Physician Shadowing Run Around

[StudyShy]

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Well, I would not have believed it unless I had experienced it myself. I'm on my 20th office call to local physicians to see if anyone would be interested in shadowing. I haven't got any bites even with my own physicians. They said that they were too busy, and they don't take students even just to shadow anyway. It's been kind of a bummer.

I'm also getting the HIPPA run around at my own hospital which ironic because I'm in the process of submitting an application for a teaching gig for nurses to receive CEUs that covers the basics of HIPPA in social networking...and I work at the hospital. I got this after I asked whether I could tag along with the ER pediatric nurse practitioners when they go upstairs for all the C-sections and difficult deliveries.

I always have the option of shadowing the ER physicians who I work with, but that is kind of lame since it would not be very different from what I see at work. We share the same dictation room so I know when they fart, when they are having an argument with their SO, and when they go to the bathroom. I see them interact with patients. I assist them at times with patient care. They consult with me about whether patients should inpatient or observation and where patients can be transferred when they need to leave our facility. The list goes on. Should this be enough to say that I understand the challenges that phsycians face daily and gain a realistic sense of what they do?

Although I was really looking forward to shadowing some physicians (especially some obstetricians and PCPs), I'm about ready to test my luck and forget shadowing. I have some hours (24) for seven years ago 😱 when I shadowed some surgeons as part of a graduate nurse program. I also spent a lot of time trailing behind physicians in medic school (200+ hospital hours at least), but this was a long time ago now too.

 

[CodeBlu]

Well, I would not have believed it unless I had experienced it myself. I'm on my 20th office call to local physicians to see if anyone would be interested in shadowing. I haven't got any bites even with my own physicians. They said that they were too busy, and they don't take students even just to shadow anyway. It's been kind of a bummer.

I'm also getting the HIPPA run around at my own hospital which ironic because I'm in the process of submitting an application for a teaching gig for nurses to receive CEUs that covers the basics of HIPPA in social networking...and I work at the hospital. I got this after I asked whether I could tag along with the ER pediatric nurse practitioners when they go upstairs for all the C-sections and difficult deliveries.

I always have the option of shadowing the ER physicians who I work with, but that is kind of lame since it would not be very different from what I see at work. We share the same dictation room so I know when they fart, when they are having an argument with their SO, and when they go to the bathroom. I see them interact with patients. I assist them at times with patient care. They consult with me about whether patients should inpatient or observation and where patients can be transferred when they need to leave our facility. The list goes on. Should this be enough to say that I understand the challenges that phsycians face daily and gain a realistic sense of what they do?

Although I was really looking forward to shadowing some physicians (especially some obstetricians and PCPs), I'm about ready to test my luck and forget shadowing. I have some hours (24) for seven years ago 😱 when I shadowed some surgeons as part of a graduate nurse program. I also spent a lot of time trailing behind physicians in medic school (200+ hospital hours at least), but this was a long time ago now too.

You will be fine studyshy!!!! Don't worry, your experiences are awesome as it is.

 

[Neurosis]

Well, I would not have believed it unless I had experienced it myself. I'm on my 20th office call to local physicians to see if anyone would be interested in shadowing. I haven't got any bites even with my own physicians. They said that they were too busy, and they don't take students even just to shadow anyway. It's been kind of a bummer.

I'm also getting the HIPPA run around at my own hospital which ironic because I'm in the process of submitting an application for a teaching gig for nurses to receive CEUs that covers the basics of HIPPA in social networking...and I work at the hospital. I got this after I asked whether I could tag along with the ER pediatric nurse practitioners when they go upstairs for all the C-sections and difficult deliveries.

I always have the option of shadowing the ER physicians who I work with, but that is kind of lame since it would not be very different from what I see at work. We share the same dictation room so I know when they fart, when they are having an argument with their SO, and when they go to the bathroom. I see them interact with patients. I assist them at times with patient care. They consult with me about whether patients should inpatient or observation and where patients can be transferred when they need to leave our facility. The list goes on. Should this be enough to say that I understand the challenges that phsycians face daily and gain a realistic sense of what they do?

Although I was really looking forward to shadowing some physicians (especially some obstetricians and PCPs), I'm about ready to test my luck and forget shadowing. I have some hours (24) for seven years ago 😱 when I shadowed some surgeons as part of a graduate nurse program. I also spent a lot of time trailing behind physicians in medic school (200+ hospital hours at least), but this was a long time ago now too.

Yeah, this is the same reaction I got when I was searching for shadowing opportunities. Long story short, it took me a good 2 weeks before I got 2 doctors to let me shadow them (one pediatrician, one neurologist). Persistency is key.

 

[StudyShy]

You will be fine studyshy!!!! Don't worry, your experiences are awesome as it is.

Thanks! They feel very ordinary to me. I'd love to have some normal shadowing time like most people get. 🙂

 

[StudyShy]

Yeah, this is the same reaction I got when I was searching for shadowing opportunities. Long story short, it took me a good 2 weeks before I got 2 doctors to let me shadow them (one pediatrician, one neurologist). Persistency is key.

I wish that more programs were set up for students to shadow. It's discouraging at times! 🙂

 

[Neurosis]

I wish that more programs were set up for students to shadow. It's discouraging at times! 🙂

It would definitiely make things much easier 😀

 

[macsta]

You can ask your ER doctors if they have any physicians friends that you can shadow.

 

[Beekachu]

I wish that more programs were set up for students to shadow. It's discouraging at times! 🙂

I was having the same problems trying to find physicians to shadow. I can't even remember how many clinics, hospitals, and physicians I called! It was ridiculous

I eventually had a lot of luck contacting one of the professional societies for my state/city. One person from their HR department got back to me and was able to set up opportunities with 3 different doctors. So if you're really interested in finding shadowing, you might try that approach instead of endless cold-calling.

Good luck!

 

[Stumpyman]

Out of curiosity, would shadowing a chiropractor and a podiatrist count on your application the same as shadowing a physician?

 

[tkim]

Out of curiosity, would shadowing a chiropractor and a podiatrist count on your application the same as shadowing a physician?

only if you are applying to chiropractic or podiatry school.

 

[deleted307836]

Have you tried calling other departments in your hospital? I would think as a nurse this wouldn't be a problem at all, wow 😱.

 

[Gigantron]

This website could help you: http://cf.osteopathic.org/iLearn/home.cfm

 

[StudyShy]

Have you tried calling other departments in your hospital? I would think as a nurse this wouldn't be a problem at all, wow 😱.

Yes. That's why this has become "ridonculous." Sadly OB has given me the worst problems, and that is what I want to go into. It seems like a lot of physicians are on vacation right now, too. Like one OB will be out of the country for the next three weeks and another one is out of town until sometime next week.

I always explain that I work at the hospital and that I have had HIPPA training. Then, a minute later I get asked if I have had HIPPA training. lol I tell them again that I work here and that I have the same HIPPA training that they have. I can shadow in the ER without any problems, but it would kind of be like just another day at work. The hospitalists have been busy lately so I'm not sure how receptive they would be...and they might try to put pepper in my drink; they are sneaky little Indian devils. People don't seem to understand the whole shadowing thing around here, either, which makes seems a little frustrating.

 

[generator]

We share the same dictation room so I know when they fart, when they are having an argument with their SO, and when they go to the bathroom.

this cracked me up.

anyway, it sounds like you already have tons of experience w/ physicians - so i wouldn't stress.

 

[giraffe17]

if you feel comfortable asking your colleagues if they have any friends/know anyone that would be willing to take on someone for shadowing, this would probably be your best bet. large institutions often have protocols in place for shadowing, you just have to find a doctor willing to jump through the hoops for you. also do you work at an academic center? doctors at academic facilities are normally pretty receptive to shadowing requests, as they deal with students often. if it's primary care you're looking for, see if your hospital (or an academic hospital where your colleague knows someone) has a primary care clinic. most do. hope this helps!