Scribe Role Call

[kitsunebito]

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So I've trolled through these forums for quite some time and am curious as to how many of us are ER scribes. I know there are numerous different companies but I'd like to kind of take a roll call and get a discussion going on everyone's different experiences.

So just to open this up:

Started scribing in January 2012, promoted to trainer in March. Been here just about 1 year now, I get very bored from time to time, but learn consistently. Getting a few letters from the doctors that I've worked with a good bit.
I myself am skeptical of the increased productivity our services provide, and think ED efficiency is largely dependent on the infrastructure of the supporting hospital.

So let's hear you guys' thoughts!

 

[DolFAN]

I've been working as a scribe now for about a year and change. It's been a pretty fun and nifty experience. The job got me really good letters of rec.

As I write this I'm sitting at the hospital working an overnight. It's nice not having any patients in the ED.

 

[kitsunebito]

I'm doing the exact same thing. Thus me being bored enough to make this thread lol. I see in your sig your accepted somewhere. You use scribing as a talking point in interviews?

 

[GomerPyle]

Any tips on getting the job? I just sent in my resume to this company, and havent heard back yet...

 

[sunflower18]

I've been hired to work as a scribe, but my start date has been deferred until after my sophomore year -- they don't like their scribes to work while they are taking organic chemistry. I'd really like to start scribing next year, my junior year, but I am planning on studying for the MCAT second semester. Anyone have successful experience with scribing 18-24 hours a week, full time classes (physics and biochemistry included), and MCAT study at the same time? Seems like a recipe for disaster, but I don't know if it's worth it.

 

[DolFAN]

At the time I was prepping for my MCAT I was doing research and taking my senior lab while working around 25 hours a week. You just have to be good with time management and make social sacrifices. Lots of late nights and boring weekends but totally doable.

 

[DolFAN]

I'm doing the exact same thing. Thus me being bored enough to make this thread lol. I see in your sig your accepted somewhere. You use scribing as a talking point in interviews?

Definitely, it helps quite a bit during interviews because you see what ER medicine is actually like. Most people that come to SDN or think of medicine in general have a romanticized view of it. We've seen its ugly underbelly, the politics and the fighting.

Working as a scribe also basically gave me my personal statement. It helps a lot.

 

[GomerPyle]

I already graduated from college...do they only take students?

Also, are you required to work weekends?

 

[DolFAN]

I already graduated from college...do they only take students?

Also, are you required to work weekends?

I also graduated from college and continue to work as a scribe.

You are required to work weekends, overnights, holidays (I'm working Christmas day shift, 10 hours of pain) and any other shift you can possibly think of. Overnights can be rough =/

 

[Cambino]

I'm an ER scribe and have been for a little over than a year. Great experience.

 

[kitsunebito]

Yea I agree the exposure is great, and definitely eliminates the illusions of grandeur that is Emergency Medicine.

I worked 4 overnights a week scribing, full course load including OChem, and mixing in shadowing other EC's. Plan next semester is full work schedule, full course load, full MCAT plan (Test in april), defnitely doable just need to keep track of time as you wind up losing a bunch of hours.

I've trained plenty of scribes that have graduated already. Decent pay for an undergrad job, good resume builder, and usually room for advancement depending on the company you're working for.

 

[solitarius]

I considered doing it, but dropped the idea after hearing about my classmates' experience.

It's a high-stress, low-paying job. Because it's a job, it provides less flexibility to work around your classwork. Classwork and MCAT was my top priority, and where I'm at, the scribe job wanted us to be committed to our schedules and be flexible enough to pick up shifts.

Then it's a 18 - 35 hour commitment depending on whether you sign up for PT or FT. That's just for one activity. With twenty hours, you can do a host of other pre-med volunteer ECs that provide greater flexibility to work around your classwork/MCAT prep.

Of course, it pays money. But around here, they start you at minimum wage, so....

I didn't think the opportunity cost of scribing was worth it for me. Still, it's a decent gig to work as an unlicensed medical "professional."

In my area, they generally target people who have already completed o-chem with a decent grade. So they're shooting for people who are juniors/seniors/post-grad/post-bac who have a couple of years to give before matriculating in med school.

 

[yaytiffanyrae]

i was a scribe in college as well and absolutely LOVED it. i'm going to disagree with the poster above me, but it's probably company specific. since basically all of the scribes were pre-med students, i found that everyone was understanding/helpful when it came to scheduling around school and MCAT prep. i think i was making $10-11/hr, which i considered a win, since most uncertified medical exposure is volunteer work and i didn't expect to make more than that doing anything else at that point anyway. it was the most realistic and informative medical exposure i have under my belt, and the doctors we worked for were awesome. i would go back in a heartbeat and am obviously always promoting it to others looking for the experience 🙂

 

[lovemango]

Started working as a scribe in July 2011 after graduating from college in May, will quit in January 2013 since I've been accepted to med school and I want to go travel now. It's been a pretty awesome experience that gave me lots of talking points in interviews; one of my interviewers even told me he prefers applicants with scribe or EMT experience.

 

[kitsunebito]

Yea I think the details of the job of scribing such as pay and schedule are very company specific.

Personally our only requirement is that you work a minimum 2 shifts that week, whether it be overnight weekends mornings what have you as long as you make those 2 you're golden.

I've done a solid amount of networking, with both residents and attendings, and really can not stress how invaluable the exposure and patient interaction is.

 

[scrub2scrubs]

I've been a scribe for about 7 months now. I am really enjoying the job and I am learning incredible amounts about patient care and the thought process a doctor goes through when seeing a patient. Sometimes I feel that I could see a patient and ask them the right questions just because I have seen so many of the same complaints.
That being said, it has been a little rough with school at the same time. Going to a 9 AM after a 10-7AM shift isn't the best feeling in the world 🙂
The doctors that you work with really end up becoming your friend and you get to know them on a very personal basis.
I agree with the posters above, it is very company specific. There are freshmen that are my co-workers, so my company really doesn't look for any specific grade level.
Overall, it's a great experience and I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

 

[Stumpyman]

I worked as a scribe for about a year. Echoing everyone else, it's a great experience. Completely changed my views on medicine, being a doctor, etc (changed in a good way, that is). Broke my heart when I had to quit (due to transferring).