volunteering- only doing what others don't like to do?

I started volunteering at Hospital in April of this year. I asked to work in the psychiatric unit with the idea that I could use my education, and with the hope that I would learn more about the differences between a psychiatrist's approach and a therapist's approach to treatment.

The patients were admitted for just 3 to 7 days. Rarely did some stay more than a week. Usually though some would return after a week or so. Each patient has their own room, which is nice. But there is little interaction. They have breakfast, and then, if they want to they may participate in some group discussions. The rest of their day includes lunch, the doctor visits them and the nurses give them their medication.

At first, I didn't have much to do. I worked there mid morning until mid afternoon. I hardly ever saw any "crazy" behavior. I heard that sometimes patient behaviors were worse during the evenings.

But I was there to help and so I asked myself "What can I do to help the nurses and to help myself too?" A month had gone by and I was feeling frustrated because I felt like I was waisting my time. And even though I was volunteering that didn't mean that my time wasn't valuable. To find an excuse I started thinking that maybe "volunteering" means that you do nothing. Could this be true??

I tried to be patient, and give myself a little more time to become acquainted with the hospital. But nothing changed. I continued to walk around the unit, went up and down the elevator bringing the patients their belongings from security and did little things here and there for the nurses. Ok, I was helping the nurses a bit, but I wasn't getting back anything for me.

After a few months of volunteering at the psychiatric unit I "sang out" to the volunteer coordinator and requested something more stimulating. She sent me to an administrative department where I stapled papers for 4 hours. And then she had me pack up someone's stuff in boxes. Are you kidding me!!!

Now I told myself that volunteering [there] means to do what the others don't want to do.

But I was not willing to accept that. So upset and disappointed I "sang out" again to the coordinator. Finally she gave me some administrative things to do where I was stimulated, such as dealing with personnel files, making phone calls and organizing appointments. And a few hours a day I also work at the front desk where I interact with lots of different people.

I can honestly say that now I look forward to going to volunteer at the Hospital.