevention strategies. HELP is a critical component in one’s participation in an Age-Friendly Health System. HELP, which stands for Hospital Elder Life Program, was created by Dr. Sharon Inouye at the Yale University School of Medicine in 2000. Implemented at Hackensack University Medical Center in 2008, the program aims to prevent the onset of delirium in older patients through interventions provided by trained volunteers. These interventions include daily visits, feeding assistance, range of motion exercises/walking programs, and therapeutic activities. If you are interested in volunteering for this innovative program, please reach out to:

Nadine Benoit
HELP Elder Life Specialist
551-996-2542
nadine.benoit@hmhn.org.

NARAP (ED Volunteer Research Associates Program) HUMC

The Volunteer Research Associates (RA) program in the ED at Hackensack University Medical Center (HMH), is part of a nationwide organization known as the National Alliance of Research Associates Program (NARAP). NARAP is a consortium of academic medical centers and community hospitals that collaborate to conduct clinical research studies in hospital emergency departments, which allows Volunteer RAs to gain experience, efficiently enroll large numbers of participants, and perform a variety of functions relevant to each study, as well as facilitate many research activities within the hospital and community setting.

Volunteer Research Associates have the opportunity to engage with patients, participate in most parts of the research process, and become exposed to healthcare providers who are experts in their fields. The typical RA is a College student, or a High school junior or senior, in the pre-health track.

If you are interested in volunteering in the Research Associates (RA) program, please reach out to

RA Program Coordinator:
Vinitkumar.Arora@hmhn.org
551-996-4409 (Emergency Medicine Research, Admin.)

Hospice Volunteer Program

HMH Hospice & VHS Hospice of NJ offer comforting, compassionate end-of-life care in a variety of care settings including at home, in facilities, or in the hospital. Hospice Volunteers will work alongside the hospice team which seeks to meet the needs of individuals and families affected by a life-limiting illness. Volunteers commit to providing service, as needed.

Hospice Volunteer opportunities include:

• Direct Patient Volunteers provide companionship, emotional support, and caregiver relief. Of special need are those with specialized skills/experience such as Pet Therapists, Reiki Practitioners, Eucharistic Ministers, Hairdressers,
• Musicians, Veterans, and those who speak another language.
• Administrative Volunteers assist with clerical duties.
• Remembrance Volunteers create knitted/crocheted blankets or sew Memory Bears.

If you are interested in volunteering with hospice, please email Hospice.Volunteer@HMHN.org.