Nurse needs Volunteer experience!

[FixedGearMD]

This is my first thread.. Let me tell a little about myself. Currently a LPN (<2years). Just started going to school again aiming towards Med-School, freshman status at my local Community College. I got ways to go before I start applying for med school, hopefully at the age of 30.

As of right now, I am trying to get my foot in the door of a hospital, Volunteer wise. But I got rejected at three major hospitals near me, all because I hold a Healthcare provider license (LPN). Something to do with lines being cross if an emergency happens with a patient and volunteer. I want to be exposed in the ICU, ER, OR, units but those are the units I can't be allowed to volunteer. I am 99.9% sure I wanna be an MD, but I still would like to see the MD's in action, especially in the Hospital. I work at skilled nursing facillity, doctors come in and signs charts, assess my patients all in a matter of 30mins. at the most! They come in and out, barely have time to talk to them about my interest in being an MD.

I need sources, more options, maybe I haven't explored all the possibilities to volunteering. But I hate the feeling when applying to Volunteer knowing that I might be rejected. Any Ideas, comments, opinions please! haha thanks for reading.

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[Pons Asinorum]

...but I still would like to see the MD's in action, especially in the Hospital.

What you need is shadowing, not working as a hospital volunteer. With your LPN experience, you will be fine with your volunteer experience being non-clinical in nature. Just do something you enjoy and makes somebody's life better. Get your MD exposure via shadowing, which won't cause any liability issues as with being a volunteer, and keep getting clinical exposure via your LPN position.

 

[Isoprop]

What you need is shadowing, not working as a hospital volunteer. With your LPN experience, you will be fine with your volunteer experience being non-clinical in nature. Just do something you enjoy and makes somebody's life better. Get your MD exposure via shadowing, which won't cause any liability issues as with being a volunteer, and keep getting clinical exposure via your LPN position.

Definitely agreed w/ this. Try to get shadowing experience. Get in contact with physicians you work with and ask if they or anyone they know would be willing to have a shadow for a few hours.

It would also be a good idea to get NON-CLINICAL volunteer/community service experience. www.volunteermatch.org is a good place to start. Do it in an area that you are interested in.

Finally, if you are absolutely sure you want clinical volunteer experience, try to volunteer at a free clinic as a nurse.

Good luck.

 

[FixedGearMD]

I didn't realize Job Shadowing is that simple, I thought I would have to go through a hospital or something official in that nature. There are plenty of physicians I can ask at work if they are willing, I just gotta slip it in the conversation when I report my patients abnormal labs or COC. Of course I'll use formality when asking, or just ask at a more appropriate time. I just hope It doesn't get me in trouble at work in anyway.

I was so caught up in trying to Volunteer in a Hospital; that getting non-clinical volunteer experience is still as important, Especially since I get clinical exposure through my work. And I will definitely consider at a free clinic as a nurse, I'm sure that will be great experience to use my nursing at a different setting.

Thank you much for the advise!

Also, could you guys help me with ways or ideas to ask a physician to shadow? I don't want to sound to unprofessional and need the MD to consider me a serious pre-med student. Reply to this thread or PM me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Yeah you will be fine as an LPN. I work as a patient transporter on the weekends at a hospital so I volunteer at my daughter's school as often as I can, and that's about all. When asking a doctor to shadow you just need to bite the bullet and start emailing or calling people. May talk to other premeds to see who is accepting students. Also understand that you may have to try many different things. The hospital I work for only allows premeds to shadow a grand total of 40 hours over four years, so be prepared to talk to a lot of different doctors if need be.