Is there specific time frame needed to make an activity meaningful?

[Saintman41]

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I've been working at a private clinic for the last 3 weeks, however I'm not too sure how longer I'll be able to commit to this job. I can work for another 3-4 months most likely because I will need to reallocate more time for my MCAT this spring. Would it look bad if I only worked there for about 4-5 months? More importantly can this add more value to my application instead of bring up questions? I'll end up with 300+ clinical hours if I stay for the months I've previously mentioned.

 

[Catalystik]

I've been working at a private clinic for the last 3 weeks, however I'm not too sure how longer I'll be able to commit to this job. I can work for another 3-4 months most likely because I will need to reallocate more time for my MCAT this spring. Would it look bad if I only worked there for about 4-5 months? More importantly can this add more value to my application instead of bring up questions? I'll end up with 300+ clinical hours if I stay for the months I've previously mentioned.

As long as 4-5 months of the patient-related activity is not your sole source of active clinical experience, the experience adds value to your application. Just because you got an intense number of hours in a short time, don't rest on those laurels.

 

[Goro]

As long as 4-5 months of the patient-related activity is not your sole source of active clinical experience, the experience adds value to your application. Just because you got an intense number of hours in a short time, don't rest on those laurels.

My apologies for hijacking the thread, but wise @Catalystik , could you kindly PM me? I have an a conundrum to pick your brains on.

 

[Saintman41]

As long as 4-5 months of the patient-related activity is not your sole source of active clinical experience, the experience adds value to your application. Just because you got an intense number of hours in a short time, don't rest on those laurels.

Would it look bad if I mentioned the primary reason for leaving as being "a toxic work environment"? The physician I work for can be inpatient at times (knowing I've previously had no clinical experience), sometimes I can see her rolling her eyes and shaking her head at me if I'm not doing something correctly right away (some cases it was my first time doing something), and I've had her swat her hand at me one day trying to help her with a patient. She has her moments where she can be nice, but she's also had plenty of moments of being rude/disrespectful to me. I don't know how much longer I will end up staying just because her attitude sometimes makes me question if becoming a physician is worth it if I'm going to become like her.

 

[Saintman41]

Note: I want to still be able to use the hours I've accumulated and what I will accumulate because I've enjoyed interacting with patients, learning to take BP, charting, and so on, but I feel almost as if I'm always messing up when I'm around her.

 

[Catalystik]

1) Would it look bad if I mentioned the primary reason for leaving as being "a toxic work environment"?

2) The physician I work for can be inpatient at times (knowing I've previously had no clinical experience), sometimes I can see her rolling her eyes and shaking her head at me if I'm not doing something correctly right away (some cases it was my first time doing something), and I've had her swat her hand at me one day trying to help her with a patient. She has her moments where she can be nice, but she's also had plenty of moments of being rude/disrespectful to me. I don't know how much longer I will end up staying just because her attitude sometimes makes me question if becoming a physician is worth it if I'm going to become like her.

1) You have no obligation to give an excuse. It could be as benign as they changed your work hours to when you were needed for XXX, your car broke down and can't be fixed, or as negative as being fired. We can't judge if we don't know.

2) Have you considered making her more aware of her behavior or trying to get an explanation? Maybe say, "I feel like you're angry with me for some reason. What can I do to change?"

 

[deleted1025488]

Many people had to re-locate due to COVID and thus had to get new clinical/non-clinical volunteer activities during that time. As long as you had volunteer activities before then I don't think anyone cares; it shows that you are dedicated and wanted to continue volunteering.