Clinical Experience?

[Beautifulchild]

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I posted this in the postbacc forum and didn't get a response. I'm hoping I might get one this time around. I am trying to figure out the best way to get clinical experience. I started a job at a hospital Safety Sitter. I basically go in and sit with people who need to be watched to make sure they stay safe. Some of them are patients who try and get out of the bed because they are confused. Others are trying to pull their IV's out. Some are suicidal.

I am pretty stressed at the job sometimes because I never know what kind of case I can get. Other times I am tired because I am sitting for 8 hours. The part that I enjoy about the job is working with the patients and helping them. But I don't know if this is the best experience for me. I am in the process of getting in to volunteer at a clinic.

However, I need to also work and I'd like my job to fit in with the experience I need. Does the job I have count as clinical experience? or should I look for something else. If so, any suggestions. THANkS 😀

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Seems to me like being a sitter would count. The idea is to get exposure to medicine -- to watch doctors and nurses and techs working so you know that being a physician is what you really want to do. Patient contact time is other big factor -- dealing with people in a clinical setting. Again, the idea is to gain exposure to medicine. So, sitting seems to meet those criteria, at least in my mind.

I'd never want to be a sitter. I've heard horror stories of what some of the patients do.

If you think you need/want a different experience then go look for one -- probably a "tech" job would be the easiest to find: nurse tech (vitals, ins/outs, feeding/cleaning), ER tech (trauma scribe, hook Pts to monitors/EKGs), monitor tech (watch the monitors in the CICU), phlebotomist (draw labs) -- the list probably goes on for a while.

 

[MollyMalone]

I actually think that's an awesome job for clinical exposure... you see the not-so-pretty side of life in a hospital, that's for sure.

BTW, let me thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for doing what you do. It pretty much alternates between hours of boredom and minutes of intense stress, and it's not the most fun thing in the world, but please know that you are appreciated!!!!!

 

[Beautifulchild]

Thank you both so much for your input. This posting literally brought me to tears! I really needed to hear that I was appreciated. The best part of this job is that I get to know the patients as people and not as a case.

I sat with a patient, I can't say too much because of HIPPA laws, but she had some serious problems from a pregnancy. People didn't expect her or the baby to live, but I was able to sit with her and talk to her the night she gave birth and 2 times before. The first time I sat with her she was agitated and upset. She got a little upset with a Nurse and the Nurse retaliated by not really checking on her the rest of the shift. I kept talking to her and she yelled at me, but I kept soothing her and being nice. She softened up a little later that morning. The last time I sat with her she was doing better and smiled a little more and I talked to her about her family and comforted her. She said she remembered me from before. I told her she was going to be ok and she said she hoped so. I said "you will, day by day." and she smiled. She had her baby that next night. The baby was early, but she was beaming from ear to ear. She was so happy and I got to witness a miracle! Later that night She was a little upset, realizing all that went on and I went to hold her hand while she got some shots. I kept telling her that she did the hard part and that everything was going to get better. She took my hand and put it to her face.

That's what makes this job worth it. Yes, I tell you there are horror stories. Like the man who wouldn't let me sit in his room with him because he thought he'd get a life sentence for having me in there? I had to hide and watch him all night. LOL. Thanks again for the support and the information.

I actually think that's an awesome job for clinical exposure... you see the not-so-pretty side of life in a hospital, that's for sure.

BTW, let me thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for doing what you do. It pretty much alternates between hours of boredom and minutes of intense stress, and it's not the most fun thing in the world, but please know that you are appreciated!!!!!

 

[Jambi]

Sounds like a great experience from the human side of things. The abilty to demonstrate your compassion for others, despite how they treat you, is a wonderful thing.