Best Certification to work with patients as a Pre Med?

[HamsterHuey]

Hi -

I am a pre-med student, who is a career changer at the age of 33. I am still developing my thoughts about where exactly I'd like to go in the wide world of medicine, but I'm thinking of Hematology/Oncology, Neurology, Internal Medicine and Psychiatry.

I am wondering - is there a low-level Nursing certification or EMT certification that would be good for me to get so that I can work with patients and boost my experience before med school? I would like volunteer and gain clinical experience that involves patient care if possible!

Thanks for any advice you can give on this

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[FIREitUP]

I would go with EMT since you wont be cleaning peoples' bedpans and doing scutwork for nurses. I would also suggest you do your best to get into the hospital and volunteer so you can get a feel for the dynamic that goes on there and to observe physicians in action. Overall, I feel like my EMT license provided me with the best ability to have patient interactions and experience that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

 

[gettheleadout]

I would go with EMT since you wont be cleaning peoples' bedpans and doing scutwork for nurses. I would also suggest you do your best to get into the hospital and volunteer so you can get a feel for the dynamic that goes on there and to observe physicians in action. Overall, I feel like my EMT license provided me with the best ability to have patient interactions and experience that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

Keep in mind that other peoples' experiences will differ and they'll say "Go for a CNA if you don't want to be a glorified taxi-driver."

 

[sylvanthus]

ED tech is my biased opinion. Requirements vary greatly between hospitals though. Some require EMT, some CNA.

 

[Torr]

Keep in mind that other peoples' experiences will differ and they'll say "Go for a CNA if you don't want to be a glorified taxi-driver."

qft.

Also, this reminded me of a convo I had with an ED tech who claimed being a medical scribe was superior to EMT with regards to the clinical experience you'll get. I was pretty shocked by this but the sentiment was echoed in a few other EMT threads I'd read through.

Which reminds me, OP, definitely search through some of the EMT vs. [insert "low-level" clinical position here] threads if you haven't already.

 

[senorsquishie]

CNAs are the jokes of EMS to be fair. We make fun of them to ridiculous proportions. To be fair, if it is your pt. you should have some idea of medications/past medical history/etc (esp. if you see them everyday!). And this glorified taxi driver gets to give out certain medications and will save more lives then a CNA.

This being said. Don't get an EMT cert unless you can do something with it. EMT-Bs are a dime a dozen, and getting paid work is hard. I also heard Phelbotomy (sp?) certs offer some good contact, but you really only draw blood.

 

[FIREitUP]

Good luck becoming an ED tech with no experience. At least becoming an EMT opens doors to you (depending on your cert level you can land a ED tech job or it can help you get a scribe job as you will already be acquainted with the terms), plus, if you volunteer you can get decent exposure and then move into a paid role (BLS transports will eat your soul, though). Just my two cents. Good luck OP, whatever you decide.

 

[sylvanthus]

Good luck becoming an ED tech with no experience. At least becoming an EMT opens doors to you (depending on your cert level you can land a ED tech job or it can help you get a scribe job as you will already be acquainted with the terms), plus, if you volunteer you can get decent exposure and then move into a paid role (BLS transports will eat your soul, though). Just my two cents. Good luck OP, whatever you decide.

This totally varies by hospital, so look into your area and find out what they are looking for. Some EDs I worked at required NO experience.

 

[boobelle]

This totally varies by hospital, so look into your area and find out what they are looking for. Some EDs I worked at required NO experience.

Right...the hospitals I volunteered at actually had specific programs for premeds to volunteer, no certification necessary. (This was in NYC.) They were also designed so you worked with both patients and physicians. I also volunteered for a hospice, but that only required going through their orientation/training. From the adcom perspective, what matters most is the quality and extent of your experience.

 

[FIREitUP]

This totally varies by hospital, so look into your area and find out what they are looking for. Some EDs I worked at required NO experience.

Wow, interesting. My I ask what area of the country this was?

 

[sylvanthus]

Wow, interesting. My I ask what area of the country this was?

Both minneapolis, minnesota and seattle, washington required no prior experience.


edited to add that this obviously varies by hospital.

 

[bucks2010]

Just go with whatever job you can get, be it aide, transport, phleb, ED tech, whatever. As a pre-med with (I'm presuming) no other healthcare experience, if you want a job in healthcare you will need to focus on getting any job in healthcare, and not be picky about what it is.

I also wouldn't pay for a certification without knowing you'll have a job at the end -- those classes are expensive. In my state you don't need a CNA to be a nursing aide. If I would've paid for the class I would've wasted $600 b/c all of the training is provided by my hospital.

 

[Biebs]

As stated previously, ED tech jobs are extremely hard to come by. I do a lot of the interviewing for our ED and we receive about 50+ applications whenever a job opens up. At least 20 of these applicants have some sort of previous experience, either in another ED, Pre-hospital, etc.

Our ED does not favor CNA or EMT certification. As long as you hold one or the other and have some previous clinical experience. However, this depends largely by hospital. I would check to see what your hospital prefers.

I think the best way to get one of these jobs is to know someone who is already working in an ED, another tech, nurse, doctor, etc. Having an inside source is a great way to get your foot in the door.

 

[Biebs]

Oh, I also forgot to mention the possibility of scribe program. Many ED's, at least in my state utilize "scribes." These are typically pre-health students that follow the EM doctor around and to the charting for them. They are working one-on-one with the physician making sure the medical history, review of systems, physical exam, etc i completed in the chart. Yes, it may sound boring--but it is a good way to get some clinical experience. Also, the job market isn't too tough as everyone else who is applying is also pre-health without any real experience. Unfortunately, not many programs use these--but I would check and see if your ED does--it's worth a try!

 

[maaza1]

While there are certifications (already stated above: EMT and CNA). I don't suggest you go out of your way to get them. While both of these jobs can be a good addition to your application. From what I've been told, simply volunteering at Emergency rooms is just fine clinical experience. However, if you really want some clinical experience before applying then I'd just search the forums for EMT vs. CNA there have been a lot discussions in the past about this as well. Good luck!