Is Being a Blood Center Volunteer Clinical?

[amylovee19]

Does volunteering at a Blood Center count as medical/clinical experience? I was in constant interaction with the people who donated blood, taking care of them after their donations. Also performed administrative work.

Thanks!!

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[mistafab]

I would count it, yes! Sounds like it was an excellent med/clinical volunteering experience!

 

[Thienyl15]

For purposes of medical admissions, I would not considered this a clinical position. Whether it would be technically one, it is really isnt dealing with patients in a hospital or clinical setting. I would not substitute this for a more direct and traditional role in a hospital or clinic setting

I agree with Gonnif on this one. If you were working at the blood center, i.e. performing the physical exam and doing phlebotomy, that would be clinical.

 

[Catalystik]

Does volunteering at a Blood Center count as medical/clinical experience? I was in constant interaction with the people who donated blood, taking care of them after their donations. Also performed administrative work.

Thanks!!

No. Those donating are not current patients. But this is an excellent NonClinical volunteer activity.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

I said this yesterday on a similar post, stop aiming for the lowest common denominator. I understand that clinical exposure for some people can be limited, but aim higher. You are not treating or caring for patients at a blood bank. Again, compare 4 hours of your experience to 4 hours in an ED or shadowing a PCP.

 

[NickNaylor]

It is “clinical experience” in the strictest sense of the term, but it is not the kind of “clinical experience” someone reviewing your application will care about. And frankly, it’s not the kind of “clinical experience” that you yourself should be looking for. Beyond being a checkbox on your application, clinical experience is meant to help you figure out if the day-to-day work of working with patients, being in a clinical setting, etc. is actually something that you want to do. The experience as you’ve described it does nothing for you on that front.