Best time to shadow?

[sunshine02]

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I've heard that it's best to shadow in the emergency department on a Friday night because that's when they are at their busiest and you'll get to see more cases. I was wondering if there are optimal times for other specialities like neurosurgery, trauma, MICU too?

Thanks!

 

[dsoz]

I've heard that it's best to shadow in the emergency department on a Friday night because that's when they are at their busiest and you'll get to see more cases. I was wondering if there are optimal times for other specialities like neurosurgery, trauma, MICU too?

Thanks!

I know where I volunteer, the emergency department is most busy on Monday evenings. This is because many people go out on the weekend and do stupid stuff. They think they are alright so they go to work on Monday. Sometime Monday afternoon, they start to really hurt so they leave work, maybe go home first, then head to the ED. Granted, this is a very low level community ED with two level 1 trauma centers less than 30 minute drive away and a level 2 less than 10 minutes away. So we get a bunch of the very low level cases like... I have back pain, my tooth hurts, I broke my finger, etc. Everything big gets diverted.

I would think any surgery would be best in the morning on weekdays. For trauma, anytime should be good. People do stupid stuff all the time, all day long, every day.

I have the feeling that whenever you shadow, you will see something that is new and exciting. Even after I got near the 100 hours of shadowing experience, there was still something unique about each time I went in.

Just remember. You are a shadow. don't ask stupid questions unless the physician tells you to. Don't give advice to the patient unless you are told that you can. Do watch and learn as much as you can.

dsoz

 

[mimelim]

Trauma Surgery between 11am to 1 hour after last call wherever you are on Friday and Saturday night.

None of the others really matter.