NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Hosts Nursing Experience Volunteer Program for Students Interested in Health Care

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Hosts Nursing Experience Volunteer Program for Students Interested in Health Care

The new program placed students in clinical care units to enhance patient experience

Sep 03, 2025

This summer, ten students from around New York City participated in a new program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, the oldest hospital in the United States. The Nursing Experience Volunteer Program placed college students who are interested in health care as part of clinical care teams on inpatient units.

"The participants play a vital role in enhancing Patient Experience by providing non-clinical support, assisting with comfort measures, and ensuring a welcoming environment for our patients and their families," said Bellevue Hospital Chief of Human Resources Anna Colletti. "They learn and work alongside dedicated nursing professionals on inpatient units, and help ensure Bellevue Hospital's ICARE values - Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence - are being upheld and emphasized."

Most of the volunteers were recruited through Ladders for Leaders at Commonpoint Queens, a social services organization that offers a range of youth workforce programs and other services. At Bellevue Hospital, the program is administered by the Volunteer Department in collaboration with the Nursing Department.

"The Nursing Experience Volunteers are more than an extension of our team; they are integral partners who help us provide the best possible care, creating a healing environment that nurtures both the body and the spirit," said Bellevue Deputy Chief Nursing Officer Marie Estelle Lejarde, MBA, MSN, RN, CWOCN, IIWCC-NYU. "As we work to improve patient experience and satisfaction, it's clear that this initiative does more than assist our staff. It enriches the care we provide by ensuring that every patient feels seen, heard, and supported. It is a true privilege to be part of this transformative project alongside our incredible Volunteer Department. Together, we are redefining what it means to care for our patient, not just through clinical expertise but through the genuine compassion and connection our volunteers bring every day."

Ruby Zheng is a rising junior who will start in the Nursing School at Stony Brook University next semester. She was born and raised in Flushing. At Bellevue, she was assigned to a surgical inpatient unit, working with patients recovering from surgical procedures. It is her first experience in a hospital.

"I wanted to get exposure and experience in a hospital setting before going to nursing school," said Ruby. "I really like the direct interaction with patients. This program has really helped me understand patients' perspectives, and develop advocacy skills."

She added, "I'm interested in working with patients in critical care units. This program has been a great introduction to nursing, and to seeing how hospitals work."

The volunteers' responsibilities include visiting patients to offer comfort and emotional support. They greeting patients and families by conducting structured daily rounds throughout the unit, checking in with patients to see if they need anything. The volunteers conduct daily feedback surveys, hearing directly from patients and relaying the information to assigned unit nurses and nursing leadership.

Bryan Lam is a rising senior at Boston University, majoring in computer engineering. Born and raised in Queens, he graduated from the Bronx High School of Science.

"I did not previously have a lot of experience in health care, but when a family member of mine was hospitalized, I saw how nurses and patient care associates work together as a team," said Bryan. "There's something noble about the direct impact they have on human lives. I wanted to figure out my place in it."

Bryan says he has a new sense of hospitals, and what he refers to as the "harmony" of caring. "Students should take a closer look at nursing and how impactful being present, being there for patients can be."

"I had some experience in hospitals in China, but I wanted to get a better understanding of public hospitals in the United States," said Jianzhao Kong, who recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and will begin the Master of Public Health program at NYU. "In this program, I've learned how different departments in the hospital work together. Even though the volunteers provide non-clinical support, I see how important it is to collaborate with nursing and others on the care team. Patients always say they appreciate the extra support we provide."

###

MEDIA CONTACT: Bellevue Public Relations, 212-562-4516

#148-25

About NYC Health + Hospitals/BellevueNYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America's oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the 851-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with 6,000 employees including highly skilled, interdisciplinary clinical staff. The hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center and annually it sees about 103,000 emergency room visits, and more than 520,000 outpatient visits. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Bariatric Surgery; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Children's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services. For more information, visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/bellevue and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).

About NYC Health + HospitalsNYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.