At Regional West, committed volunteers have been a proud part of our heritage for over 60 years. Our volunteers come from all corners of the community and represent a variety of professions, age groups, and physical abilities, as well as ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Approximately 300 volunteers donate almost 30,000 volunteer hours to the hospital each year.

Regional West offers a wide variety of opportunities for those wishing to volunteer their time and talents. Volunteers help at hospital information centers and the surgical waiting room; deliver patient mail, magazines and flowers; buy for, manage, and clerk in the Gift Shop; buy for and create silk flower arrangements to sell in the Gift Shop; volunteer at the Immunization Clinic; volunteer at the Cancer Treatment Center and the Breast Health Center; volunteer in the Emergency Department; and provide clerical, non-clinical, and/or technical support for a number of departments. Volunteers also make Pediatric Pals for pediatric patients and Alzheimer patients, sew lap robes, and knit baby booties and crib blankets.

Why should I volunteer?

The Volunteers and Friends of Regional West organization is dedicated to furthering the education of future health care professionals in the region. The group annually funds $15,000 in RN scholarships for students enrolled at the western division of the Nebraska School of Nursing in Scottsbluff. Scholarship numbers range from 10 to 15 with amounts from $500 to $1,000. Volunteers and Friends also annually funds $2,100 for University of Nebraska Medical Center teaching support.

The Volunteers and Friends of Regional West also pledged $30,000 towards the new Learning Center, which is housed on the second level of the main lobby at Regional West Medical Center.

In addition, the Volunteers and Friends funded a new $1,300 wheelchair for the Emergency Department.

Proceeds from The Gift Shop, book, and jewelry sales, the craft fair, and the coffee cart all contribute to the success of the volunteers’ efforts.

Being a volunteer

• The role of the volunteer is to be of support to families, patients, and staff, but not to replace staff.
• Volunteers are bound by the same code of ethics and confidentiality as paid staff and are also required to take the same annual Joint Commission and HIPAA tests.
• Before beginning volunteering at Regional West, volunteers are required to go through a volunteer orientation, which covers all codes and policies.
• Volunteers need to be at least 14 years old and willing to take a short orientation course.
• They must also have a TB test, background check, and flu shot (during flu season).
• All of these are provided at no cost by the hospital.

If you would like to volunteer, fill out an application form.