On Friday nights, Danielle Jaeckels can be found on the sidelines cheering on the St. Joseph High School football team.

Every Tuesday night, Jaeckels is encouraging new mothers in the perinatal unit at Marian Medical Center as a Volunteen.

Jaeckels is one of 185 area high school students who have signed up to volunteer at the hospital as part of the center’s Volunteen Program. Even though her work as a varsity cheerleader is fun, it’s hard to tell which activity Jaeckels likes better.

The bubbly 17-year-old started the program as a freshman, and currently is applying to colleges with nursing programs, including the University of San Francisco, Point Loma Nazarene University and UCLA.

“I’ve wanted to do it ever since I was a little girl. I really don’t know why,” Jaeckels said of becoming a nurse. “Being in the hospital lets me see what it’s like being in the medical field.”

That’s exactly what the program was designed to do.

The Volunteens program was started in 1998 by Sister Regine Donner and Sister Jane Corcoran. Forty-five St. Joseph High School students signed up as the pioneer group. Now, high school students from Arroyo Grande to Lompoc participate in the program.

Volunteens serve one two-hour shift a week. The high number of Volunteens allows the program to cover 4 to 8 p.m. shifts Monday through Thursday.

Students can work in any volunteer position in the hospital, from admitting to security. They can do everything from stocking supplies to working with mothers in labor.

The variety of work allows students to find a niche in hospital work they can possibly turn into a career.

“I’ve found I like labor and delivery and the ER better because you can be with the patients,” Jaeckels said. “Nurses are so compassionate. Anything the patients need, they’re willing to do it.”

In the perinatal unit, Volunteens do everything from monitoring dietary intake to taking out the trash. It’s a vital service to the OB unit nurses.

“It’s a great program. I love it,” said CNA Ayana Rasboro, who supervises the Volunteens in the perinatal unit. “I benefit a lot from having them here. I have the ability to focus on patient care and what the nurses need. They’re a great asset to the hospital.”

Mario Ochoa chose the laboratory for his Volunteen work. A senior at Nipomo High School, Ochoa is learning the detailed work of cataloging samples and specimens by shadowing technicians such as David Probst of Lompoc.

While the hospital staff appreciates the teens for taking care of some of the routine work, the teens see the work as a stepping stone to their futures.

Mary Welch was a Volunteens about nine years ago. Now, she’s doing her residency rotation in a Pennsylvania hospital. Her sister, Patricia Boerger, a senior at Righetti, is now in the program.

Jayna Patel hopes to follow Welch’s lead. The St. Joseph High junior is interested in becoming either an emergency room physician or a cardiovascular surgeon. She’s gaining valuable experience in Marian’s ER.

“I like that adrenaline rush. It’s more hectic. People racing around,” she explained. “I’ve found medicine very interesting, just the way the human body works.”

There’s an additional perk for students who put their best into the program. If they log 100 hours or more, they can apply for a college scholarship through the hospital. Marian awards the scholarships each spring.

Getting into the program takes more than a signature on a sign-up sheet, Sister Regine said. It takes references from teachers, an interview that includes the parents, a two-hour orientation (plus an additional two hours for anybody working in the perinatal unit), and a skin test for tuberculosis. Plus they need to purchase their own uniform.

“It requires quite a bit of dedication,” Sister Regine said. “It’s a real exposure to what the reality of a hospital is like.”

November 29, 2009