If you think students spend all their spare time avoiding studying, going out with their mates and having a good time then you'd be right. Well our student bloggers do anyway. While they assure us they don't slack on the study, they've got a lot to answer for when it comes to enjoying themselves while volunteering.

All | Emma | Oli | Daniel | Carrie | Olivia | Fiona | Sammy | Ashley | Rochelle | Natalie | Tom | TomG | Harry

Thursday Oct 20, 2011

Back to the ward

It has been way too long…

On Thursday I started my first Medicinema shift, and it has to be the most fun I’ve had volunteering in a long time.

Transferring the patients from the wards, is the most challenging part of the role, as medication times, and nurse’s schedules make the organisation difficult. It’s the same issue that commonly arises with volunteers in hospitals, as the nursing staff is the most prominent on the wards, and at the same time the most busy. You need the confidence to interact with patients, rather than relying on the staff.

The patients are taken to, or make their own way to the Medicinema, dependent upon their state, and once there, are either positioned in the cinema, seating area, or the floor, in a wheelchair or bed. Nurses are present during the film, in case a certain patient has to be monitored, or there are any needs during the showing.

I think the project, is extremely unique, and provides patients with a setting outside of the typical ward layout, which they can often find uninteresting. Patients, who find reading, difficult, have a chance to see something creative and imaginative, without it having to be strenuous.

I’m really excited to be a part of the project.

Before the summer, I also applied for the role of charity secretary on my subject committee, which I was successful in, and I am extremely excited about this. The major news is that I am organizing a charity vintage fashion show, at the university in February. Fashion is something which has always interested me, but has been so unrelated to my subject, that I haven’t had a chance to do anything with it. So a vintage show seemed like an amazing idea. The hardest aspect so far has been securing stores to be involved, as many do not like to commit to such events, and so it has taken a lot of attempts to find help, but I’m getting there!

Much love for reading…

I will blog again soon.

Posted by Natalie ( 11:58 AM )
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