Need suggestions on how to get a better clinical experience

[DoctorWannaBe]

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I just started being a volunteer in the ER of a hospital. The first time I showed up, the nurse just made me sit there. Finally I asked if I would ever be able to watch procedures, and she introduced me to a doctor who hesitantly showed me around to a few cases. However, most of the time I sat around. Does anyone have any suggestion on how to get a good clinical experience (i.e. which department, at a teaching hospital vs. community hospital, etc.). Also, is there any way to get an entry-level patient care job without any educational training?

 

[wolferman]

As a volunteer in a hospital, you're kind of at the mercy of the volunteer office or the ER department. If you're more interested in seeing procedures, I would suggest shadowing a physician for a few afternoons.

 

[Joe Joe on da Radio]

the best way to get clinical experience imo is to approach the residents. they're more "humble" than the attendings and more willing to let you assist in procedures and explain cases to you. at least, that was my experience...

joe

 

[PittBoo50]

I interned for credit at an adolescent partial hospital. As an intern, not only did I get to observe and help run therapy and clinical groups, I was able to document on my supervising clinician's patients and write up treatment plans. It provided a great hands on clinical experience...So, my advice would be to look up possible intern positions within local health settings. It does take up more time than volunteering (a min. of 15-20 hrs/week), but you could do it for credit or pay depending on the position.

 

[Horseradish99]

I would suggest looking into a job as a nurse aide or nurse technician. A lot of hospitals are willing to hire pre-med types as paid nurse aides if they are willing to go through the training (usually free! and I actually got paid during the three weeks of training).

You get TONS of patient contact, especially if you work in an ICU like I did. You get more exposure to nursing and lots of nurses, but of course physicians are a-plenty, and you get to know them pretty well. Granted, you will be doing a lot of buttwiping, feeding, and bed baths, but I guarantee you will come out with a better idea of medicine and have a helluva lot more appreciation for what nurses do.

Good luck! 🙂

Scott

 

[yodi]

Hello,

I'm glad you took the initiative and asked around there. And really, I think that's the right idea if you're in a volunteer position. Keep flagging down medical staff and expressing your genuine interest in seeing what they do. If you are persistent, chances are, you'll get the kind of clinical exposure you need.

I was a weekly college candystriper at a university hospital for a total of 2 quarter, and each day, i had to flag a doc down to be able to see stuff. But it paid off -- more docs were willing to let me shadow them than I thought.

Like JoeJoe said, approaching residents is a good idea (and of course, don't mind the occasional blank sleep-deprived facial responses). And definitely, an academic setting is a good bet....people there remember freshly their own experiences as a premed and will be more willing to take time out to help you.

As for the dept, try making your way to hospitalized patient care like internal med, cardiology, or even CCU. perhaps the lessened intensity of the environment will make it easier for Doc's to share their time w/ ya'.

Good luck!

 

[tms]

Def. look for an academic setting. A hosp. attached to a med school is all about teaching. Also, be patient. Think of all the other volunteers before you. Prolly about a gazillion pre-meds have volunteered before you in that ER...some maybe not as dependable or not as interested (just getting "clinical experience"). When the docs start to remember your face and continued interest...you'll get more involved. It also helps to get friendly with the nurses and techs...who during cases will drop hints to the docs that "so and so is premed". Finally, the ER is usually divided into teams...so, you may not see the same docs on a regular basis. Just remember that you will see them again and always be "around" when something interesting is going on.

 

[Kasey]

I second the vote for volunteering at a hospital with a med school attached to it. I'm starting as a volunteer in the Trauma OR next Monday night and it's my understanding from those who have gone before and the volunteer coordinator that anytime I'm not running about getting blood or labs or whatever I'll be allowed to watch procedures. What can also be helpful is volunteering overnight when things are less stressful and busy. Also, ask the volunteer coordinator at the hospital what positions will really get you into things a little more. It's not unlikely that he/she will have dealt with people who are interested in a career in health and he'she might be able to direct to a position which would give you more clinical exposure.
Hope that helped!
-Kris

 

[laviddee]

I think the previous posts are great. Just another suggestion. If you plan to do research at all... alot of times there are doctors in the lab and the PI may be an MD as well. I would ask the doctor you work with in the lab if you could come with him/her to the clinic.

Best thing about this is that he has even more to write about you in the letter of rec. He not only can talk about what you did with him in the lab, but also he can testify to your clinical experience alongside of him.
also what you see may also give you something to write about in your personal statement. Not only through your experiences with patients-- but also what characteristics you admire from following the doctor-- what qualities of the job itself that draws you to medicine.

just some suggestions...

 

[OnyxGaia]

Originally posted by DoctorWannaBe
I just started being a volunteer in the ER of a hospital. The first time I showed up, the nurse just made me sit there. Finally I asked if I would ever be able to watch procedures, and she introduced me to a doctor who hesitantly showed me around to a few cases. However, most of the time I sat around. Does anyone have any suggestion on how to get a good clinical experience (i.e. which department, at a teaching hospital vs. community hospital, etc.). Also, is there any way to get an entry-level patient care job without any educational training?

I had the same experience in the beginning and I was flat out disappointed and very unhappy. Technically, most volunteers arent allowed to do direct patient care, but if you hook up with the right person, they will show you stuff behind the curtains.

I have learned that in order to see anything, you have to be very aggressive. Nowadays, I hang out with the patient care techs and I am learning to do EKG's and hook up fetal monitors.

My volunteer experience has changed due to something that happened the Thursday after Christmas. The ER was understaffed, so they really needed help. I attached myself to this PC tech and helped her do EKG's as well as transport. At one point, she needed to wrap the body of a man who had expired and she was looking for someone to help her. I quickly volunteered. She looked at me skeptically and asked if I was allowed to do that. "Who cares?" I said and I shrugged. So she took me behind the curtain and I helped her wrap the body and transport him to the morgue. The whole staff knew what I was doing and they appreciated the help.

The next week, everyone was more receptive to me because they knew that I was not a premed who just wanted to hang around and watch, but I was really interested in helping out.

One day, I asked a PC tech if she needed help and she asked me for gauze. I went into the trauma room to get the gauze and I stumbled upon a doctor who was stitching the nose of an accident victim. I mean, the nose was totally destroyed. So I just stood around and watched for awhile with no objection from the doctor, then got my gauze and left.

I can honestly say my volunteere experience is good now. I have even asked a doctor if he minds my following him around every now and then and he told me I was welcome to do so.

So hang in there. Be aggressive and you'll see and learn a lot.

Onyx

 

[DoctorWannaBe]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm volunteering at a hospital that is several miles away from my university (which does have a med school), so maybe they don't get as many pre-meds there. There certainly aren't residents there. I think I'll look into volunteering at the university hospital. I know I need to be aggressive, but I don't want to be a nuisance, and I will start to feel like that if I'm asking to do stuff all the time.

Onyx, do you know what is involved in getting a job as a Patient Care Tech? I.e. do you have to go to school first, or can you do on-the-job training?

 

[SticknRudder]

At a certain point, I became fed up with the lack of experience and inability to do anything worthwhile while volunteering in the hospitals. As a substitue, I started volunteering through a local hospice program. As part of the program, I am assigned a patient that I visit once a week for an hour or two. Usually, we just talk about how they're feeling, what kind of things they do during the day, and generally just try to be a friend. A lot of the patients I see are very alone. They usually live with a son or daughter who works, and get minimal people contact. As such, they really appreciate the time you spend with them. This contact as been invaluble to me. It's very close patient contact, and allows you to see the broad effect of their disease of their psyche, family, and health.

I've also augmented my volunteering with three to four days a week at a local Boys and Girls Club. It's in a disadvantaged area of Tucson, but the kids are really awesome. I look forward to everyday I go there. It's really amazing how responsive the kids are when they just get a little attention.

I would strongly recommend both hospice and Boys and Girls Club. The Club has been a really nice avenue for me to round out my volunteering.

 

[OnyxGaia]

Originally posted by DoctorWannaBe
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm volunteering at a hospital that is several miles away from my university (which does have a med school), so maybe they don't get as many pre-meds there. There certainly aren't residents there. I think I'll look into volunteering at the university hospital. I know I need to be aggressive, but I don't want to be a nuisance, and I will start to feel like that if I'm asking to do stuff all the time.

Onyx, do you know what is involved in getting a job as a Patient Care Tech? I.e. do you have to go to school first, or can you do on-the-job training?

Doctorwannabe,

I think it's possible to get training in the hospital, but I'm not sure. There are certainly courses offered.

I know that JamaicanMD is a Critical Care Tech, so maybe you can pm JMD for more info.

Onyx