RNs: Physician shadowing?

[singernursepremed]

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How did you all go about the physician shadowing? I've shadowed multiple physicians for a day here, a day there throughout the past few years, worked as a scribe with a physician who let me shadow, and of course worked very closely with the same physicians every day (psych unit - we have the same doctors here all day, every day, and their office is the nurses' station). I've never shadowed a physician with the absolute intention of medical school, however, and shadow days set up by work aren't exactly 'get close enough to put down their information' relationships. Did you all shadow physicians outpatient, shadow the same doctor for a long period of time, or count doctors you work with closely as a shadow experience if they'd allow it? All of the physicians I work with say I'm curious enough and asked enough questions that they're happy to say I shadowed them, even though I was working as a nurse throughout that. Just not sure how to proceed. I can always ask some folks if I can actively shadow them for a day or two, but don't want to hold up secondary applications if/when they start coming in. Thoughts? I have the sinking feeling I'm going to end up being a re-applicant next year, so I'll probably have time to put in a lot of shadowing hours over the next year with a select few physicians. Glad I went to nursing school so I have a decent salary to fall back on for now. Would love input on how you prepared to apply for medical school in case I need to try again next year. My stats are pretty good, strong ECs in school, etc - it's the ECs post-grad that are going to shoot me in the foot. Thank you for your help!

 

[KiddCo]

For me, I just called my local hospitals HR department and kindly asked if they could set me up shadowing. Im not even from this area or have any local connections. The HR lady set me up shadowing a radiologist, er doctor, general surgeon, and a PA. Been doing this for the last two weeks.

Would definitely recommend direct shadowing as opposed to just asking questions while working. I don't think that would yield the same experience.

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[singernursepremed]

Thanks! I've done direct shadowing through work a few times, but it was a day here, a day there - around my work schedule and during school with whoever happened to be available. It was before I had decided to go to med school, I just like to learn. I also shadowed techs, counselors, consults, etc. out of curiosity. I have one I kept contact with, but I think I'll have to call HR with my new employer and shadow some more with the intention of medical school in my mind. Plus, my new employer is in the rural setting that I'd like to practice in, whereas the hospital I shadowed at before was in a slightly larger area. I'm curious how they differ. I'll try to get 50 - 100 hours with one physician. I'm really interested in ER, Psychiatry, and Neurology. I'm a psychiatric nurse now and see a lot of neuro, so I'm going to ask if they have an ER physician who may be willing to let me shadow for a few days to get some more exposure to that field, and a neurologist as a back up. If I have time I'd love to be able to shadow an oncologist and pain specialist too - all things that we see playing a huge part in psych (my area of passion!)

 

[sunshinefl]

I was/am an RN. As it seems you’ve realized, you still need intentional shadowing outside of interacting with physicians through your nursing work. I personally got shadowing hours for a day with a few different specialties, and then one formal weekly gig for a semester as part of an undergrad showing course.