Clinical experience frustrations...

[deleted1071450]

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Hey y'all. I have posted on here a few times before but I am feeling a bit lost again :/

Over the course of the past 5 months I have applied to 3 positions to get clinical experience (two for patient care techs and most recently to scribe), and they have all fallen through. I had a scribe interview today through ScribeAmerica but they won't be able to offer me the position until spring 2022 since I will be studying abroad my junior year (fall 2021) and they need a year-long commitment. The two other jobs I made it through the entire interview process and planned my first day of training only for them to let me know that I would, in fact, be taking care of Covid patients (even though it was advertised as an oncology tech position!). I seriously cannot afford to get Covid and take it home, because my dad is high-risk and my family's safety is extremely important to me.

I guess I'm just frustrated because I feel behind in getting clinical hours to apply and feel like my other pre-med peers have had these experiences. I am 100% taking a gap year and doing the MCAT senior year, and don't want it to seem like I'm cramming in everything before I apply. For now, I have about 400 hrs research experience and have been volunteering with the Crisis Text Line, which has been amazing. This sem I guess the best thing to do is just focus on maintaining good grades.

Ahh, crazy times. But I guess ya just keep chugging along!

 

[deleted1025488]

If you're a sophomore right now (from what I can understand) that means you were a freshman last year. No one is expecting you to have extensive clinical hours as a sophomore after half of your freshman year, entire freshman summer, and first half of sophomore year has been essentially canceled in regards to clinical activity.

On top of that, if you've already decided to take a gap year, you literally have over 2.5 years until you apply...stop worrying and enjoy life.

 

[deleted1071450]

If you're a sophomore right now (from what I can understand) that means you were a freshman last year. No one is expecting you to have extensive clinical hours as a sophomore after half of your freshman year, entire freshman summer, and first half of sophomore year has been essentially canceled in regards to clinical activity.

On top of that, if you've already decided to take a gap year, you literally have over 2.5 years until you apply...stop worrying and enjoy life.

Yep! I'm a sophomore right now. Thanks for your advice!

 

[ricnas]

If you haven't already, look into hospital volunteering or other volunteer opportunities (nursing home, community clinic, etc.) that are relatively easier access and could give you a bit more exposure. Maybe also try to make the best of a virtual experience -- maybe there's telehealth scribing positions, virtual shadowing/conferences, etc... You're definitely not behind as a sophomore, I also had a bit of trouble myself getting clinical experiences at first when I was one too. And try to plan for shadowing opportunities by networking ahead of time, cold calling or emailing.. shadowing should give you a good amount of clinical experience as well.

 

[deleted1071450]

If you haven't already, look into hospital volunteering or other volunteer opportunities (nursing home, community clinic, etc.) that are relatively easier access and could give you a bit more exposure. Maybe also try to make the best of a virtual experience -- maybe there's telehealth scribing positions, virtual shadowing/conferences, etc... You're definitely not behind as a sophomore, I also had a bit of trouble myself getting clinical experiences at first when I was one too. And try to plan for shadowing opportunities by networking ahead of time, cold calling or emailing.. shadowing should give you a good amount of clinical experience as well.

Definitely going to look into hospital volunteering or summer internships that involve that! I looked on a bunch of websites for hospitals in my area and most of them say that shadowing is on hold, so maybe I start reaching out to some smaller group practices? Pre-covid I did a day of shadowing the NICU, which was super cool. I always laugh bc the nurses and NP were so confused why I was allowed into such a critical care area, and probably because I look about 15, lol.