I have volunteers in our emergency department.  You can view the assignment description at my website www.saintjosephhealthsystem.org/volunteer.  Once there, click on the reb button labeled "Volunteer Opportunities".

After initial volunteer orientation, department training is done by the department staff on the volunteers first day.

Honestly, a majority of volunteers assigned to the ED do not stay.  I have a large college population who want to be there to observe and get career experience the staff does not utilize them and they get bored and quit usually after one or two times there.  The unit manager has approached me several times about beefing up the assignment description but we have never been able to get together to do it.

I also have hospitality or comfort volunteers in our ER.  They take around a cart with a thermos of coffee and hot water to offer beverages, snacks, magazines, etc.  The supplies come from the ER galley and the magazines, etc. are usually donations through the volunteer office.  Two of my ladies are also EMT volunteers for a rescue squad so they enjoy interacting with the ER staff as well as patients/visitors.