Internships and Volunteer Opportunities for High School and Pre-Nursing Students

You’ve probably heard that having volunteer experience on your resume can help set you apart when applying to college, including nursing school. But what type of volunteering and internships should you consider? And where can you find them?

We answer your questions and break down volunteer and internship opportunities by state in this guide.

Volunteers can give back to their community by working in the OR waiting room, gift shop, ER waiting room, or information desk. This volunteer group, called the Auxiliary, provides special scholarships and grants to nursing students and raises funds for hospital projects.

This medical center and hospital offers summer opportunities for teen volunteers, ages 15-18, and college students. Volunteers may assist in various departments or observe bedside procedures. Pre-college research internships are available for high school students with racial or ethnic minority backgrounds.

Teens can learn about healthcare careers at USA Health facilities in southern Alabama. Volunteers care for newborn babies, mentor pediatric patients, and educate families about cancer detection and prevention.

High school students aged 14 and up can volunteer at this hospital, clinic, and skilled nursing facility. There are great opportunities to work in the gift shop, assist with patient care, and perform other clerical tasks within the facility.

Educational opportunities include a competitive summer internship program for high school graduates and summer internships for Alaska Native high school students in the Juneau area. Student volunteer opportunities are also available.

High school students aged 15 and older can volunteer, helping with everything from special events to guiding patients to assisting in the emergency department.

High school students aged 16 and older can volunteer throughout the year. The Family Volunteer Program is open to teens ages 13-17 who are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

ASU offers a summer college immersion that features learning communities in health and leadership for students in grades 9-12.

High school students, aged 16 and up, can benefit from patient-oriented volunteer opportunities within this Phoenix health system, including placements in the emergency department, pediatrics, postpartum services, radiology, and surgery.

Students aged 14-18 can learn about caring for children and providing support to families in a hospital setting at Little Rock’s Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Students aged 16 and older can participate in Baptist Health’s volunteer youth programs, such as Caring Teen and STAR Volunteen.

The HEALERS program invites Little Rock junior and senior high school students to learn about medical careers from practitioners, perform first aid and CPR, and gain clinical experience.

Students can shadow a current Health Scholar while they provide patient care, observe how healthcare teams interact, and decide if healthcare is the right career path for them.

Student opportunities at San Diego County-based Scripps include the High School Exploration Internship Program, University City High School Collaboration, Young Leaders in Health Care, and onsite training through student placements.

Stanford’s Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center offers a summer internship for high school students interested in surgical careers, including nursing. Topics include dissection, suturing, and cardiac valve replacement.

In partnership with Denver Health, the Medical Career Collaborative Program prepares underrepresented students for future nursing and other healthcare careers with hands-on training and professional development.

Sky Ridge Medical Center offers a Junior Volunteer program or High School “Future Careers” program to gain hands-on experience in healthcare.

UCHealth offers student volunteer, job shadowing, and clinical observation opportunities at its hospitals throughout the state, including in the Denver area, Fort Collins, and Steamboat Springs.

Junior Volunteers, aged 14-17, work on patient care units, perform administrative duties, and help with events. Stamford offers internships to graduating seniors.

Connecticut Children’s offers teens aged 15 and up volunteer opportunities as a Patient and Family Ambassador. A teen volunteer can also help with fundraising events or in the gift shop.

High school juniors and seniors at select area high schools can participate in the School-to-Career Internship Program at the Yale New Haven Hospital during the spring and summer.

ChristianaCare offers its Summer VolunTeen program to high schoolers aged 14-18 at its hospitals in Wilmington and Newark. Volunteers interact with patients and learn about hospital careers.

High school students can volunteer in positions such as physical therapy assistant, information desk staff, and patient visitor during the summer.

Students aged 16 years or older who have completed their sophomore year of high school can apply to the High School Program to volunteer in the summer. Volunteers must be TB tested.

The clinic, located in Jacksonville, offers a summer program for high school students, along with year-round programs for home-school and early college enrollees. Teens volunteer in gastrointestinal recovery, oncology, and surgical units.

Teens wanting to learn more about pediatric health can volunteer in a specialty care program in Pensacola, Orlando, or Jacksonville by assisting staff with supporting patients and families, including serving on pet visitation teams.

High school students can volunteer in the emergency department, nutrition services, patient care units, and family waiting areas during the summer. Volunteers will have access to community lectures, complimentary flu shots, and a meal voucher during shifts.

High school students looking for a healthcare career and keen on giving back to their communities have multiple opportunities at the NGHS.

This hospital offers two volunteer opportunities for high school students: VolunTeen, a summer program with patient interaction, and the Explorer Program, where teens learn about medical careers from professionals.

Though not a medical organization, this Atlanta faith-based not-for-profit offers teens enrolled in high school or recent graduates under the age of 19 the chance to learn about the organization’s mission of helping children and families in crisis. In addition to foster care and homeless services, Christian City includes senior assisted living facilities.

High school students in Honolulu can participate in an immersive experience working alongside healthcare professionals at Adventist Health Castle in Kailua.

The Pre-Health Career Corps engages students in learning about health careers and supports them through college with volunteer positions, career shadowing, internships, and financial resources. The center is located in the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine.

The Health Careers Summer Internship Program offers high school students the chance to explore career options, learn about hospital systems, and talk to practitioners.

Teens can gain experience in a professional environment and learn about the healthcare industry through Kootenai Health’s teen volunteer program. Most volunteer areas require a regularly scheduled, weekly, 4-hour shift.

High school students interested in healthcare careers can apply to the Early College Program, which offers dual credits for both high school and college. Applicants need a minimum 2.7 GPA to apply.

High school students can apply for externships, internships, shadowing, and volunteering opportunities. Madison Memorial Hospital provides training for all positions, along with exploration of a variety of health careers.

This Boise not-for-profit healthcare organization’s Junior Volunteer Program accepts students aged 16-18 looking to gain hospital experience, customer service and leadership skills, and patient interaction. Volunteers must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

High school students can choose from a variety of sites to volunteer at least 2-4 hours per week. Most sites accept students 16 years or older, but a few accept students who are 14 or 15 years old.

Volunteers, including high school students, receive orientation and on-the-job training in patient care and advocacy at Edward Hospital. Volunteer applications require students to submit a 400-word essay.

Designed to interest high school juniors and seniors, along with graduating seniors, in healthcare careers, SIH’s Summer Internship Program includes tracks in nursing and other healthcare-related fields.

Ascension welcomes student volunteers at its various locations, including Peyton Manning Children’s, St. Vincent Anderson, and St. Vincent Carmel hospitals.

High school students interested in health-related research can choose among several scholarships in areas like behavioral sciences, biomedicine, and molecular medicine.

Parkview Health partners with affiliated schools to pair high school seniors with health professionals for semester-long internships and externships.

Students aged 16 and older can volunteer at Great River Health’s Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center throughout the year.

The center offers one-on-one clinical internship and preceptor programs, job shadowing, and youth volunteer opportunities to introduce students to healthcare careers.

This Des Moines healthcare organization offers student volunteer opportunities in its Iowa Lutheran Hospital Volunteer Program. Volunteers must be 14-18 years old and commit to 2-4 hours per week for two semesters.

The Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita offers nursing unit volunteer positions to teens, including greeting visitors, delivering gifts to patients’ rooms, and aiding with dismissals.

Students from underrepresented groups can apply for the STAR 2.0 program. Participants work on an original project, earn a stipend, and learn about medical research, ethics, and careers.

High school students can apply to volunteer with Salina Regional during the summer months. Volunteers must commit to at least 35 hours of service and meet minimum GPA requirements.

The Summer Teen volunteer program invites high school students aged 14 and up to lend a helping hand during their summer vacation. Students have the opportunity to gain healthcare experience while making a positive impact on others.

The High School Senior Internship Program offers service learning experiences for students in their senior year. Interns explore the different hospital departments and their impacts on patient care.

This healthcare organization’s Louisville-area hospitals offer volunteering and summer programs for teens in cancer centers, hospitals, and rehabilitation institutes.

High school students who commit to volunteering at least 25 hours during the school year can volunteer in areas like the Center for Health, the surgery waiting area, pediatric rehab, and radiology.

The career shadowing program includes opportunities to shadow nurses and other practitioners in various hospital departments. Students must be 16 or older. The hospital also offers volunteer positions.

High school student volunteers with a 2.0 GPA or higher can participate in the A-HEC of a Summer program while earning half of a high school elective credit upon completion. Other volunteer opportunities are available for students to work in the NICU, aquatic therapy, labor and delivery, gift shops, and the surgery center.

The junior volunteer program invites applications from independent, enthusiastic, and responsible teens ages 14-17 for school-year and summer shifts.

MaineHealth’s Center for Workforce Development introduces students to career options within the health system through summer internships, junior volunteers, and student partnerships.

Every summer, students aged 14-17 can join the St. Mary’s Health System junior volunteer program. Students must commit to volunteering at least one day per week.

Johns Hopkins and its agency partners host a Summer Scholars program that includes a track for underrepresented Baltimore high school juniors enrolled in the MERIT Health Leadership Academy.

This Hagerstown hospital offers high school students aged 14-18 the chance to participate in the Volunteen program. Volunteers aged 14 and 15 can work in the gift shop or coffee shop; 16-year-olds can provide nursing support, and 17 and 18-year-olds can work in the emergency department.

High school students can apply to the NIH Clinical Center Summer Internship Program, which pairs students with researchers and health professionals in nursing and other research areas.

Beth Israel’s Winchester Hospital introduces students to healthcare careers through its Junior Volunteer Program. Participants assist with patient discharge and deliver charts and lab samples.

Boston’s BWH features summer internships that open up healthcare careers to students, the Student Success Jobs Program that provides mentoring, and Project TEACH for 10th graders enrolled in partner schools.

Students ages 16-18 can apply to the Junior Track volunteer program and learn about healthcare careers. Volunteers commit 100 hours of service per year and work after school.

High school students aged 16 and older can apply to volunteer at Ascension Providence, Southfield. A minimum six-month commitment with 100 hours of service is required.

Teens ages 16 and older can volunteer at Trinity Health Michigan in locations such as Livingston, Grand Rapids, and Oakland. Students can gain healthcare experience in critical care, radiology, endoscopy, and infusion centers.

Student experiences at Beaumont Health include volunteer positions at its locations throughout the Detroit metro area. Experiences include both year-round and summer positions.

Students aged 15 and older can apply to become a M Health Fairview volunteer. Volunteers can choose from a variety of settings, including Ridges Hospital, Woodwinds Hospital, and University of Minnesota Medical Center.

CentraCare welcomes students aged 14 years and older to volunteer in their various hospitals and centers. Volunteers will interact with healthcare professionals, explore their healthcare interests, and receive scholarship eligibility.

High school students can lend a helping hand in Astera Health’s VolunTEEN program. Opportunities include visiting patients, delivering flowers, and spending time with pediatric patients.

The CRASH Course camp invites applications from high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The summer camp introduces students to careers in nursing at several Baptist Memorial hospital locations.

This organization fosters student interest in healthcare careers through several programs, including a summer health academy, summer volunteering, job shadowing, and scholarships.

Student volunteers can find nonclinical summer opportunities in the cancer center, emergency department, and radiology at Pascagoula and Ocean Springs hospitals.

Springfield’s CoxHealth accepts high school volunteers ageD 15 and up who complete the interview process and background screening. The student program focuses on engaging volunteers for possible future recruitment.

Children’s Mercy Hospital provides summer volunteer opportunities for high school students who want to support staff and create positive experiences for patients, families, and visitors.

The St. Louis-based hospital offers volunteer opportunities where students gain insight into healthcare careers. Student volunteers provide support, comfort, and facility navigation service to patients.

The clinic welcomes student volunteers aged 15-18 who can commit to one 4-hour shift a week for a minimum of nine shifts. Students must also be up to date on immunizations.

Junior volunteers, aged 13-18, supplement the essential duties of healthcare staff by delivering newspapers, assisting in resident activities, and helping with events. Volunteers must commit to one 2-hour shift per week.

Junior volunteers aged 14-17 can participate in the Intermountain Health volunteer program. Opportunities include working as a NICU cuddler, providing gift shop support, and performing music for patients.

Kids and teens can learn more about healthcare careers and make a positive contribution to medicine in Nebraska by volunteering through Teen Connection or joining the KIDS Nebraska Advisory Board. Teen Connection volunteers apply in the summer or fall to join volunteer groups.

High school students aged 14-18 can provide hospital support after school on weekdays. The Volunteen program allows students to explore various healthcare career opportunities, develop leadership skills, and make new friends.

The Omaha-based High School Alliance Health Sciences Enrichment Program for juniors and seniors features observation and shadowing tracks. Participants can also take college-level courses taught by practitioners, including nurses.

Teens aged 16 or older can apply to the Summerlin Hospital teen volunteer program. Students must commit to at least one four-hour shift weekly and a minimum of 100 service hours.

Junior volunteers who are 14 years or older may apply to become Dignity Health volunteers. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and commit to at least one four-hour shift per week.

Teens ages 16-18 with a 2.5 GPA can participate in the summer volunteer teen program at Las Vegas-area hospitals. Volunteers attend an orientation covering infection prevention, patient confidentiality, and safety.

Students aged 14 and up learn about health professions and develop new skills by greeting and escorting patients, delivering mail to departments, and providing clerical support.

Students aged 16 and older can volunteer at Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth. Volunteers commit to 30 hours in the first year, assisting patients, visitors, and staff while learning about careers in healthcare.

The teen volunteer program provides opportunities to students aged 14-18 during the afternoons and weekends. Volunteers are eligible for scholarships.

Student volunteers aged 14-17 at Camden-based Cooper acquire experience in patient care, perform clerical tasks, and serve as radiology ambassadors. Volunteers can earn community service and internship hours.

High school students can apply for summer volunteer positions working with patients and clinical staff, performing clerical duties and providing patient services, such as patient escorting.

The institute offers numerous education and training events for students to train the next generation of cancer researchers.

High school graduating seniors can explore healthcare careers during this internship, where they rotate through various departments and observe nursing, clinical, and support staff.

UNM Health’s Youth Empowerment Program introduces high school students to healthcare careers with summer and after-school hands-on activities, volunteering, and classroom instruction.

This organization serves Manhattan and Staten Island. Its Summer Health Internship Program places high schoolers in healthcare facilities to learn about health professions and issues.

Based in Garden City, Adelphi offers a pre-college introduction to the nursing track for sophomore, junior, and senior high school students. Held in the summer months, students live on campus and earn three college credits.

Mount Sinai Hospital offers many volunteer opportunities for high schoolers aged 16 and up. Students can volunteer in the Child Life and Take 10 programs, provide pet therapy, and work as ambassadors. The hospital also offers limited research-based volunteer programs for high school students.

The Carolinas Medical Center offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for high school students aged 15-18. Teen volunteers may provide non-clinical support, assist with clerical work, and deliver sterile equipment to the units.

The Annie Penn Hospital Teen Volunteer Program consists of both a summer and year-round opportunity for high school students to experience working in a hospital environment.

UNC’s summer high school volunteers benefit from eight-week positions in nursing units at its Chapel Hill and Hillsborough sites. The program teaches practical job skills in an academic hospital setting.

Grand Forks-based Altru accepts applications for its junior volunteer program from students aged16 and older or who have started tenth grade. Volunteers gain on-the-job experience and explore health occupations.

Teens ages 16-18 can apply to become an Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin volunteer. Student volunteers must commit to a minimum of 100 service hours. Volunteers are eligible for scholarships.

Graduating high school seniors can apply for a paid eight-week summer internship in which they work with a mentoring physician in a pediatric specialty area.

The clinic’s Zielony Nursing Institute partners with schools nationwide to mentor and develop new nurses through senior projects. The project matches each student with a nurse in an assigned unit.

High school students aged 15 and older can become Ohio Health Doctors Hospital volunteers. Opportunities include providing emergency room support, being a patient navigator, and serving in the maternity ward.

The Junior Volunteer programs at Ascension St. John hospitals in Broken Arrow, Owasso, and Sapulpa provide summer and school-year career discovery and exploration opportunities for students aged 15-18.

Recipients of high school fellowships observe surgeries, childbirth, and emergency procedures and shadow physicians. Former fellows have entered nursing and other medical fields.

The center’s VOLUME program grants service-based, hands-on learning for high schoolers planning for healthcare careers, such as nursing. Activities include job shadowing, pediatric patient care, and team building.

Oregon high school students can volunteer at Kaiser Permanente Northwest hospitals. Students must commit to volunteering a minimum of 50 hours in six months.

Portland-based OHSU houses a nursing school and offers numerous K-12 student experiences, such as a summer scholars program with partner schools that focuses on cancer research, treatment, and prevention.

Students can apply to the Asante Three Rivers Medical Center Youth Volunteer program. Volunteers must commit to volunteering at least one year or 100 hours of service.

UPMC invites student volunteers to gain healthcare experience and earn community service credits. Volunteers must commit to a minimum of 50 hours of service annually.

High school summer volunteer opportunities include working with patients and clinical staff. Students also participate in career day where they can ask questions to health providers.

Penn’s junior volunteer programs offer high school students aged 14 years or older exposure to healthcare professions, patient care, and daily duties.

The Teen Volunteer Program exposes students who have completed two years of high school and aspire to healthcare careers to numerous medical professions.

The Lifespan Summer Youth Employment Program provides students ages 16-19 with an inside look at healthcare, paid summer employment, career advice, and potential employment beyond the summer.

Volunteer opportunities at South County Hospital for students ages 13 and up include assisting postoperative patients, cancer center and surgical service staff, and helping emergency department nurses.

The greater Charlotte-area clinics invite teens to volunteer as nursing unit assistants and patient mentors, along with job shadowing nurses and occupational and physical therapists.

High school students aged 14 and up can apply to become MUSC Health volunteers. Volunteers must commit to serving a minimum of one three-hour shift each week.

Junior volunteers can apply to become Lexington Medical Center volunteers to gain healthcare experience in nursing units, surgical waiting areas, and community medical centers.

Monument Health offers high school students the opportunity to shadow healthcare professionals to learn what a healthcare career is truly like.

Junior volunteers can gain healthcare experience at Royal C. Johnson Veterans’ Memorial Hospital, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers.

The Knoxville hospital’s summer VolunTeen Program invites high schoolers to help at its diabetes camp or at camps for rehabilitation center patients.

Methodist Medical Center offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, including serving as a patient representative, assisting in the Hospitality Houses, and delivering flowers.

The student volunteer program at Nashville’s Williamson Medical Center provides opportunities for teens aged 16 years or older to work with patients and their families and explore potential career paths in healthcare.

West Texas’ Covenant offers nurse observation experiences for students ages 16 and above, along with pre-nursing school internships for college-level students.

The Caring Teen Volunteer Program accepts applications from community youth and delivers opportunities to network with medical professionals and provide supplemental hospital services.

The Dallas-Fort Worth network invites teens to become junior volunteers at its various facilities during the summer. Volunteers curious about healthcare operations can develop professional skills.

Teen volunteers at Intermountain medical facilities can work with pediatric patients at Primary Children’s Hospital, coordinate with pet therapists at Park City Hospital, and find numerous other opportunities.

High school students can join nurses and other practitioners at this Salt Lake City community clinic and provide administrative support and perform services, such as reading to children in the waiting room.

Students can gain healthcare experience through the Utah State Hospital volunteer program, including physical and occupational therapy.

High school students can volunteer at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital or apply for one of their internship programs. Student volunteers are eligible for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.

The statewide Office of Primary Care and Area Education Centers Program facilitates community and academic partnerships that connect students to healthcare careers.

This Northern Virginia nonprofit health system offers numerous volunteer options for teens that suit their interests and enable them to explore potential careers.

High school students aged 15-17 can apply for summer junior volunteer positions working with patients, families, staff, and visitors at this Fredericksburg healthcare organization.

Teens ages 16 and up can volunteer and assist staff with direct patient care in inpatient units, women and infant health, and outpatient services at this Arlington hospital.

High school students aged 16-18 can shadow a current Health Scholar or work in healthcare settings. Volunteers must commit to one 4-hour shift or two 2-hour shifts per week.

At UW Medicine, high school students can volunteer at their choice of four different medical centers. Students may also participate in summer teen volunteer programs.

High school students age 16 and older with at least a 3.0 GPA can apply to volunteer at Washington Hospital Healthcare System. Volunteers commit to at least 100 hours and work in the gift shop, lobby, or birthing center. They can also play music in the lobby.

GU hosts a three-week college-prep summer program for high school seniors with seminars in health studies, test prep workshops, and mentorships.

The D.C.-based VA medical center offers students nationwide an inside view of career options, ways to gain healthcare experience, and qualification for college scholarships.

High school students can join the junior volunteer program and gain experience in endoscopy, women’s imaging, and child development. Student volunteers are eligible for three different scholarships.

WVU Hospital invites high school students 16 years and older to join their volunteer program running three times per year. Students gain hands-on experience as they pursue their interest in various health professions.

Milwaukee-area teen volunteers work with pediatric patients in hospitals, advocate for children’s health to state legislators, and assist at fundraising events.

In partnership with Milwaukee’s Carmen High School, student interns can gain work experience, home life skills, and earn scholarships for college while learning about healthcare careers.

Teens aged 14 and above can volunteer year-round at Aurora Health Care locations, including Aurora Medical Center Kenosha, Aurora Medical Center Bay Area, Aurora Medical Center – Manitowoc County, and Aurora Medical Center Oshkosh.

CCH’s junior volunteers can learn new skills and provide aid to the community by supporting services to children, working with clerical records, and helping at the Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center, among other roles.

High school students find volunteer opportunities by working in a hospital environment, providing support to patients, their families, and visitors at the Sweetwater County facility.

Cheyenne Regional welcomes student volunteers aged 15 and older to join their volunteer program. Volunteers must commit to a minimum of 25 service hours per year.

Page last reviewed on April 24, 2024