Clinical Volunteering vs Shadowing

[lazy]

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What is the main difference?

Also why do schools want people to shadow as opposed to having clinical volunteering experience? It seems like shadowing is just a waste of time if you are actively contributing to the hospital environment instead of just following someone around, and likely getting in their way.

 

[Trollol]

Clinical volunteering: you're helping people by doing b*tch work, not really seeing what the doctors do (or seeing a very narrow view of what doctors do).

Shadowing: not helping anyone but your selfish ass, but you get to see in great depth exactly what kind of work doctors do all day.

 

[theVster]

Shadowing = you watch what a specific doctor does minus the scut. Example, you scrub into surgery and watch the surgeon but don't clean up and disinfect the instruments at the end or hold open the flesh using retractors/use suction.

Clinical volunteering = that's vague but it could be either (1) volunteering to cart around patients or (2) doing clinical research but for free.

 

[NickNaylor]

What is the main difference?

Also why do schools want people to shadow as opposed to having clinical volunteering experience? It seems like shadowing is just a waste of time if you are actively contributing to the hospital environment instead of just following someone around, and likely getting in their way.

In terms of being productive and contributing to the environment, yes, shadowing is useless. However, shadowing allows you to see what a physician does on a regular basis. It's usually more informative about the profession than hospital volunteering (which usually involves stocking carts, wheeling around patients, and other menial tasks). It's valuable because you need to understand what you're getting yourself into when you choose to go into medicine. Shadowing, in theory, allows you to push out all that crap Grey's Anatomy/House/whatever medical drama puts in your head about medicine.

Clinical volunteering is a great way to kill to birds with stone: you demonstrate a love (or at least tolerance) for service while gaining clinical experience in some form. Shadowing only gives you clinical experience with no service component. IMO, shadowing is much more useful, enjoyable, and interesting than clinical volunteering.

 

[Holy Frans]

Shadowing = you watch what a specific doctor does minus the scut. Example, you scrub into surgery and watch the surgeon but don't clean up and disinfect the instruments at the end or hold open the flesh using retractors/use suction.

Clinical volunteering = that's vague but it could be either (1) volunteering to cart around patients or (2) doing clinical research but for free.

Oh wow, i would kill to be scrubbed in. Damn residents always do the little stuff like suction!

 

[bassvp]

I'm a pharmacist and there is a local opportunity to volunteer in that capacity counseling elderly folks without insurance on medications, interactions (you know the drill..) Would that be a "good" form of clinical volunteering? It's probably much closer patient interaction than cleaning rooms in the ER. Thoughts?

 

[familyaerospace]

Oh wow, i would kill to be scrubbed in. Damn residents always do the little stuff like suction!

I've been asked a few times (by the scrub) if I would like to scrub into surgery when shadowing. I've always refused. I've always been wondering what they would have me do if I agreed.

 

[lazy]

so if one was missing from your app, would you rather it be clinical volunteering or shadowing?

 

[anfleisch]

completely missing either is usually GAME OVER from what I have seen. It only takes a few days to get the shadowing in.

 

[blaithnaid]

y'all... when they ask you if you want to scrub, they don't mean so you can do anything. and if they ask you, say no*.

 

[anfleisch]

Why say no, scrubs are more comfortable than dress clothes.

 

[chman]

My advise; if you are volunteering try and find the "cool doctor" and try to get on his/her good side. Then (not right away of course) you can ask if you can follow them around every once in a while. That's what I did and it has worked out pretty well. But yea, people are correct in that you will most likely learn more from shadowing, but can actually say you "did something," when you were volunteering (although you are really not doing much still, usually).

 

[chman]

y'all... when they ask you if you want to scrub, they don't mean so you can do anything. and if they ask you, say no.

Really? Oh, maybe that's why the doc gave me a dirty look when I asked if I could make the primary incision.

 

[blaithnaid]

Why say no, scrubs are more comfortable than dress clothes.

not if you get stuck with the paper ones.

real scrubs >> paper scrubs >>>> bunny suit

 

[KTownGT]

Why say no, scrubs are more comfortable than dress clothes.

Scrub in when applied to surgery:

Dressing in scrubs are a given if you're in the OR. 😀

EDIT: Whoops, holyHUUUUUGE picbateman!

 

[familyaerospace]

Why say no, scrubs are more comfortable than dress clothes.

To "scrub into surgery" means you're going to go off, really wash your hands and get nice and clean, dry off using a sterile towel, put gloves on, and then wear even more stuff over your normal scrubs. I think they are going to expect you to really get involved. Knowing my crazy surgeon he would probably have me hold things for him or have me help whoever is assisting him with some of the easier work. I haven't *quite* bargained for that just yet.

If you aren't scrubbed in and just in the OR, it's much easier. You can still get within about a foot or two of the patient and watch. You just can't touch. You are still wearing scrubs and most of the personal protection stuff that everyone else is wearing.

 

[chman]

To "scrub into surgery" means you're going to go off, really wash your hands and get nice and clean, dry off using a sterile towel, put gloves on, and then wear even more stuff over your normal scrubs. I think they are going to expect you to really get involved. Knowing my crazy surgeon he would probably have me hold things for him or have me help whoever is assisting him with some of the easier work. I haven't *quite* bargained for that just yet.

If you aren't scrubbed in and just in the OR, it's much easier. You can still get within about a foot or two of the patient and watch. You just can't touch. You are still wearing scrubs and most of the personal protection stuff that everyone else is wearing.

The most they would ask you to do is get rid of dirty instruments or something. Anything more than that and they are risking a law suit.

 

[familyaerospace]

The most they would ask you to do is get rid of dirty instruments or something. Anything more than that and they are risking a law suit.

This surgeon threatened to throw blood on me when I was shadowing him once. One of the last times I was there, someone else said they were going to throw other things at me.

I wouldn't put anything past him asking me to do things just to see me turn green or pale even if it violates every rule in the book. I consider myself "safe" from some of the crazier things he could do to me so as long as I am not scrubbed in. He wouldn't endanger his patient, but he would do crazy things just for the sheer amusement value.

 

[chman]

This surgeon threatened to throw blood on me when I was shadowing him once. One of the last times I was there, someone else said they were going to throw other things at me.

I wouldn't put anything past him asking me to do things just to see me turn green or pale even if it violates every rule in the book. I consider myself "safe" from some of the crazier things he could do to me so as long as I am not scrubbed in. He wouldn't endanger his patient, but he would do crazy things just for the sheer amusement value.

I don't know whether to be horrified or laugh my arse off.

 

[KTownGT]

This surgeon threatened to throw blood on me when I was shadowing him once. One of the last times I was there, someone else said they were going to throw other things at me.

I wouldn't put anything past him asking me to do things just to see me turn green or pale even if it violates every rule in the book. I consider myself "safe" from some of the crazier things he could do to me so as long as I am not scrubbed in. He wouldn't endanger his patient, but he would do crazy things just for the sheer amusement value.

From now on, I will wear the eye protectors from now on, however annoying they are to put on.

Thanks, bro.

 

[familyaerospace]

I don't know whether to be horrified or laugh my arse off.

Feel free to do either. I was horrified at first. Now once I am out of the OR I just laugh.