First job shadowing stint-Advice needed

[dr1989]

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Hey guys.

After months of relentless phone calls and networking through friends I have been lucky enough to be offered a shadowing oppt at a highly esteemed cosmetic dental practice. I am super nervous because I have yet to meet the dentist (everything has been done over the phone) and because its my first time doing a job shadow as well as the offices. During our phone call the office manager asked me as to what I was specifically looking for and coming from a pre med backround I told her I wanted to observe the daily activities of the dentist as well as some of the business management of his offices (he has 3 offices). I also kinda hinted that i would love to help with procedures (I was able to assist in my ER with the physician with suturing etc) and she talked to the insurance company but was denied.
I am kinda confused as to how to approach this next week because I will be going for a full day next Friday but thats when it is kind slow and basic procedures. I was told that the more interesting procedures fall on Tues-Thurs and thats when the prosth. and oral surgeon come in. How can I bring up wanting to further extend my observation and potentially somehow volunteer without stepping on any toes? I recently quit my hospital job so i can focus my last year/half of undergrad and shadowing/ec's. Ideally i would like to get at least 50 hrs of shadowing in his office. They also said that they would refer me to the oral surgeons office as well so I would move on from there hopefully. Advice/tips would be appreciated.

Btw is there anything in particular that I should bring with me? What to wear? (Im a girl and I prefer pants over skirts-casual business attire? Im so used to my scrubs in the ER lol)

Thanks! =)

 

[darkwalk]

You're a girl? Who's the dude in your avatar?

My suggestion is to wear pants because they might insist you to sit in the assistant's chair. Skirts might be revealing.

I think whole day shadowing might be too much, you might want to cut it down to 4 hour blocks once or twice a week. Otherwise you may get too tired or the dentists might be annoyed at someone following them all day long.

The most important thing though is to develop some kind of relationship to one or two dentists. I presume you are looking for a letter of recommendation. Don't push it, just let it naturally develop cus some dentists are jerks and some are very nice.

Good luck!

 

[dr1989]

You're a girl? Who's the dude in your avatar?

My suggestion is to wear pants because they might insist you to sit in the assistant's chair. Skirts might be revealing.

I think whole day shadowing might be too much, you might want to cut it down to 4 hour blocks once or twice a week. Otherwise you may get too tired or the dentists might be annoyed at someone following them all day long.

The most important thing though is to develop some kind of relationship to one or two dentists. I presume you are looking for a letter of recommendation. Don't push it, just let it naturally develop cus some dentists are jerks and some are very nice.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. And yes im a girl lol...but were you being serious as to who the "guy" in my avatar is? lol..
Anyways the lady did mention that I would prob get bored after 4 hours of observation and you are prob right...so I most likely will go the first day for 5 hrs and then hopefully from then on it will be 4 hrs a day, x1 a week.
I know I still have ~2 yrs left before d-school but there is already so much to know and learn already!

 

[threeblindmice]

Relax you seem really uptight. Just reading your post makes me nervous and uneasy. Also you don't go into job shadowing with the mindset that you will do anything. IF he lets you do something its an added bonus that will only come after you have gained his trust. Most dentists have to advertise for their patients and build a good reputation, its not like an ER where people have to go there. So letting you shadow is nice on his part but if you make the patients feel uncomfortable in any way you may be ruining his reputation and business.

 

[sfoksn]

Wear scrubs. Patients will feel more comfortable when you are observing if you are in scrubs, and the dentist will like it more as well.

Not to mention that scrubs are out of worldly comfortable.. Haha