Our student programs
Thank you for your interest in the volunteer program at Ascension Mercy. There are a few things you should consider before filling out your application:
- The minimum age requirement to volunteer is 16 years old.
- Students new to our hospital volunteer program are accepted year-round and must be able to volunteer for at least 6 months including two seasons: summer/fall or winter/spring. Please note, we do not have a summer only volunteer program.
- Be certain that you are ready to make the minimum commitment to be a volunteer. The preferred assignment is for one 2-4 hour shift each week. The length of the shift depends on the assignment area. Evaluate your current obligations at home, school and work, and discuss this additional time commitment with your parents/employer. Patients and care teams will be counting on you. It is important for volunteers to be dependable and to treat their assignments seriously.
- The hospital volunteer program cannot accommodate volunteers who need to accumulate just a few hours of volunteer time toward a school or community-service requirement. A minimum of 50 service hours is required for students to request a recommendation or job reference.
- Volunteers at the hospital are limited to certain areas and responsibilities. Volunteers are expected to be flexible and accepting of different assignments according to the needs and requirements of the patients, care teams and Volunteer Services department.
- Bring your energy and enthusiasm. Volunteering offers the opportunity to learn and contribute in a professional, care-giving organization. Your smile and positive attitude will help you get the most out of your volunteer experience.
The application process
If you meet the above requirements, please complete the following forms:
- Application - Please provide two personal references with one being a teacher, school counselor, or professor.
- Once you complete the application form, you will receive a confirmation email with additional forms to complete relating to confidentiality, your health assessment and background checks.
After we receive your application and required forms and check your references, you will be contacted by our Volunteer Services team.
The interview process
Potential applicants will be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, an appointment with an associate health nurse for a health check will be scheduled. This includes:
- A drug screen
- A blood draw to test for TB and for immunities to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chicken pox)
- A seasonal influenza immunization (flu shot)
- A criminal and caregiver background check will be completed
The final step is to complete orientation and training. This includes:
- Ascension Wisconsin orientation
- Volunteer Services orientation
- Assignment specific training
If accepted in the program, this onboarding process will take approximately two weeks to complete.
For more information, contact Ascension Mercy Volunteer Services at 920-223-0225 or email MHVolun@ascension.org.
We look forward to receiving your completed volunteer application and required forms. We will evaluate it and contact you as soon as possible.
To apply or get more information on Student Affiliation or Observation Experiences, please visit our Wisconsin Medical Education Job Shadows and Observations page.
