How are the hours for shadowing determined?

[BluejayMD]

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I know you have to report the number of hours I shadowed on the AMCAS, but I am confused as to how many hours I should actually report. For example, through my school, I signed up to shadow a surgery that was supposed to run from 730 am to 12 pm. I ended getting there and waiting one hour because the surgery was pushed back and waited another hour watching the nurses set the patient up for the surgeon. So in the end, I only had a solid 2 1/2 hours of shadowing. Should I report this as 4.5 hours, 3.5 hours(if I dont count the waiting), or 2.5 hours(if I don't count the waiting and the extra wait time where I was observing the nurses setting up).

 

[snowflakes]

I'd include the hour watching the nurses, because you're still seeing an aspect of care administered. In your AMCAS description, you can say you observed both prep time and surgery.

What did you do the hour you were waiting? Were you with the patient, or the doctors, or nurses, or any hospital staff? Or were you on your own/on your phone, etc?

 

[ciestar]

Honestly, I doubt an hour or two would really make a difference in the long run. Use your best judgment on this one.

 

[jm192]

List the 4.5. You committed your time.

The AAMC isn't going to go through and verify the activities, shadowing, etc of each applicant. The time and resources simply don't exist. You should be honest, but they aren't going to call your preceptor and find out that you only hung out with him for 2.5 hours and then ban you for counting hours spent with nurses.

 

[OrgasmicChemistry]

4.5... It's a ballpark figure, and you were there.

 

[tantacles]

I know you have to report the number of hours I shadowed on the AMCAS, but I am confused as to how many hours I should actually report. For example, through my school, I signed up to shadow a surgery that was supposed to run from 730 am to 12 pm. I ended getting there and waiting one hour because the surgery was pushed back and waited another hour watching the nurses set the patient up for the surgeon. So in the end, I only had a solid 2 1/2 hours of shadowing. Should I report this as 4.5 hours, 3.5 hours(if I dont count the waiting), or 2.5 hours(if I don't count the waiting and the extra wait time where I was observing the nurses setting up).

It sounds like you're reaching the point of a neurotic breakdown. Choose a number between 2 and 5, and then refrain from analyzing that number any further. Whether you shadowed for 2 or 5 hours isn't particularly significant, and no admissions committee member is going to scrutinize it. You saw a surgery; that's what counts.