Is this clinical volunteering?

[Chromium Surfer]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Does interacting with children before their well check ups in a health center fall under the category of clinic volunteering? Also would being a Big Brother in an environment that is not in a medical center be considered non-clinical volunteering? Any responses are appreciated, thank you!

 

[NotASerialKiller]

Sounds like a yes to both. Can you elaborate on "interacting"?

 

[Chromium Surfer]

Sounds like a yes to both. Can you elaborate on "interacting"?

yes definitely. Interacting such as reading to them before their visit to the doctor. I am still looking into Big Brother and Sister but from what I have heard and seen in the program the Big brothers and sisters basically act as mentors to their "little" brothers and sisters so all the things you would do for a younger sibling essentially.

 

[gothicfoxes]

Yes & yes. Big Brother & Sister is wonderful and they're always in need of devoted volunteers.

 

[LizzyM]

To the first: they are called "patients" and you are interacting with them so you must be in their proximity. So it seems like you meet my famous definition of clinical experience. That said, they are there for well child visits and it sounds like you will be in the waiting room so what you are doing is not as in the thick of it as something that involves the sick or injured and/or is done in a location where diagnosis and treatment takes place (exam room, hospital room, etc). Do try to get an additional gig interacting with the sick or injured, the dying or the disabled.

 

[Chromium Surfer]

Awesome, thank you for your response!

 

[Chromium Surfer]

To the first: they are called "patients" and you are interacting with them so you must be in their proximity. So it seems like you meet my famous definition of clinical experience. That said, they are there for well child visits and it sounds like you will be in the waiting room so what you are doing is not as in the thick of it as something that involves the sick or injured and/or is done in a location where diagnosis and treatment takes place (exam room, hospital room, etc). Do try to get an additional gig interacting with the sick or injured, the dying or the disabled.

I've been calling a lot of places but most of their volunteering positions involve answering phone calls etc. this was the closet thing I've found so far. Being a pre-med with limited skills what sorts of opportunities provide that kind of direct patient exposure?

 

[LizzyM]

Sometimes you have to pay your dues, so to speak, and put in some time doing some of these basic things before someone will let you get involved with the more complex patients. Give it some time but also consider taking your experience in the well child clinic and seeing if you can get into the waiting room of a children's hospital ambulatory care center where you are more likely to see kids coming in for follow-up in orthopedic clinic, neurology clinic, etc. I've also had pre-med students who have found volunteer opportunities holding babies in the neonatal intensive care and looking after children in the post-op area of a children's hospital. You might see if the doctors at the clinic where you are volunteering might recommend you for that work later in your pre-med career.

 

[Chromium Surfer]

Thank you for your insightful response LizzyM!