How should I prepare to shadow

[JakeOgle]

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So I am a freshman in college pursuing a career as a medical oncologist. I am preparing to shadow an oncologist at a local hospital and I was wondering how I should prepare, what should I take, and looking for any beneficial tips.

Thank you!

 

[SN12357]

So I am a freshman in college pursuing a career as a medical oncologist. I am preparing to shadow an oncologist at a local hospital and I was wondering how I should prepare, what should I take, and looking for any beneficial tips.

Thank you!

Dress professionally but not formally (meaning: no jeans, no suit). Practice looking friendly and keeping quiet if those skills do not come naturally to you, and you'll be all set.

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

So I am a freshman in college pursuing a career as a medical oncologist. I am preparing to shadow an oncologist at a local hospital and I was wondering how I should prepare, what should I take, and looking for any beneficial tips.

Thank you!

Assuming you're a dude, wear a shirt, tie, pants, and decent shoes (I dunno if you live in a hot area...where I live, people tend to show up in shorts and sandals, big no no in hospitals). Bring a positive attitude. Other than that, just pay attention and do what the doctor tells you. Mostly you are going to be standing around and observing.

 

[Chipster.]

So I am a freshman in college pursuing a career as a medical oncologist. I am preparing to shadow an oncologist at a local hospital and I was wondering how I should prepare, what should I take, and looking for any beneficial tips.

Thank you!

Shadowing is a way to see if the profession is right for you. It allows you to learn about the profession and life of a doctor, not about disease or treatments. There isn't really anything you can do to prepare and you should not try to. The doctor you are with won't expect you to know anything and no undergrad course will help with this either. It's good you're getting started early though. My advice would be to develop a relationship with him, make other connections at the hospital, and look for future opportunities as you move through undergrad.

 

[JakeOgle]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone

 

[chillaxbro]

Prepare some questions

 

[GreenBlade]

So I am a freshman in college pursuing a career as a medical oncologist. I am preparing to shadow an oncologist at a local hospital and I was wondering how I should prepare, what should I take, and looking for any beneficial tips.

Thank you!

I shadowed a Rheumatology Clinic Chief and a PA last year. I was expected to know basic immunology and a few things about interpreting lab/ rad results for weekly academics. I was expected to watch when we did grand rounds or went to the wards.

I also shadowed in a Dermatology Clinic. I have a EMT cert so the docs let me prep biopsies, cut them out, and sew patients back up.

In the end, it really depends on the physician.

 

[circulus vitios]

Make sure you've eaten a good meal before shadowing. I once came close to blacking out because I didn't eat enough. Kind of weird because I've never had that happen to me before, but whatever.

 

[SnakeOilForSale]

Don't ask questions while with patients.
Don't ask questions while the doctor is taking notes.
Don't do anything to the patients unless the doctor tells you to.

Do bring a thank you note/card to hand him or her at the end of the experience.
Do ask why they chose their specialty and if they'd do it again.
Do ask for one piece of their best advice about pursuing medicine.

Your role there as far as patients goes will be very limited and observational in nature, so don't expect to learn much about medical terminology or diseases. You may pick up a few things, but that's not the point of shadowing. You really want to see what different specialties offer and what the physician has to say about the field in general. You'll get to see not if you're right for medicine, but if medicine is right for you.

 

[boomshaketheroom]

be polite and curious, thats about it

 

[ShowandTell]

Make sure you've eaten a good meal before shadowing. I once came close to blacking out because I didn't eat enough. Kind of weird because I've never had that happen to me before, but whatever.

Almost word for word, I had this scenario. If my stomach's empty, I'm prone to feeling queasy regardless the situation and when I was in a medical environment seeing things I normally didn't, it amplified. To the OP, I think you should call up the front desk and ask them what to wear. During my shadowing experience(ongoing), they have me wear scrubs and they refer to me as a "medical student" even though I'm just a future applicant at this point. I also assume this would make the patient more comfortable than seeing a kid in dress clothes with a tie watching them.