Shadowing an RN

[GrayArea]

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So a family friend of mine is a very well respected cardio nurse. She has invited me to shadow her doing procedures. The physician she works under is very busy and he therefore does not have much time to share. So in order for me to get more exposure to cardio cases, most of the shadowing would be with the nurse.

Is that a disadvantage? Do we specifically need to shadow a physician for apps?

By the way, I also have shadowing hours completed with a neurologists.

 

[libertyyne]

are you planing on applying to nursing school?

 

[GrayArea]

No I am not planning on attending to nursing school. But it would be great exposure to cardiology.

Maybe I was not clear. I will not solely be shadowing the RN, I will also interact and be with the physician at times. However, if the physician is too busy to have me shadow frequently, I can shadow his RN instead.

 

[GrayArea]

Should I only shadow the cardiologist, even if it means less shadowing time? Or should I shadow the cardiologist when I can and the RN the remainder of the time.

When applying, do you have to specify that you shadowed an physician/RN, or just how many hours?

 

[Trephinator]

I think shadowing the RN would be good for two simple reasons: you can get interesting clinical exposure, and in being familiar with what an RN does, you have valid experience you can draw from when asked in the future, why medical school? Why not nursing, PA, etc? Most of my clinical experience outside of shadowing is in nursing, and I am very confident that I do not want to make a career of nursing in any fashion. However, clinical exposure is clinical exposure.
Edit: nurses are an integral part of the healthcare team, and as a physician, you'll be working directly with nurses to care for your patients your entire career. I don't know why learning what a nurse does is considered irrelevant to a future physician by some. It does not indicate that you'd rather be a nurse... My two cents. Good luck!

 

[Goro]

This can't get any simpler: if you want to know what a doctor's day is like (and med schools want to know IF you know this), then shadow a doctor.

If you want to know what a cardio nurse's day is like, then shadow a cardio nurse.

So yes, you'll get flack for this.

So a family friend of mine is a very well respected cardio nurse. She has invited me to shadow her doing procedures. The physician she works under is very busy and he therefore does not have much time to share. So in order for me to get more exposure to cardio cases, most of the shadowing would be with the nurse.

Is that a disadvantage? Do we specifically need to shadow a physician for apps?

By the way, I also have shadowing hours completed with a neurologists.

 

[GrayArea]

I think shadowing the RN would be good for two simple reasons: you can get interesting clinical exposure, and in being familiar with what an RN does, you have valid experience you can draw from when asked in the future, why medical school? Why not nursing, PA, etc? Most of my clinical experience outside of shadowing is in nursing, and I am very confident that I do not want to make a career of nursing in any fashion. However, clinical exposure is clinical exposure.

Thank you! That was my thought process as well. I have already spent some time with the RN, and while it is great what they do, I still find myself wanting to pursue a career is the physician. However, I also realize how important RN's are to a patient's care and why it is significant for an RN and the physician to have a solid professional relationship.

I simply wanted to get other people's perspective on the matter.

 

[libertyyne]

I just don't see the benefit. I get that you want to become a cardiologist. You have already shadowed a physician, if it is adequate exposure, move on and do something more productive,like volunteering or research or work in a clinical setting or even studying for the mcat. Just my opinion.

 

[Trephinator]

This can't get any simpler: if you want to know what a doctor's day is like (and med schools want to know IF you know this), then shadow a doctor.

If you want to know what a cardio nurse's day is like, then shadow a cardio nurse.

So yes, you'll get flack for this.

To add to what Goro said, I'd say make sure at least most of your shadowing hours are shadowing a physician.

 

[GrayArea]

I just don't see the benefit. I get that you want to become a cardiologist. You have already shadowed a physician, if it is adequate exposure, move on and do something more productive,like volunteering or research or work in a clinical setting or even studying for the mcat. Just my opinion.

I have shadowed a neurologist, not cardiologist. And I thought it was important to get exposure in more than one specialty, which is why I pursued shadowing a cardio clinic - which would mean shadowing the RN when the physician does not have time or for whatever reasons.

 

[Trephinator]

I think there may be some simplification and bias going on here. I have never had my interest in becoming a physician called into question because of my thousands of hours employed as a CNA, doing research solely with PhDs, or shadowing other professions, including an early interest in law and politics which played an important part in leading me toward medicine. I'd take all this advice, including mine, with a grain of salt and do what you can to be a well-rounded and competitive applicant, whether you think that means shadowing other professions or not.

 

[libertyyne]

I have shadowed a neurologist, not cardiologist. And I thought it was important to get exposure in more than one specialty, which is why I pursued shadowing a cardio clinic - which would mean shadowing the RN when the physician does not have time or for whatever reasons.

I understood what you meant and your motivation. I will repeat myself : If you have adequate shadowing move on. A single point on your mcat is probably worth more than down low shadowing a cardiologist by shadowing a nurse.if I was on the other side of the table I would have fun with this.

 

[GrayArea]

I understood what you meant and your motivation. I will repeat myself : If you have adequate shadowing move on. A single point on your mcat is probably worth more than down low shadowing a cardiologist by shadowing a nurse.if I was on the other side of the table I would have fun with this.

Ok, so that leads me to my other concern. Is shadowing one speciality enough?

I already know I want to pursue a career in medicine. But part of me feels like ADCOMS want to see people shadowing different types of doctors. I would definitely rather be spending my time getting ready for the MCAT, working on my personal statements, interview skills, etc.

 

[libertyyne]

Ok, so that leads me to my other concern. Is shadowing one speciality enough?

I already know I want to pursue a career in medicine. But part of me feels like ADCOMS want to see people shadowing different types of doctors. I would definitely rather be spending my time getting ready for the MCAT, working on my personal statements, interview skills, etc.

I will go out on a limb and say no adcom has ever said that. In fact they would probably be happier if you shadowed a family practice doc.
Just make sure you have adequate patient exposure. Even volunteering would be a better option for that.

 

[GrayArea]

I will go out on a limb and say no adcom has ever said that. In fact they would probably be happier if you shadowed a family practice doc.
Just make sure you have adequate patient exposure. Even volunteering would be a better option for that.

Yes, I have plenty of patient exposure. I volunteer as well - clinically and non-clinically.

Is shadowing a family practice doc advantageous for applying to medical schools? See this is why myself and pretty sure many others get confused and have concerns. It seems like there are implied "rules" of things you must do to be competitive. Why would they be happier if you shadowed a family doc? Regardless, once your in med school, you are going to get the sense of the specialty you belong in. So why do you have to explore that as a pre-med? I would think that shadowing ANY physician and getting clinical exposure should be what matters as a pre-med and less of how you got that exposure. As long as you can speak to what makes you want to pursue medicine as a physician.

I do not mind shadowing a family doc, I can find one and do that for a few months at this point. But I am very happy shadowing the physician I am currently with and would rather spend more time with him rather than look for another physician to shadow.

 

[GrayArea]

Applying to medical school can be so confusing lol.

 

[libertyyne]

Yes, I have plenty of patient exposure. I volunteer as well - clinically and non-clinically.

Is shadowing a family practice doc advantageous for applying to medical schools? See this is why myself and pretty sure many others get confused and have concerns. It seems like there are implied "rules" of things you must do to be competitive. 1.Why would they be happier if you shadowed a family doc? Regardless, once your in med school, you are going to get the sense of the specialty you belong in. So why do you have to explore that as a pre-med? 2.I would think that shadowing ANY physician and getting clinical exposure should be what matters as a pre-med and less of how you got that exposure. As long as you can speak to what makes you want to pursue medicine as a physician.

I do not mind shadowing a family doc, I can find one and do that for a few months at this point. But I am very happy shadowing the physician I am currently with and would rather spend more time with him rather than look for another physician to shadow.

1. Have you read anything about the state of healthcare in this country? What type of physicians does the country need?Hint: There are many schools with the sole mission of creating these physicians.
2. Number two is an about face from the question you asked at the begining of this thread.
3. Prep for the mcat and polish your app.

Critically think of what would be more impressive to an ADCOM how your app would be meaningful and make an impact if accepted as a physician for the health of the community/state/Nation.

 

[Goro]

You thought wrong. It's NOT the specific specialty, but how the doctors in each specialty approach the practice of Medicine.

I have shadowed a neurologist, not cardiologist. And I thought it was important to get exposure in more than one specialty, which is why I pursued shadowing a cardio clinic - which would mean shadowing the RN when the physician does not have time or for whatever reasons.

 

[Ismet]

I don't think you'd get any flack for this, so long as you have other shadowing/clinical experiences where you're with physicians.

Nurses are a vital part of the healthcare team. I think it's beneficial for doctors to understand and appreciate what they do. I wouldn't fault someone for shadowing a podiatrist or a dentist or a nurse if they're just trying to figure out where they fit in the healthcare world. But if you decide you want to pursue medicine, you need to demonstrate that by showing that you know what you're getting into, and would be expected to have the majority of your experiences with physicians.

Basically, if you have limited time to shadow and this would be your only other shadowing experience other than the neurologist, this would not be my pick. If you have time to shadow and see other fields, maybe shadow a primary care doc or something, then a few hours shadowing a cardiology nurse and cardiologist shouldn't hurt. It sounds like you're also studying for the MCAT and nearing application time, so perhaps you should focus your shadowing towards physicians. Just wanted to clarify that shadowing a non-physician would not necessarily be a detriment to your application.

 

[GrayArea]

I don't think you'd get any flack for this, so long as you have other shadowing/clinical experiences where you're with physicians.

Nurses are a vital part of the healthcare team. I think it's beneficial for doctors to understand and appreciate what they do. I wouldn't fault someone for shadowing a podiatrist or a dentist or a nurse if they're just trying to figure out where they fit in the healthcare world. But if you decide you want to pursue medicine, you need to demonstrate that by showing that you know what you're getting into, and would be expected to have the majority of your experiences with physicians.

Basically, if you have limited time to shadow and this would be your only other shadowing experience other than the neurologist, this would not be my pick. If you have time to shadow and see other fields, maybe shadow a primary care doc or something, then a few hours shadowing a cardiology nurse and cardiologist shouldn't hurt. It sounds like you're also studying for the MCAT and nearing application time, so perhaps you should focus your shadowing towards physicians. Just wanted to clarify that shadowing a non-physician would not necessarily be a detriment to your application.

Thank you for that insight! I completely understand, and it does make sense to get exposure to the type of work a PCP does before I get exposure to what a cardiologists does. Honestly, I have had trouble finding physicians that would allow me to shadow. The neurologists I met through my job, which is also patient oriented, and jumped on board because my undergrad degree was neuro related. The cardio I got involved with because the RN was a family friend. If I find a PCP to shadow, do you think 30 hours would suffice on top of the approximately 150 hours shadowing the other fields? And I understand why it is important to see what PCP's do. That is essentially where the patient's healthcare begins.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I'm still trying to figure out what procedures a cardio nurse would be doing... putting in foleys doesn't really count

Edit: don't put shadowing other fields on your medical school app.

 

[Mclovin0351]

I've had 6 interviews with 150 hours shadowing and what sounds like far less clinical exposure than you have. Granted I'm a little unique as an applicant but I would vote to crush the MCAT, write awesome essays, and make sure your app is ready to go day 1.

 

[huskies403]

Shadow the nurse!! I shadowed a PA, was asked about it in interviews. It was a great way to support why not PA versus MD

 

[ChrisMack390]

I shadowed MDs, NPs, PAs, RNs, etc.

They are all caring for patients. They all allow you to meet some patients. They all allow you to see how a member of a team interacts with a physician (and how the physician interacts with them).