Does shadowing count towards clinical experience?

[InfectiousDocc]

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I will begin to shadow a variety of physicians soon (gen. surg, urology, PCP) and I was curious if the shadowing counts as clinical experience? I am aiming for at least 50 hours of shadowing with each physician for a total of at least 150 shadowing hours.

I currently volunteer for about 3 hours a week at a nursing home, as well as in the hospital (although the hospital spot is non-clinical) and I've seen mixed opinions on whether or not nursing home volunteering counts as clinical.

Thanks!

 

[Kneige]

I don't think shadowing counts. Shadowing goes under 'others' when categorizing activities on the AMCAS. Clinical experience is when you actually treat patients like being an EMT.

 

[gman33]

Anything where you interact with patients is a good thing.
Ad Coms mainly want to see that you know what it's like to be around sick people.

 

[redsbear]

I disagree. Following a definition that clinical experience is only that time spent treating patients, very few pre-med students would have any clinical experience and it wouldn't be an unwritten prerequisite for acceptance. Admissions committees want to see that you've spent at least some time around sick people, seeing doctors/nurses/techs/etc... function, and that you enjoy this work atmosphere.

For example: To get hospital 'clinical experience' I volunteer in an ER. For clinic/outpatient 'clinical experience' I shadowed a family practice doc. I now have a basic educated viewpoint of what working in each setting entails (workflow, time management, typical patients/complaints, etc...)

Clinical experience...check!

Barry

 

[QofQuimica]

I disagree. Following a definition that clinical experience is only that time spent treating patients, very few pre-med students would have any clinical experience and it wouldn't be an unwritten prerequisite for acceptance. Admissions committees want to see that you've spent at least some time around sick people, seeing doctors/nurses/techs/etc... function, and that you enjoy this work atmosphere.

This is correct.

OP, we want to see that applicants have spent some time around sick people and physicians so that they have an inkling of what's entailed in being a physician. However, we don't necessarily expect you to have already worked in some capacity in health care. 150 hours of shadowing is probably reasonable for most schools, especially since you also have the nursing home experience. Don't forget that if you are applying to DO schools, you should shadow at least one physician who is a DO, as some of those schools require a LOR from a DO. Best of luck to you. 🙂

 

[da Vincis World]

I will begin to shadow a variety of physicians soon (gen. surg, urology, PCP) and I was curious if the shadowing counts as clinical experience? I am aiming for at least 50 hours of shadowing with each physician for a total of at least 150 shadowing hours.

I currently volunteer for about 3 hours a week at a nursing home, as well as in the hospital (although the hospital spot is non-clinical) and I've seen mixed opinions on whether or not nursing home volunteering counts as clinical.

Thanks!

OP, sounds like you are headed in the right direction...this is significantly more "Clinical Experience" than I had and I got in. No one mentioned that mine wasn't enough or the right kind of experience...keep up the good work and good luck.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

This is correct.

OP, we want to see that applicants have spent some time around sick people and physicians so that they have an inkling of what's entailed in being a physician. However, we don't necessarily expect you to have already worked in some capacity in health care. 150 hours of shadowing is probably reasonable for most schools, especially since you also have the nursing home experience. Don't forget that if you are applying to DO schools, you should shadow at least one physician who is a DO, as some of those schools require a LOR from a DO. Best of luck to you. 🙂

How is student clinical experienced followed by a subsequent clinical occupation interpreted? For example, when I was in paramedic school (2002-03) I utilized that opportunity to shadow physicians as well by telling them I was premed at the time, but we also regularly rotated through the ED, OR, ICU, CCU, OB, worked in radiology some, and worked with RTs. That said, I of course went on to work as a paramedic later, but I haven't in a couple of years now. My volunteer experiences (7 years now) are non-clinical. Anyway, that's quite a bit of exposure, and I'm sure several other non-trads could benefit from such an answer as well.

 

[QofQuimica]

How is student clinical experienced followed by a subsequent clinical occupation interpreted? For example, when I was in paramedic school (2002-03) I utilized that opportunity to shadow physicians as well by telling them I was premed at the time, but we also regularly rotated through the ED, OR, ICU, CCU, OB, worked in radiology some, and worked with RTs. That said, I of course went on to work as a paramedic later, but I haven't in a couple of years now. My volunteer experiences (7 years now) are non-clinical. Anyway, that's quite a bit of exposure, and I'm sure several other non-trads could benefit from such an answer as well.

All of that paramedic experience can only help you, and you are correct that you have more clinical experience than many other applicants will have. Even so, it would be helpful if you could fit in some more recent clinical exposure like shadowing, since 7 years is quite a bit of time ago.

Best of luck. 🙂

 

[Mopp22]

For Emory, clinical exposure includes shadowing and volunteering because of patient contact and face-to-face experience with the patient-doctor relationship in a 'clinical' setting.

This is probably true for most schools, it makes sense.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

All of that paramedic experience can only help you, and you are correct that you have more clinical experience than many other applicants will have. Even so, it would be helpful if you could fit in some more recent clinical exposure like shadowing, since 7 years is quite a bit of time ago.

Best of luck. 🙂

Well, actually it's been three since I last worked in EMS, but I see what you're saying. Thanks, Q. 👍

 

[riverjib]

I disagree. Following a definition that clinical experience is only that time spent treating patients, very few pre-med students would have any clinical experience and it wouldn't be an unwritten prerequisite for acceptance. Admissions committees want to see that you've spent at least some time around sick people, seeing doctors/nurses/techs/etc... function, and that you enjoy this work atmosphere.

For example: To get hospital 'clinical experience' I volunteer in an ER. For clinic/outpatient 'clinical experience' I shadowed a family practice doc. I now have a basic educated viewpoint of what working in each setting entails (workflow, time management, typical patients/complaints, etc...)

Clinical experience...check!

Barry

I agree with Barry. I happen to be a non-trad student with 6 years' experience in the OR before I even decided to go back to school, and 10 years now. Will my clinical experience help me tremendously when I have to learn to work with patients as an MS3? Absolutely. But I'm in school with traditional pre-meds who have shadowed and volunteered, and they've seen the same slice of the system (perhaps less intimately) as I have. Clinical experience can only help, but it's not imperative to your success as an MD or DO, which is why it's not even an official requirement. It's suggested because it's important to get a glimpse of what it really means to work in health care. While I'll have a small advantage in some ways, since my clinical experience drove me to pursue medical school in the first place, I'm still a little envious of my classmates who never took a break in their studies because they were determined to pursue medicine all along. They'll be my bosses when I finish 🙂

That said, I think shadowing is perhaps the most meaningful clinical experience you can get as an undergrad. I know people will jump on me for stating this, but the whole EMT thing is trite. I'm not discounting it as legitimate, but in my particular pre-med obsessed school, half the people I know are EMTs because they think it's basically a rite of passage for med school. My fiance did it, because his degree was in criminal justice and he wanted to figure out (part-time and at nights) if he was really interested in medicine, and this was the easiest way for him to do it while working full-time. It served its purpose for him, but he (like everyone I know worked as an EMT) says that it only helped him solidify his goals. It's great to become comfortable with emergencies, but it gives you little perspective on what medicine is all about. Shadowing a physician should give you a glimpse into what the role really entails.

On a side note, I'm pretty sure ADCOMs don't care what kind of volunteer experience you have. Whether you volunteer in a busy ER, or you tutor or work in a soup kitchen, the most thing you garner from your experience (as far as ADCOMs are concerned) is your desire and ability to work with people.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I agree with Barry. I happen to be a non-trad student with 6 years' experience in the OR before I even decided to go back to school, and 10 years now. Will my clinical experience help me tremendously when I have to learn to work with patients as an MS3? Absolutely. But I'm in school with traditional pre-meds who have shadowed and volunteered, and they've seen the same slice of the system (perhaps less intimately) as I have. Clinical experience can only help, but it's not imperative to your success as an MD or DO, which is why it's not even an official requirement. It's suggested because it's important to get a glimpse of what it really means to work in health care. While I'll have a small advantage in some ways, since my clinical experience drove me to pursue medical school in the first place, I'm still a little envious of my classmates who never took a break in their studies because they were determined to pursue medicine all along. They'll be my bosses when I finish 🙂

That said, I think shadowing is perhaps the most meaningful clinical experience you can get as an undergrad. I know people will jump on me for stating this, but the whole EMT thing is trite. I'm not discounting it as legitimate, but in my particular pre-med obsessed school, half the people I know are EMTs because they think it's basically a rite of passage for med school. My fiance did it, because his degree was in criminal justice and he wanted to figure out (part-time and at nights) if he was really interested in medicine, and this was the easiest way for him to do it while working full-time. It served its purpose for him, but he (like everyone I know worked as an EMT) says that it only helped him solidify his goals. It's great to become comfortable with emergencies, but it gives you little perspective on what medicine is all about. Shadowing a physician should give you a glimpse into what the role really entails.

On a side note, I'm pretty sure ADCOMs don't care what kind of volunteer experience you have. Whether you volunteer in a busy ER, or you tutor or work in a soup kitchen, the most thing you garner from your experience (as far as ADCOMs are concerned) is your desire and ability to work with people.

Well, there's a difference in becoming an EMT and working as an EMT or EMT-Paramedic. School and work are two different things, and work exposes people to areas beyond what the classroom would.

 

[ForrestG]

I
I know people will jump on me for stating this, but the whole EMT thing is trite. I'm not discounting it as legitimate, but in my particular pre-med obsessed school, half the people I know are EMTs because they think it's basically a rite of passage for med school.

So EMT might be considered trite. Would this apply to CNA too? I'm curious. I had considered getting the license through a CC course, which includes 96 contact hours at a nursing home. I might be able to work as a CNA, but only on a very part-time basis (like 2 weekend shifts/mo). It seems like a lot more work, and a lot more "smelling the patients" than just shadowing, but it may not give a student the full picture of the doctor's day. I would shadow too, but I'm limited on hours since I have a full time job. (Before I get criticized for having a F/T job and not making this my priority, pursuing this goal is contingent upon keeping my husband in the lifestyle he's grown accustomed to, i.e. putting $$ away and paying off car loans before med school. . .it's the way it has to be.)

 

[sgtbrushes]

I don't think being EMT-B certified or CNA certified helps with your admissions chance so much. Using those certifications to get clinical experience does help, and of course, for those of us who need $$, it is a great way to earn money while getting clinical experience.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I don't think being EMT-B certified or CNA certified helps with your admissions chance so much. Using those certifications to get clinical experience does help, and of course, for those of us who need $$, it is a great way to earn money while getting clinical experience.

I think that's the idea - getting paid to get clinical exposure.

 

[salyMohamed]

It's been almost 10 years now .. How did it go, did you become a doctor?