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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.

Volunteers will assist with sales, cash register operation, stocking and restocking, answering phone inquiries, and assisting manager as needed.  

Available Shifts:

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Fridays
    • 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
    • 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
  • Sundays (2 hr shift between)
    • 3:00 pm to 9:00 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

Volunteers will serve as a very important point person for patients and visitors, personally guiding and directing patients to appointments, providing information, directions and way finding 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.

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
    • 7:30 am to 9:30 am
    • 9:30 am to 11:30 am
    • 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
    • 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
  • Saturdays
    • 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
    • Sunday
      • 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Duke Cancer Center

All our volunteers are part of the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program (DCPSP). The DCPSP provides support services to help patients and their loved ones cope with cancer's impact on their lives. Services are offered throughout the cancer experience—from diagnosis through treatment, recovery, and survivorship, as well as through the circumstances surrounding end-of-life.

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

Available Shifts:

  • Minimum two 2-hour weekday shifts a month.
  • Specific shift times vary depending on location and department.

Duke Blood Cancer Center (BBC) volunteers will provide opportunities for socialization to patients and caregivers in an outpatient setting. 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/blankets, and educate families about other DCPSP services.

Available Shifts:

  • Monday & Friday 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, and educate families about other DCPSP services.

Available Shifts:

  • Monday through Friday: 10:00 am to 2:00 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: 

  • Friday: 8:30 am to 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.

Waiting Room Volunteers (Outpatient)

Volunteers interact with patients and staff by assisting with greeting patients upon arrival to the clinic, providing support to patients/visitors while in the waiting area, provide directions to patient when looking for other appointments and assisting patients with appointment itineraries. Volunteers are a liaison to elevate concerns of patients/visitors to clinical staff. Volunteers may also assist with Duke My Chart registration. 

Available Shifts:

  • Tuesday
    • 8:00 am to 11:30 pm
    • 11:30 am to 3:00 pm
    • Wednesday
      • 11:30 am to 3:00 pm
    • Thursdays
      • 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    • Friday
      • 8:00 am to 11:30 am

Volunteers will spend their time in the waiting room speaking with patients/visitors and checking in to see if they have questions or need anything. They will work very closely with the staff at the patient registration desk, taking directions from them and assisting them in any way possible. Volunteers will also escort visitors into the unit where patients are either waiting for surgery or recovering from surgery. Way finding is also important in this role; being able to follow a map and escort visitors to their destination.

Available Shifts:

  • Monday (various 2 to 3 hour shift between)
    • 5:30 am to 8:30 am
  • Tuesday
    • 5:30 am to 3:00 pm
  • Wednesday
    • 5:30 am to 8:30 pm
  • Thursday
    • 5:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Friday
    • 5:30 am to 5:30 pm

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

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.