First time shadowing a doctor, need advice

[Ranniks]

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Hi there!

So I've read the ''Here are the similar threads we found' and read through 3 of them.

I still have some questions though: I'm going to shadow doctors at 2 hospitals for the orthopedics departement.

1. When the docters welcome the patient and help them, who should I look at? The one who is talking? I don't want to make the patient uncomfortable. I'll just smile when they enter.

2. Should I give the patients a hand when the doctor welcomes them? How should I greet them? Or is a smile sufficient?

3. I'll ask questions after patients are out of hearing range, but what do I do when they put cement on broken limbs? Stand and look?

4.How should I dress? I'll wear my comfortable (black) shoes and black jeans and a button shirt, but I'm not sure what colour to wear?

5. Any other tips?

 

[theseeker4]

Hi there!

So I've read the ''Here are the similar threads we found' and read through 3 of them.

I still have some questions though: I'm going to shadow doctors at 2 hospitals for the orthopedics departement.

1. When the docters welcome the patient and help them, who should I look at? The one who is talking? I don't want to make the patient uncomfortable. I'll just smile when they enter.

2. Should I give the patients a hand when the doctor welcomes them? How should I greet them? Or is a smile sufficient?

3. I'll ask questions after patients are out of hearing range, but what do I do when they put cement on broken limbs? Stand and look?

4.How should I dress? I'll wear my comfortable (black) shoes and black jeans and a button shirt, but I'm not sure what colour to wear?

5. Any other tips?

You are a "shadow." Just silently observe, smile back politely and silently if the patient makes eye contact with you/smiles at you, etc. Give a short "hello" or response to a question if the patient says something to you, but don't strike up an actual conversation as you are there to observe, and trying to chat while the doctor is trying to work is obviously rude

If a patient tries to shake your hand, obviously do so, but I wouldn't be the one moving forward and trying to shake their hands when I have shadowed.

Jeans may or may not be appropriate, I would assume business casual, but there is nothing wrong with asking the doctor what he or she would like you to wear.

Stand back and look unless the doctor tells you to do something else. There is nothing you will be expected to do, so just try to stay out of the way and silently pay attention. The doctor might ask you to hand him something, he might tell you to "look at this" or point something out to you, or he might completely ignore you while he is with the patient. Just go with the flow, and don't worry, there is nothing you are expected to do or know, so relax and enjoy.

 

[docelh]

I've shadowed five doctors and interpreted for many more.

Here's what I would recommend:

1. Show up promptly.
2. Dress business casual.
3. Be unobtrusive as possible. That means just smiling and staying quiet. That means don't take the initiative to ask questions. If they choose to teach you something, it would be okay to ask questions. They're busy and multi-tasking. The last thing you want to do is be another item they have to task.
4. Ask them if there's anything you can do to help them.
5. When I went to lunch, I asked if they wanted anything.
6. If they ask you questions, answer it.
7. If they ask you to leave early, thank them.

 

[ChE04]

I've shadowed five doctors and interpreted for many more.

Here's what I would recommend:

1. Show up promptly.
2. Dress business casual.
3. Be unobtrusive as possible. That means just smiling and staying quiet. That means don't take the initiative to ask questions. If they choose to teach you something, it would be okay to ask questions. They're busy and multi-tasking. The last thing you want to do is be another item they have to task.
4. Ask them if there's anything you can do to help them.
5. When I went to lunch, I asked if they wanted anything.
6. If they ask you questions, answer it.
7. If they ask you to leave early, thank them.

I agree with most of what the above two posters have said, except for the bolded. If the doctor is letting you shadow, they are expecting you to show some interest in what they are doing, which means asking questions at appropriate times. Obviously you don't want to interrupt anything, but it's totally fine (and encouraged) to ask questions when it's just you and the doc... that's why they let you shadow in the first place.

I'd also like to reiterate #2. Don't don't don't wear jeans, especially the first time you meet them. You may be ok in scrubs, especially if you are going into the OR, but in my experience it's always better to be overdressed than underdressed. Go business casual, or even class it up with a tie if you're a guy.

 

[kayak30]

Ill just add on regarding dress. It depends where you are shadowing but black pants and a nice shirt would be good, basically as posted above, business casual. If you are shadowing in the OR you will have to undress and put on scrubs but I would still wear a sleeveless shirt or tank under the scrubs. When I shadowed recently they had me in everything from scrubs to protective vest for x ray stuff. Don't worry, they will let you know. And yes stay off to the side unless they ask you for something (I'm sure they will show you stuff and call you over.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Be sure you are EARLY, do not be late. I have friends who were sent home on rotations for not being on time.

Wear comfortable shoes, you may be standing for a long time.

DO NOT show up in scrubs. Most hospitals do not allow outside scrubs in their OR. They will provide you a change of clothes if need be

Orthopedics do not use "cement" for casts. Usualy fiberglass or plaster

You may be told you have to take the "scrub course" before allowed in the OR. This is standard, DO NOT COMPLAIN. The head nurse checks you off. DO NOT PISS HER OFF or you will be banned and your life will become hell. The nursing staff can make or break you.

Usually an Orthopedic Surgeon has set clinic days and set OR days. Know which one you will be attending. Unless the person is on call to cover emergencies in the ER, you generally won't be in clinic and OR on the same day. You will be expected to be in clinic attire when rounding on inpatients in the hospital. Many hospitals don't allow their scrubs out of the OR but many do. Be sure you ask.

 

[ShoTyme]

3. I'll ask questions after patients are out of hearing range, but what do I do when they put cement on broken limbs? Stand and look?

5. Any other tips?

I will answer these because the rest have been answered very well.

Make sure to Stand and look, because that is what you are there to do. Certainly do not turn away or leave the room unless instructed to do so. And also make sure to enjoy yourself. 🙂

 

[Ranniks]

Thanks ALL! 🙂

I want to make something clear first: I'm just doing 2 days of shadowing, not weekly, monthly or anything like that. I forgot to tell you guys that in Holland it is obviously a plus if you shadow every week, but I doubt there is a pre-med in Holland that does that.

This is a one time thing per hospital.

I feel I got most of my questions answered and I thank you humble people once again. But can you answer my most stupid question?

When the doctor receives the patient, the doctor usually sits down and the patient at the other side of the desk, I'll sit behind the doctor. Who should I look at while the conversation between doctor and patient is going? The one who is talking? Or should I just observe what the doctor is doing? I just don't want to be rude at all..

And the thing about those pants: I don't really have the money to spend on new pants and I don't own pants......But I'll go to the shop to buy some anyways since it's been ages since I've bought clothing (>.<).

Regardless I think this is a wonderfull ocassion!

Regarding the cement term, ehm I was trying to translate from Dutch since we just say 'gipskamer' for the room where they put on the 'gips' on broken limbs. Gips was indeed plaster, thank you! 🙂

Well, I'll wait until a hero arises and answers my final question! 🙂

Oh and I'LL DEFINITELY BE ON TIME! If I'm known for something....It's by being too early. And I'm talking 30 minutes to 2 hours early, lol.

 

[Ranniks]

You are a "shadow." Just silently observe, smile back politely and silently if the patient makes eye contact with you/smiles at you, etc. Give a short "hello" or response to a question if the patient says something to you, but don't strike up an actual conversation as you are there to observe, and trying to chat while the doctor is trying to work is obviously rude

If a patient tries to shake your hand, obviously do so, but I wouldn't be the one moving forward and trying to shake their hands when I have shadowed.

Jeans may or may not be appropriate, I would assume business casual, but there is nothing wrong with asking the doctor what he or she would like you to wear.

Stand back and look unless the doctor tells you to do something else. There is nothing you will be expected to do, so just try to stay out of the way and silently pay attention. The doctor might ask you to hand him something, he might tell you to "look at this" or point something out to you, or he might completely ignore you while he is with the patient. Just go with the flow, and don't worry, there is nothing you are expected to do or know, so relax and enjoy.

Would wearing black pants and a white button shirt be appropriate? I don't want to look like I 'want to act like a doctor'' and the white shirt might give that idea?

I'll definitely try to enjoy it! 🙂

In the morning I'll be doing plaster visits and in the afternoon I'll follow the docs with patients and such.

Be sure you are EARLY, do not be late. I have friends who were sent home on rotations for not being on time.

Wear comfortable shoes, you may be standing for a long time.

DO NOT show up in scrubs. Most hospitals do not allow outside scrubs in their OR. They will provide you a change of clothes if need be

Orthopedics do not use "cement" for casts. Usualy fiberglass or plaster

You may be told you have to take the "scrub course" before allowed in the OR. This is standard, DO NOT COMPLAIN. The head nurse checks you off. DO NOT PISS HER OFF or you will be banned and your life will become hell. The nursing staff can make or break you.

Usually an Orthopedic Surgeon has set clinic days and set OR days. Know which one you will be attending. Unless the person is on call to cover emergencies in the ER, you generally won't be in clinic and OR on the same day. You will be expected to be in clinic attire when rounding on inpatients in the hospital. Many hospitals don't allow their scrubs out of the OR but many do. Be sure you ask.

Thanks for the tips. As I explain above I'm not really sure what the translation was.

I won't complain, I'm a pretty humble person in real life albeit a bit shy......I have upmost respect for nurses, but also for doctors. I have this fantasy that I'll be able to get a voluntary job their but I'm not aiming for that. The day will be to learn and observe.

 

[Ranniks]

It went awesome.

I want to make something clear: the health care system in Holland is very different than in the USA. So shadowing doctors weekly is a no no here. Admissions are 10000 people a year while there is only place for 3000, so you do the math. Basically they select the motivated students and those with good grades obviously.

Anyways: I shadowed a lot of orthopedic surgeons. In 2 hospitals. I had to bring a white lab coat though. At the first hospital they even let me see operations. I witnissed a big toe surgery, scopy of the knee, shoulder surgery and a knee cap replacement surgery. The last one was the most amazing. I got to wear the whole gear: scrubs and mask and all.

There was just one doctor in each surgery though.

The second hospital was more patient interaction although at the first there was too, but less. It was nice to see how the doctor interacted with the patients.

This one patient had a nail in his bones (they did that in a surgery) and it had to be removed. The doctor did that with some equipment. I went to the patients side (he was around my age) and squiized his shoulder because he was in some pain. I let lose when his mom came and held his hand. That felt good^^. By instinct I went to his side and he didn't seem to mind.

I also got to see multiple fractions and A BUCKET LOAD of mri/ct scans. The doctor explained a lot to me and I know a lot more right now.

I even lunched with 3 doctors, but the talking was minimum since I was sort of shy. We got to talk a lot and I learned how to have a conversation with a patient. Listening is really important.

I must say I am very happy to have followed them and I want to make clear that I did not need to shut my mouth and be quiet all the time, entirely differently: the doctors explained a lot even while they were examining the patients. So the whole 'shut up and just listen and stand as a statue' is a tad bit exagerated, but maybe that's just normal in the usa, who knows. I mean it's immense, so the doctors are probably different.

All in all; learned a lot, this is gonna look good on my resume and it was a great experience! 🙂

Thanks for the helpfull replies, those of you who deserve it know who they are!

 

[akinetopsia]

It went awesome.

I want to make something clear: the health care system in Holland is very different than in the USA. So shadowing doctors weekly is a no no here. Admissions are 10000 people a year while there is only place for 3000, so you do the math. Basically they select the motivated students and those with good grades obviously.

Anyways: I shadowed a lot of orthopedic surgeons. In 2 hospitals. I had to bring a white lab coat though. At the first hospital they even let me see operations. I witnissed a big toe surgery, scopy of the knee, shoulder surgery and a knee cap replacement surgery. The last one was the most amazing. I got to wear the whole gear: scrubs and mask and all.

There was just one doctor in each surgery though.

The second hospital was more patient interaction although at the first there was too, but less. It was nice to see how the doctor interacted with the patients.

This one patient had a nail in his bones (they did that in a surgery) and it had to be removed. The doctor did that with some equipment. I went to the patients side (he was around my age) and squiized his shoulder because he was in some pain. I let lose when his mom came and held his hand. That felt good^^. By instinct I went to his side and he didn't seem to mind.

I also got to see multiple fractions and A BUCKET LOAD of mri/ct scans. The doctor explained a lot to me and I know a lot more right now.

I even lunched with 3 doctors, but the talking was minimum since I was sort of shy. We got to talk a lot and I learned how to have a conversation with a patient. Listening is really important.

I must say I am very happy to have followed them and I want to make clear that I did not need to shut my mouth and be quiet all the time, entirely differently: the doctors explained a lot even while they were examining the patients. So the whole 'shut up and just listen and stand as a statue' is a tad bit exagerated, but maybe that's just normal in the usa, who knows. I mean it's immense, so the doctors are probably different.

All in all; learned a lot, this is gonna look good on my resume and it was a great experience! 🙂

Thanks for the helpfull replies, those of you who deserve it know who they are!

Glad you got a lot out of your shadowing experience! The "shut up and just listen and stand as a statue" is a bit exaggerated, but you really have to feel out the doctor you're shadowing. Some are more likely to teach you things in the middle of an exam, and others are more likely to just let you stand in the room out of the way while they do their exam.

When I shadowed a general ophthalmologist, for example, he showed me how to use the direct ophthalmoscope to look at the patient's fundus. That was interesting, learning how to line up to see the red light reflex and then gradually get closer. If someone had something interesting with their cornea or iris, he would let me sit at the slit lamp and take a look.

When I shadowed an internist, I basically just stood in the corner and could ask her questions after she finished with each patient.

It's just different from doctor to doctor. Glad you had a good experience though, it really does sound like you got a lot out of it!