Our Policies
THIS APPLICATION IS FOR PATIENT CARE VOLUNTEERS
For Administrative Volunteers, please click here to fill out a different application.
Before You Begin
Before moving forward, please carefully read and confirm that you understand and agree with the following requirements. VNA Health follows Medicare guidelines, which consider volunteers to be “like employees.” Our volunteer opportunities are not intended to be short-term commitments of just a few days or weeks.
Important Role Information:
- Volunteers do not provide medical or personal care, such as dressing, lifting, or assisting with mobility.
- Volunteers do not perform medical, social work or chaplain duties, including counseling, assisting with advance directives, scheduling medical appointments, or finding housing.
- Your role is to be present, offer companionship, and provide emotional support, while respecting the responsibilities of other care team members.
- If a patient or family has medical or social concerns, your role is to refer them to the appropriate team member (nurse, social worker, chaplain, or physician).
Volunteers are held to the same professional standards as VNA Health staff, and this includes maintaining appropriate boundaries. Volunteer opportunities are for companionship only, and each assignment will have a clear beginning and end. Volunteers do not form ongoing friendships or maintain contact with patients beyond the scope of their assignment. By moving forward with this application, you are agreeing to respect these boundaries. This also means you will not step into the role of a nurse, social worker, or chaplain, and will not assist with the patient’s clinical or social service needs.
What We Offer Our Volunteers:
At VNA Health, we want your volunteer experience to be meaningful, rewarding, and well supported. As a valued member of our team, you will enjoy:
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Flexible scheduling to fit your lifestyle
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Choice of assignment based on your interests and strengths
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Monthly volunteer support meetings to share and learn together
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Bereavement support
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Continuing education through monthly classes with VNA Health nurses
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Access to our volunteer book library on end-of-life and caregiving topics
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Invitations to VNA Health community events, with discounted staff pricing for select events
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A private volunteer Facebook chat group for connection and engagement
- A dedicated Volunteer Program Manager to personally support you on your journey
Onboarding Requirements
The following steps may be completed at your own pace. Nothing is due before the on-site training except the application and interview.
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Online Application
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1 Reference Letter (1–2 paragraphs is sufficient; email format is acceptable)
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Interview
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Sign policy forms
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Background Check
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Pre-employment physical (covered by VNA Health)
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Drug Test (cannabis not included; no longer required in California as of 2023)
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TB Test (requires 2 visits to the VNA Health office)
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Flu Vaccine Proof (or sign a declination waiver)
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3 hours of online training
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One on-site training (3 hours)
Annual Requirements
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TB Test (2 visits to the VNA Health office)
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Flu Vaccine (or declination waiver)
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Sign Annual Commitment Form
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Performance Evaluation by Volunteer Program Manager
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When applicable: up-to-date auto insurance, driver’s license, or professional license (e.g., Hairdressers, Pet Therapists)
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Triennial Competency Test
Weekly Requirements – VERY IMPORTANT
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Maintain good communication with the volunteer office if you must miss a patient visit or take time off
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Submit volunteer time entries and visit notes within 48 hours of completing an activity
To start the application, check the “agree” box below and create a new account.
Please save your username and password as you will need it later to access the Volunteer Online Portal where you will signup for volunteer opportunities and log your volunteer time.
Questions? Contact lucia.herrera@vna.health or 805-690-6245
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