Gaining Clinical Experience

[hypnix]

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So, I spoke with an advisor at a medical school and she was telling me how shadowing is not clinical experience. Besides the loads of shadowing I've done, a semester of volunteering, and my EMT B license and extra ride time, I don't have much to show. I've called the local hospitals and waiting to hear from one, but the other only has positions that require a CNA. Is there anything I can do to further clinical experience while being able to pay for my secondaries and bills?

 

[Amaranthinemoxi]

I had one adcom tell me that I could use volunteering at a soup kitchen as clinical experience... go figure.

 

[hypnix]

I had one adcom tell me that I could use volunteering at a soup kitchen as clinical experience... go figure.

Hmmmmmmmm...anything else? How did some of you guys get jobs at a hospital?

 

[Queenshawtii]

I have a position at the local teaching hospital as a CNA. I'm currenty looking to switch positions though.

 

[DragonWell]

I worked as a CNA and a massage therapist for several years before med school and felt both have been valuable experiences. CNA is not glamorous work, but you will get tons of patient contact.

You might also see if any of the EDs around you hire EMTs to work as techs - the ED that I'm in now has a tech or two around every shift to start lines, splint patients, etc.

 

[dragonfly99]

I think you got bad advice.
I disagree that what you have done isn't clinical experience, unless the admissions process has changed a lot in recent years (I'm only early to mid 30's!).

Who is this person giving you advice on med school admissions? Does she/he know what she's talking about? I am wondering.

What I found in the past was it was quite hard to get a job in a hospital without some sort of degree/certificate (CNA, etc.). It's all about legal issues for the hospitals...they are regulated to the max.

Can you not work shifts as an EMT? I don't know what an EMT-B is.

Is there another problem with your med school application? Do you have competitive GPA and MCAT scores?

Internal medicine doc

 

[Minea1010]

I agree, I've had plenty of hospital volunteering and my recent shadwoing experineces have been waaaaaayyyyy more eduationa and rewarding. As a volunteer you sometimes don't even get to see a doctor or a patient.... its just mostly minor tasks that anyone could do... as a student shadowing you get to see so much more...

 

[Queenshawtii]

Any advice on finding a mentor for shadowing? Who do you shadow residents, attendings, other? How do you approach them?

 

[Phlame217]

I found that my school has relations with local hospitals and all you had to do was ask to be set up with someone to shadow. I havent been shadowing much though because I did a research internship this summer and that was a full time ordeal. After my MCAT in Sept, I plan on picking up some more shadowing though.

 

[DrJosephKim]

You may find opportunities volunteering at some small private practice offices. If you call around, they may welcome your part-time assistance with various "clinical" duties.

 

[LabRat86]

sorry about hijacking the thread, is volunteering at the hospital blood bank considered patient interactions? I ask because I don't know if blood donors are considered patients?

 

[capn jazz]

No, blood donors are not patients.

 

[LabRat86]

That really sucks, I have been volunteering at the blood bank for 4 years. I guess I'll have to start volunteering at some other places

 

[dragonfly99]

Volunteering at a blood bank with nonsick volunteers/donors is probably not as good as at a hospital or with a doctor, but it's not "nothing". I'd definitely mention it in your application and I don't think it's too much of a stretch to call it clinical experience, as long as your activities aren't limited to just shuffling papers all day, etc.