Clinical Experience

[rysgst1]

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Hi there! I have a question about whats considered clinical exposure, obviously I know nursing, Emt, and CNA are considered all clinical positions. But what about transporting patients, (to and from exams), I have done it for the past 5 + years, and have been exposed to everything, I just don't know how clinical it considered, also I recently got another job in the radiology dept setting up CT and MRI, and mostly dealing with outpatients, is this considered clinical? ( My title is Patient Care Asst.--in Xray) Lastly, since Jan ( when I decided to back to School to become a Doc) I started shadowing a Primary care physician twice a week for a total of 8 hours a week...do I need to be doing more? I was planning on doing that until I move in August to go do some post-bacc studies. Should I do a quick CNA or phelbotomy class, so I can get a job doing that while I do my post bacc work? Thanks for the advice!

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi there! I have a question about whats considered clinical exposure, obviously I know nursing, Emt, and CNA are considered all clinical positions. But what about transporting patients, (to and from exams), I have done it for the past 5 + years, and have been exposed to everything, I just don't know how clinical it considered, also I recently got another job in the radiology dept setting up CT and MRI, and mostly dealing with outpatients, is this considered clinical? ( My title is Patient Care Asst.--in Xray) Lastly, since Jan ( when I decided to back to School to become a Doc) I started shadowing a Primary care physician twice a week for a total of 8 hours a week...do I need to be doing more? I was planning on doing that until I move in August to go do some post-bacc studies. Should I do a quick CNA or phelbotomy class, so I can get a job doing that while I do my post bacc work? Thanks for the advice!

The stuff you are doing sounds fine. A good combo actually as you will have a nice range of exposure.

 

[medicalbound]

I agree with Law, you're doing fine on clinical exposure. I personally liked the EMT training and work (I've been an ER Tech on the weekends for the past 3 years) for the hands-on clinical experience, so I'm not knocking other forms of exposure, but it sounds like it's more worth your time to concentrate on your post-bacc studies instead.

Remember that even stellar clinical experiences will not compensate for academic indiscretions. Keep doing what you're doing and ACE your post-bacc classes. Best of luck in your endeavors!

 

[2Sexy4MedSchool]

Hello. I've been a patient escort (aka "orderly") for the past 12 months and I have to say that it has been a great experience. You get to go all over the hospital and see every service, every type of patient and all the different types of doctors/nurses/staff. But even more importantly, I've been "the fly on the wall" -- escorts are so ubiquitous that doctors tend to forget we are in the room, so we get to see how they really interact with patients and each other when no one else is around.

I think that's the point of clinical experience -- to see what it's like to be a doc. So, I wouldn't minimize this experience on your applications or interviews. In fact, my interviewers were much more interested in what I got out of patient escort than volunteering in the OR or shadowing or anything else clinical.

 

[oxeye]

Your clinical experience sounds great. I wouldn't worry about doing more than you are doing at all!

 

[Officer Shaw]

I'm just starting to work on lining up clinical experience opportunities. I've found a community free clinic that I can work at (which should be a good one), but I've also thought about doing some mental health case management. My BS is in psychology and that may be a way to use my degree (a little) and get some good pre-med clinical experience. My question is: is it worth it? Will mental health exposure count as far as MD interview boards are concerned?

 

[njbmd]

I'm just starting to work on lining up clinical experience opportunities. I've found a community free clinic that I can work at (which should be a good one), but I've also thought about doing some mental health case management. My BS is in psychology and that may be a way to use my degree (a little) and get some good pre-med clinical experience. My question is: is it worth it? Will mental health exposure count as far as MD interview boards are concerned?

Hi there,
You mental health work will be fine for clincal exposure in addition to your free clinic work. Try to shadow a physician or two and make sure that you understand what their jobs entail.

njbmd 🙂

 

[Officer Shaw]

Hi there,
You mental health work will be fine for clincal exposure in addition to your free clinic work. Try to shadow a physician or two and make sure that you understand what their jobs entail.

njbmd 🙂

I'll do that. I have just been worried sick about taking all this extra time away from my family and then not having it be counted. Thanks for the response, it's very much appreciated!!

 

[rgerwin]

So, I have the same question. I'm starting in May 2 programs, a surgical liaison and a medical career exploration program. I have 4 years of research, with some patient interaction, and I've shadowed 2 docs. Plus, my mother is chronically ill, so I help take care of her.