Adult Community Volunteer Program

Duke University Hospital

Duke Health volunteers are a vital part of the health care we provide to the more than half a million patients who visit us each year. Our Adult Community Volunteers at Duke University Hospital provide exceptional care and understanding by taking the time to give patients and their families the extra help and the listening ear they need.

Volunteer Opportunities

Please review our volunteer opportunities listed below carefully and note the available shifts.  This information may change as our needs change.

If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please complete our Volunteer Application.

Duke University Hospital

Volunteers will service as a very important point person for patients and visitors, personally guiding and directing patients to appointments, providing information, directions and wayfinding to patients and visitors, helping patients and visitors locate resources or directing them to the appropriate source if they have a problem or question.  Volunteers will also deliver flowers and gifts to the front desk of each unit, not to the patient’s rooms.  Volunteers are expected to offer a very high level of customer service, serving as an extension of the professional team.  

Available Shifts:

  • 2-hour shifts between 7:30 am and 7:30 pm, Mondays to Fridays
  • Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
     

Volunteers will be playing instrumental music for adults and child patient populations, their loved ones and staff in public spaces (waiting areas, concourse areas and lobbies) to ease the stress of a hospital visit or stay.   No vocal music is featured for the public space performances. Volunteers will promote the recognition of the importance of the arts-superficially music-in lowering blood pressure and creating a positive distraction.  Volunteers must have excellent Live Music Performing skills and be able to perform music for a 2 hour shift (you do not need 2 hours of solo music, the shifts are broken into two 50-minute sets that can be repeated).

Available Shifts:

  • 2-hour shift between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays

Duke Cancer Center

Volunteers offer hospitality, support, and a caring presence to patients and families on the oncology treatment floor as they receive treatment. Their primary role is to spend time talking to patients and families, providing a comforting presence. They can listen to patients’ and families’ concerns, offer refreshments, and educate families about other DCPSP services. 

Available Shifts:

  • Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
  • Thursdays from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Volunteers will provide opportunities for socialization to patients and caregivers in an outpatient setting. Volunteers will be motivators to encourage these participants to engage in activities that structure free time and help to build their social support networks. This may include providing arts and crafts resources, conducting a Living History, and/or circulating hospitality cart items.   

Available Shifts:

  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Volunteer offers hospitality, support, and a caring presence to patients and families visiting the Duke Cancer Center. Their primary role is to spend time talking to patients and families, providing a comforting presence. They can listen to patients’ and families’ concerns, offer refreshments, puzzles, cards, and educate families about other DCPSP services.    

Available Shifts:

  • Monday through Friday: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
  • Monday through Friday: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
  • Monday through Friday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Volunteers will aid patients, families, and staff in finding information and referral services related to cancer and our supportive services. In addition, the volunteer will welcome patients and families to a quiet place to wait while at the Duke Cancer Institute and listen to patients’ and families’ concerns.

Available Shifts: 

  • Monday through Thursday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Volunteers provide patients and caregivers with encouragement, information, and compassion about self-image concerns. The Salon Services Volunteers offer services such as dry cuts, wig trimming, wig styling, head shaving, and/or make-up application. In addition, they may assist patients with self-image products such as wigs, hats, turbans, etc.  Note: North Carolina Cosmetology License Required.

Available Shifts:

  • 1 weekday shift a month. Specific shift times will be discussed during the interview.

Pets at Duke

If you are interested in any of the Pets at Duke volunteer opportunities, please complete our Pets at Duke Volunteer Application.

Pets play an important role in many people’s lives and are often considered members of the family. Pets can offer companionship, affection, topics for conversation, and opportunities for reminiscing. It is because of these many benefits that we offer a Pet therapy program called “Pets at Duke”. 

A Handler volunteer will work as a team with their therapy-certified dog and Pets at Duke Facilitator to provide pet therapy visits to patients and caregivers, providing meaningful engagement that improves their quality of life.  Note: Handler dog teams must be therapy-certified

Available Shifts:

  • 1-2 weekday shifts a month. Specific shift times will be discussed during the interview.

A Facilitator will accompany and assist the handler/dog team in setting up, facilitating, and breaking down the pet therapy session. 

Available Shifts:

  • 1-2 weekday shifts a month. Specific shift times will be discussed during the interview.

Join our Volunteer Waiting List

If these opportunities do not interest you and you would like to be added to our Volunteer Waiting List for other opportunities, please complete our Volunteer Interest Survey. We will contact you if volunteer opportunities are identified which match your interests.