Count as clinical?

[eldoctor]

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Hi
I recently starting volunteering at a home for senior citizens with Alzheimer's/dementia. Can this be considered clinical experience...or do I need to volunteer in a hospital?

Thanks!

 

[vickpick]

this seems more leaning to the psychological fields, yet, I think it may have a chance in being considered clinical. Also, it depends on what you did at the place.

 

[mvenus929]

You don't have to volunteer in a hospital. In some cases, it's one of the worst ways you can volunteer if you want patient contact, because hospitals rarely have volunteering positions where you can really interact with people.

It counts as patient experience if you can smell the patients, according to LizzyM. That's a good rule of thumb.

However, if there's not a whole lot of patient treatment going on, you probably won't get much experience learning what the different medical professionals do.

 

[eldoctor]

I see what you mean. I am definitely close enough to smell them, but the patient care is done mostly by RNs. It is quite fun though, but mostly involves dancing with REALLY old ladies during happy hour, reading stories, playing scrabble, and reminiscing with the less-violent Alzheimer patients.

On the other hand, does shadowing count as clinical experience?

Thanks for your replies!

 

[LizzyM]

This is difficult to classify. If people with disabilities (due to disease in this case) are going about their business (eating or being fed, singing songs or just listening to the music, playing Bingo or just watching) it is hard to call it "clinical" because there is nothing clinical about it. However, you are learning how to be comfortable with people who aren't like the rest of us and that's an important learning experience for someone planning a career in medicine.

Do this but also do some shadowing or some work (paid or volunteer) in a setting where people are receiving medical attention. (If someone is writing a prescription, or has the power to do so, it is a medical setting.)