In the modern world, social service is not only relevant, it also acquires new actual forms. It is equipped with technological abilities, adapts to the changing standards of life quality and increasing society demands. Meanwhile, the conceptual volunteering basis behind these initiatives, which rests on the universal principles of humanism and tender mercy, remains unchanged.

In practical healthcare, the socially-oriented initiative can be applied as well. Meanwhile, in medical practice, the traditions of volunteering preserved the most historically demanding form of direct interaction between a trained volunteer and a patient to provide additional labor-intensive care. The experience of hospital service is still particularly relevant in relation to palliative patients. The relevance of hospital service is accepted by the professional medical society, translated into the information space, and positively perceived by the entire society [1].

The problem is that volunteers who are massively attracted to accomplish the tasks of nursing staff require proper qualification. They should not only be motivated for social service but also have special knowledge, which allows to integrate everyday patient care into the structure of medical aid.

The issue is solved by training and retraining of hospital volunteers and specialists of various levels on the basis of medical educational institutions.

Training of nurses (nurses of mercy) was organized at the Yaroslavl State Medical University to meet the growing need of practical healthcare in support of volunteering initiatives.

A step preceding implementation of this educational program included creation of the basic department of palliative medicine on the basis of Clinical Central Hospital of St. Alexy Metropolitan of Moscow of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Yaroslavl State Medical

University (Moscow, head of the department, Director and Head Physician of Clinical Central Hospital Zarov AYu). The experience of successful training at the Clinical Central Hospital of St. Alexy Metropolitan of Moscow was taken as the basis of organization of educational process at the Yaroslavl State Medical University. Specialists of the Clinical Central Hospital actively participated in practical implementation of educational programs.

Training of ‘nurses of mercy’ at the Yaroslavl State Medical University started at the same time with the Sretensky Readings devoted to the memory of Saint Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) [2]. Representatives of the medical corporation, specialists of the social sphere and priests met at the conference to discuss the pressing issues of palliative medicine in Russia. Discussing the joint perspectives of healthcare, society and church was the major topic of presentation. Participation of the confessional community showed the importance of discussing the issue of physical comfort, spiritual and moral upbringing of palliative patients.

The educational project gained a regional significance due to the interaction of the Yaroslavl State Medical University, Ministries of Healthcare, Labor and Social Support of the Yaroslavl region, and Yaroslavl Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.

It should be noted that the students of the Yaroslavl State Medical University were the first to take the initiative for obtaining additional volunteering competency. In 2023, the ‘junior medical nurse’ (training) program at the Yaroslavl State Medical University was mastered by 11 students enrolled in ‘Clinical Psychology’ specialty program, 22 volunteers recommended by the Yaroslavl Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, and 60 students of social welfare bodies within the pilot project devoted to the system of long-term care for elder citizens and persons with disabilities in need of care.

The ‘junior medical nurse’ professional training program at the Yaroslavl State Medical University was implemented in accordance with art. 73 of Federal Law as of 29.12.2012 No. 273-FZ ‘On education in the Russian Federation’, Law of the Ministry of Education of Russia as of 26.08.2020 No. 438 ‘On approved procedure of organization and carrying out the educational activity for the basic programs of professional education’, and Rules of admission set by the University.

The training program lasts 432 hours and consists of five modules.

1. Theory and practice of nursing care.
2. Safe patients and personnel environment.
3. Technologies of rendering medical services.
4. Practical training — mastering practical skills at the accreditation and simulation center.
5. Production practice (training at a medical organization).

Following completion of the training, a qualifying exam is held in the presence of the employer’s representatives.

The volume of practical training (simulation course within the framework of your studies, production practice and practical classes) takes up more than 90% of class time.

Social request of profile regional ministries and Yaroslavl Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church allowed to take into account the target of the future activity, and specifics of confessional and cultural environment while training specialists and volunteers.

It can be concluded that referral to the experience of hospital volunteering and traditions of tender mercy has shown the critical need of the modern Russian medicine for the search of additional resources to provide qualitative patient care, especially for palliative patients, on the one hand, and the spiritual need of the society for the development of social initiatives, on the other hand.

Training of junior nurses (‘nurses of mercy’) at the Yaroslavl State Medical University proves that it is possible to restore practice of hospital volunteering in Russian healthcare with integrated efforts of all interested parties.

The area of further practical implementation of skills obtained by volunteers is expanded due to the interaction between the university and state, social, and confessional structures. It also allows to take into account the specifics of their requests and peculiarities of the worldviews, which, in its turn, simulates the interest of students in the educational program.

According to practical experience, ‘tender mercy’ is the initiative, which is gaining popularity in contemporary society. However, all interested parties should take part herein to ensure its complete implementation. The reciprocal activity associated with the development and implementation of courses by the academic society and willingness of the higher medical school to include the tasks supporting the practice of hospital volunteering in the perspective plan of development are essential.

Results of the first year of junior nurse training at the YSMU demonstrate that the Yaroslavl Diocese, social welfare bodies and medical organizations display a stable interest in implementation of the program.

The motto of the Sretensky Readings devoted to the memory of Saint Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky), which launched the initiative of the Yaroslavl State Medical University, is ‘Education, Health, and Mercy’. It reflects the readiness to consolidate the efforts of the representatives of medical education and practical healthcare, secular society and confessional associations to solve common pressing social tasks.