The Ambassador Program
"It’s our pleasure to serve YOU"
Welcome to our Student Volunteer Programs. These specific programs are a great avenue for students who are seeking career path experiences as well as the opportunity to meet community service requirements.
These programs provide students:
- An opportunity to gain experience and learn new skills that will be directly transferable to a student’s chosen career.
- An opportunity to achieve community service requirements.
- An opportunity to gain confidence in service orientation, social skills, teamwork, oral communication, ethical responsibility to self and others, reliability and dependability.
- An opportunity to develop culture competence. Working with people of different ages, backgrounds, cultures or values help students learn both about others and about themselves and prepares them for a diverse workplace.
- An opportunity for networking and developing relationships with people who may help them connect with others when beginning their job search and who would be willing to write a reference
Students are selected through application and interview and are required to attend orientation and training before serving in our selected programs. We recommend you apply the semester before you would like to serve.
Students who excel in their hours and service to our programs will be awarded and recognized as a Gold Star Student Leader. Gold Star Students will receive a star pin for their badge, are invited to attend the end of the year FGH Volunteer Luncheon, receive a recognition letter from Volunteer Services, and are given the opportunity to help train other students in our programs.
The Ambassador Program Tasks
The Ambassador Program is diverse and unique in opportunities. It compliments and enhances the patient care experience by allowing students to provide important non-clinical support to patients, their families, visitors, and staff.
The Ambassador program is open to students of all majors. Ambassadors are asked to serve a weekly two hour shift. This is the minimum hours required but students may work and gain as many hours as needed. An Ambassador is a unique individual who is willing to learn about our organization in order to meet the needs of those we serve. It requires someone who is mature, friendly, outgoing, and must be able to walk and stand for extended periods.
Ambassadors are identified by green blazers, which help to easily identify them to our customers. Some of the tasks/requirements of the program include:
- Must be at least 18 to serve in this program.
- Ability to communicate clearly.
- Be energetic, friendly, and outgoing.
- Must have an ease with starting conversations.
- Welcome and greet our visitors and families.
- Assist with directions; help our families to navigate the halls of Forrest General.
- Escort visitors and families to their requested designations in a timely but safe manner.
- Function as support staff to our Information Desk.
- Complete orientation and commit to minimum of volunteer hours required per session.
- Requires business casual attire. No jeans, shorts, or flip flops. Detailed requirements are provided during orientation.
Program Opportunities
Leadership Services
Ambassadors are assigned to the entrances of Forrest General Hospital. The primary focus is to greet and welcome all who enter the doors as well as be a resource for those we serve. Ambassadors guide visitors and families to their destination, deliver florist and personal belongings to patients, provide wheelchair assistance when appropriate, assist in keeping books available in our “Little Library” and magazines in all our waiting areas.
Patient Rounding
The primary role of this assignment is to round on our patients and families offering them "one-on-one" time as a contributing member of the care team. Students visit with patients and assist with basic non-clinical needs as well as offer activity material and hygiene items to help make the patient’s stay more comfortable. Our students also play an important role with our healthcare team by assisting them with additional patient care unit tasks.
Departmental Support
Ambassadors will have the opportunity to help various departments with project assembly and other office needs.
ER Care Partner
ER Care Partners provides patient rounding opportunities in the Emergency Department where the focus revolves around the patient, providing comfort measures, conversation, and seeking opportunities to make our patients feel cared for.
Project Days
Project Days are held throughout the year and students participate in activities such as Turkey Grams, Poinsettia deliveries, Valentines Valet, Holidaze as well as other hospital events.
If you have a question concerning Ambassadors contact:
Lucretia M. Hall, Coordinator
Macy Knight, Coordinator