While the term candy striper may conjure up visions of young women dressed in red and white handing out sweet chocolate candy trifles, the term candy striper actually and surprisingly, has nothing to do with candy (except that they make people happy!). Candy stripers are actually hospital volunteers who go around cheering patients up by offering a friendly face, a happy disposition and some company to those who are sick and possibly depressed or lonely. While the candy striper’s were a common sight in hospitals in the past it is only recently, with increased understanding about the relationship between psychological and physical well being, that they have once again begun to take on the role in hospitals.

Candy stripers are often young people who are able to lighten the atmosphere with their youthful vitality. They often also have an interest in entering the health care field. The candy striper job offers them excellent insight to what it is like to care for the sick and gives them a better idea as to whether they are suited to a caring profession. While candy stripers were traditionally female, the modern candy striper may be male or female without raising eyebrows.

The term candy striper of course comes from the outfit these girls traditionally wore which was a red and white striped, candy cane colored, uniform. Today candy stripers generally wear their own street clothes or if appropriate for the hospital area, regular hospital greens. While the primary job of a candy striper is, and always has been, to cheer up and spend time with patients most candy stripers also help with practical duties, usually under the supervision of the hospital nursing staff.

While the job of a candy striper is a volunteer position, for a student interested in health (or a student who has not yet held paid employment) it is also an excellent achievement to have on a CV.  Of course there is also the satisfaction of helping others which is fulfilling in its own right.