First time shadowing

[Hantis22]

Tomorrow I am going to shadow a pediatrician at upstate university and am not sure what the proper behavior is or what's exactly expected of me. Any advice or tips that may help my experience become a successful one would be much appreciated!

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[dr.1Day@Atime]

• Show up early.
• dont act big shot, be sincere.
• when they ask if you want to go into their field, dont say no if you want to, say "im considering it" doctors you shadow like to know the younger generation will keep it up...
• Wear: Hospital - Black scrubs. Clinic - Business casual: slacks and gray or white shirt for both girls and guys
• Only ask questions when they are not looking up patient info, and when they are directing their attention towards you... remember they have a full day of patients to see anyway.
• Ask questions about their history: Why did you choose peds, why did you pick your university, was it hard choosing where to apply for residency?, you can find other questions that people ask online...
• Dont ask about the patients that come in: usually they are too complicated and you wont understand anyway.
• if they ask you to lunch, say thank you, and then you usually get a free lunch.
• send them a thank you card soon after
• keep in touch at least twice a year, then you keep the relationship up and maybe will get a good letter from them. maybe shadow once a year at their work place as well.

 

[TraumaLlamaMD]

I'd dress in office-appropriate attire unless they specifically tell you to wear scrubs, and I can't imaging they'd expect you to own some.

 

[Ismet]

• Show up early.
• dont act big shot, be sincere.
• when they ask if you want to go into their field, dont say no if you want to, say "im considering it" doctors you shadow like to know the younger generation will keep it up...
• Wear: Hospital - Black scrubs. Clinic - Business casual: slacks and gray or white shirt for both girls and guys
• Only ask questions when they are not looking up patient info, and when they are directing their attention towards you... remember they have a full day of patients to see anyway.
• Ask questions about their history: Why did you choose peds, why did you pick your university, was it hard choosing where to apply for residency?, you can find other questions that people ask online...
• Dont ask about the patients that come in: usually they are too complicated and you wont understand anyway.
• if they ask you to lunch, say thank you, and then you usually get a free lunch.
• send them a thank you card soon after
• keep in touch at least twice a year, then you keep the relationship up and maybe will get a good letter from them. maybe shadow once a year at their work place as well.

Don't ever wear scrubs to shadow unless you are explicitly told to do so. Everyone wears business professional/casual in the hospital unless you're going in the ER/OR or are on nights.

And you can also ask questions about the patients. Things usually aren't that complicated, especially with kids who typically have a very short problem list, and if the doctor likes to teach, he/she can teach to your level of understanding.

 

[Ismet]

Also moving to pre-allo

 

[aquaquartz]

What are some good questions to ask while shadowing?