How to get your foot in the door of clinical experience

[Jennyollio]

I've been trying to figure out how to get some experience in a clinical setting whether it is volunteer work, shadowing, a job, etc. Can anyone give me some advice on how they did it? I'm at a loss.

Volunteer work all seems like it's clerical or working in the gift shop, and I'd love to have an actual job but everything I see seems to require some kind of experience or certification. How did you guys do it?
Thanks!

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[Flopotomist]

I've been trying to figure out how to get some experience in a clinical setting whether it is volunteer work, shadowing, a job, etc. Can anyone give me some advice on how they did it? I'm at a loss.

Volunteer work all seems like it's clerical or working in the gift shop, and I'd love to have an actual job but everything I see seems to require some kind of experience or certification. How did you guys do it?
Thanks!

There are lots of ways, but you have to be a bit creative. Try contacting your local hospital's volunteer coordinator and explaining your interests, and see if you can find something other than working in the gift shop.

There are also small doctor's offices and clinics that would love to have the help - just start asking around.

You could also get a certificate (eg phlebotomy, EMT, CNA) that will allow you to work clinically.

Good luck.

 

[NehsNairb]

I think alot of premeds have the wrong idea about volunteer work and clinical experience. I used to think that learning medical skills like how to take a blood pressure or perform CPR would give me a leg up on med school admissions. Don't concern yourself with that. The things that you SHOULD do are shadow some doctors and volunteer at places where you'll get plenty of patient contact. Getting these positions should be no problem. If you're near an academic medical center, just email some faculty about shadowing and call the volunteer office about helping out in some department. If not, go to a local hospital, hospice, clinic and tell them your situation. Your post makes it sound like you need connections to get quality clinical experience. That's really not the case. If you're learning about the medical profession and seeing patients, you got yourself quality clincial experience.

 

[Nutmeg1621]

There are lots of ways, but you have to be a bit creative. Try contacting your local hospital's volunteer coordinator and explaining your interests, and see if you can find something other than working in the gift shop.

There are also small doctor's offices and clinics that would love to have the help - just start asking around.

You could also get a certificate (eg phlebotomy, EMT, CNA) that will allow you to work clinically.

Good luck.

Yes, I took all of your advice in a previous thread and I got a volunteer position in the ED at my local hospital. Stocking supplies, checking on pts, and helping the nurses. They told me I can also help in the ICU. I really wanted to help in the surgery department but it is a daytime only position. *cries*

 

[registered user]

I think alot of premeds have the wrong idea about volunteer work and clinical experience. I used to think that learning medical skills like how to take a blood pressure or perform CPR would give me a leg up on med school admissions. Don't concern yourself with that. The things that you SHOULD do are shadow some doctors and volunteer at places where you'll get plenty of patient contact. Getting these positions should be no problem. If you're near an academic medical center, just email some faculty about shadowing and call the volunteer office about helping out in some department. If not, go to a local hospital, hospice, clinic and tell them your situation. Your post makes it sound like you need connections to get quality clinical experience. That's really not the case. If you're learning about the medical profession and seeing patients, you got yourself quality clincial experience.

Good advice.

 

[zbruinz]

would shadowing enough for clinical experience, or would I have to get EMT certified too?

 

[Mr. Tee]

just shadowing is fine.

 

[registered user]

would shadowing enough for clinical experience, or would I have to get EMT certified too?

Don't bother with any certification unless you are going to use it (i.e. get a job for at least a couple months).

 

[DirtyIndian]

Does giving up a year of school to be a 24/7 full-time live-in aide with a person suffering from Alzheimer's/Dimentia count as clinical experiences. Also included is dealing with person's doctors on a daily basis, managing medicines taken, meal planning and preperation, cleaning and doing everyday activities, and changing dressings on a daily basis.

(By the way, first post on the website that will soon become the bane of my existance).

 

[registered user]

Does giving up a year of school to be a 24/7 full-time live-in aide with a person suffering from Alzheimer's/Dimentia count as clinical experiences. Also included is dealing with person's doctors on a daily basis, managing medicines taken, meal planning and preperation, cleaning and doing everyday activities, and changing dressings on a daily basis.

(By the way, first post on the website that will soon become the bane of my existance).

Yes.

 

[g3pro]

Does giving up a year of school to be a 24/7 full-time live-in aide with a person suffering from Alzheimer's/Dimentia count as clinical experiences. Also included is dealing with person's doctors on a daily basis, managing medicines taken, meal planning and preperation, cleaning and doing everyday activities, and changing dressings on a daily basis.

(By the way, first post on the website that will soon become the bane of my existance).

It might be good clinical experience if you are applying to a nursing school, but for appling to allopathic medicine, I don't think so.

 

[gujuDoc]

would shadowing enough for clinical experience, or would I have to get EMT certified too?

You don't need an EMT too, but you do need additional volunteerism whether in or out of medicine to show your commitment to serve others.

 

[zbruinz]

would getting a EMT certification and working for let's say 4 months be okay?

 

[reylting]

would getting a EMT certification and working for let's say 4 months be okay?

Sound good to me. You get to see quite a bit as an EMT that you could talk about in interviews, any reason why you would only do it for 4 months?

 

[zbruinz]

Because if I want to shadow, I don't think I can do EMT for much longer than 4-5 months.

 

[reylting]

Just remember you can do shadowing simultaneously with other clinical/volunteer activity and for just as long. Shadowing can be done once per week or once every 2 weeks whatever you want . The idea is that you show consistency and that you do it for a good length of time. A year or anything close to a year would be good.

 

[zbruinz]

okay, thanks.

 

[crazytech]

For all of you that thinks working as an EMT is an easy postion to handle and that "I'll do it for only a few months" should be ready for a rude awakening...dont forget that being an EMT is someones job isnt in place for pre-meds to make themselves for applicable to adcoms...you are dealing with peoples lives...bottom line is...dont take it lightly

 

[crazytech]

For all of you that think working as an EMT is an easy postion to handle and that "I'll do it for only a few months" should be ready for a rude awakening...dont forget that being an EMT is someones job isnt in place for pre-meds to make themselves more applicable to adcoms...you are dealing with peoples lives...bottom line is...dont take it lightly

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

would shadowing enough for clinical experience, or would I have to get EMT certified too?

You shouldn't get an EMT license unless you plan to practice the skills. You will end up forgetting alot of it right out of the class and need the ride time for reinforcement. Also, what you can do as an EMT is not really that impressive. I have been an EMT-B for a year now and it does not exactly take a genius to perform basic life skills. If you go to a school that has an ambulance squad you should look into it. Perhaps they offer medic classes for free like mine does. Once you go up the heirarchy of EMTs you get to do more things and push more drugs which would be more impressive.

If you do plan to take the class on your own, remember that it is expensive and useless unless you start having ride time right after the class. Also, I've been vomitted on and spat on by patients. It is not fun 😡

Anyway, the biggest difference I see between shadowing an being an EMT is that with shadowing you are watching someone else perform tasks while as an EMT you are the one who is taking care of the patient. Take that into consideration

 

[gujuDoc]

You shouldn't get an EMT license unless you plan to practice the skills. You will end up forgetting alot of it right out of the class and need the ride time for reinforcement. Also, what you can do as an EMT is not really that impressive. I have been an EMT-B for a year now and it does not exactly take a genius to perform basic life skills. If you go to a school that has an ambulance squad you should look into it. Perhaps they offer medic classes for free like mine does. Once you go up the heirarchy of EMTs you get to do more things and push more drugs which would be more impressive.

If you do plan to take the class on your own, remember that it is expensive and useless unless you start having ride time right after the class. Also, I've been vomitted on and spat on by patients. It is not fun 😡

Anyway, the biggest difference I see between shadowing an being an EMT is that with shadowing you are watching someone else perform tasks while as an EMT you are the one who is taking care of the patient. Take that into consideration

I don't think the point of being an EMT is to try to play doctor by being able to prescribe medicine etc. Rather, its a way to find good clinical experience in which you'll get exposure to the field on some level and realize that dealing with real world medicine is not the same thing as watching what occurs on fictional tv shows or movies.

You can get clinical experience a number of ways. You don't need to be an EMT-B or PCT to get clinical experience. Yes, one way is to work in the field either as an EMT, PCT, Phlebotomist, etc. etc. etc. etc.

However, there are also other ways to get exposure to clinical medicine, like volunteering in the escort service so you get to familiarize yourself with the hospital, volunteering at an ER or SICU waiting room, or child life.

Or you can volunteer with Hospice, Pediatric clinics, general practice clinics in rural areas where they need translators for spanish speakers. Little little things like that give exposure to medicine.

Shadowing is another thing to do. Shadowing is good and all but it SHOULD NOT substitute volunteerism as both REL and LizzyM who are adcom members will tell you.

Other clinical exposure can come from medical mission trips abroad or from various types of clinic opportunities.

Just whatever you do, make sure you've at least had some exposure to medicine because while you don't know how you'll feel coming out of med school and residency, they want to see that you weren't completely blind going in.

 

[registered user]

I don't think the point of being an EMT is to try to play doctor by being able to prescribe medicine etc. Rather, its a way to find good clinical experience in which you'll get exposure to the field on some level and realize that dealing with real world medicine is not the same thing as watching what occurs on fictional tv shows or movies.

You can get clinical experience a number of ways. You don't need to be an EMT-B or PCT to get clinical experience. Yes, one way is to work in the field either as an EMT, PCT, Phlebotomist, etc. etc. etc. etc.

However, there are also other ways to get exposure to clinical medicine, like volunteering in the escort service so you get to familiarize yourself with the hospital, volunteering at an ER or SICU waiting room, or child life.

Or you can volunteer with Hospice, Pediatric clinics, general practice clinics in rural areas where they need translators for spanish speakers. Little little things like that give exposure to medicine.

Shadowing is another thing to do. Shadowing is good and all but it SHOULD NOT substitute volunteerism as both REL and LizzyM who are adcom members will tell you.

Other clinical exposure can come from medical mission trips abroad or from various types of clinic opportunities.

Just whatever you do, make sure you've at least had some exposure to medicine because while you don't know how you'll feel coming out of med school and residency, they want to see that you weren't completely blind going in.

Listen to her, she has much wisdom.

Which brings me back to DirtyIndian's post. I think that would be great experience.

 

[crazytech]

I don't think the point of being an EMT is to try to play doctor by being able to prescribe medicine

EMTs dont prescribe medicine...

Rather, practicing as a EMT you learn to develop the most vital characteristic to being any type of healthcare professional...a bedside manner

Another user posted something along the lines of "It doesnt take a genius to perform EMT skills"...

This maybe true...but it takes years of practice and a gentle soul to learn to comfort a patient when he/she is suffering.

This is why I say it is imperative that one not go through the motions of becoming an EMT and neglect the patients...As an EMT you are a healthcare provider and have a "scope of practice". You must treat it with the highest of care and not blow it off as another resume builder

 

[WingsBelieve84]

Have you tried talking to your own physician? He or she might employ you or let you volunteer, or they might give you a few names to contact.

 

[zbruinz]

I already have a few hundred hours volunteering in patient escort and ER, I'm looking for something more substantial.

 

[gujuDoc]

I don't think the point of being an EMT is to try to play doctor by being able to prescribe medicine

EMTs dont prescribe medicine...

Rather, practicing as a EMT you learn to develop the most vital characteristic to being any type of healthcare professional...a bedside manner

Another user posted something along the lines of "It doesnt take a genius to perform EMT skills"...

This maybe true...but it takes years of practice and a gentle soul to learn to comfort a patient when he/she is suffering.

This is why I say it is imperative that one not go through the motions of becoming an EMT and neglect the patients...As an EMT you are a healthcare provider and have a "scope of practice". You must treat it with the highest of care and not blow it off as another resume builder

I think you misunderstood my post. There was a post above mine by someone saying EMT's are nothing special because they don't get to do fun things like prescribe anything, but the medics do. And my point was that it is not about trying to impress someone by prescribing stuff but showing exposure to medicine anyway you can get it.

Sorry, I was tired when I was responding so if I mis wrote what I was trying to say, I apologize.

 

[gujuDoc]

I don't think the point of being an EMT is to try to play doctor by being able to prescribe medicine

EMTs dont prescribe medicine...

Rather, practicing as a EMT you learn to develop the most vital characteristic to being any type of healthcare professional...a bedside manner

Another user posted something along the lines of "It doesnt take a genius to perform EMT skills"...

This maybe true...but it takes years of practice and a gentle soul to learn to comfort a patient when he/she is suffering.

This is why I say it is imperative that one not go through the motions of becoming an EMT and neglect the patients...As an EMT you are a healthcare provider and have a "scope of practice". You must treat it with the highest of care and not blow it off as another resume builder

P.S. read REMARKABLE's post, first paragraph to see what I was trying to respond to. I apologize for the confusion.

 

[gujuDoc]

I don't think the point of being an EMT is to try to play doctor by being able to prescribe medicine

EMTs dont prescribe medicine...

Rather, practicing as a EMT you learn to develop the most vital characteristic to being any type of healthcare professional...a bedside manner

Another user posted something along the lines of "It doesnt take a genius to perform EMT skills"...

This maybe true...but it takes years of practice and a gentle soul to learn to comfort a patient when he/she is suffering.

This is why I say it is imperative that one not go through the motions of becoming an EMT and neglect the patients...As an EMT you are a healthcare provider and have a "scope of practice". You must treat it with the highest of care and not blow it off as another resume builder

Sorry I'm too lazy to edit, so I'll just repost again. But I wanted to add one final point. I'm not disagreeing with you by any means. Once you see what I was saying, you'll see I'm not disagreeing with you. In fact, I'm in total agreement with the rest of your post. The same person that said that getting an EMT is not impressive because you don't get to push drugs like a medic does, is the same person I was trying to convey the other things you mentioned too. That's all. Thanks.

 

[Jennyollio]

Thanks for the advice. I was curious though about what people get to do as a volunteer in the ER. It sounds like a really cool experience.

 

[registered user]

Thanks for the advice. I was curious though about what people get to do as a volunteer in the ER. It sounds like a really cool experience.

From my experience, not much. I was allowed to take vitals and enter them into the computer system for the triage nurses. Thats about it. Kinda frustrating for someone who spent four winters as a patroller.
However, volunteering in the ER is not about what you get to "do". Its about what you get to experience and see. It can be really cool.