Shadowing and clinical experience

[SoBad]

Just a couple of questions here, if there's another thread with the answers feel free to point me to it .

Does shadowing count as clinical experience? Do the doctors allow you to help them in their duties or would that require an internship/job position?

Also, is there a resource available to know if any clinics around the local area are understaffed and would appreciate volunteer work? Thanks for your time guys!

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[orthomyxo]

Just a couple of questions here, if there's another thread with the answers feel free to point me to it .

Does shadowing count as clinical experience? Do the doctors allow you to help them in their duties or would that require an internship/job position?

Also, is there a resource available to know if any clinics around the local area are understaffed and would appreciate volunteer work? Thanks for your time guys!

No, expect to be a fly on the wall.

Yes, it's called a telephone.

 

[unhappytnt]

Also, is there a resource available to know if any clinics around the local area are understaffed and would appreciate volunteer work? Thanks for your time guys!

Don't know about clinics, but most hospitals have a volunteer page where they have application info etc.

 

[apumic]

Just a couple of questions here, if there's another thread with the answers feel free to point me to it .

Does shadowing count as clinical experience?
NO

Do the doctors allow you to help them in their duties or would that require an internship/job position?
No... not generally, although it depends. When I shadowed my own Medical Director, she had me read & summarize charts for her before seeing Pts or making certain clinical decisions. Of course, I work on that floor, so she can hopefully trust my clinical judgment in picking out what she needs to know. I've also had docs with whom I have a good personal relationship let me assist in certain ways (e.g., assisting with a procedure or writing lab orders for them, which they then signed); however, this is definitely not the norm and happened due to having professional clinical experience in a medical setting already.

Also, is there a resource available to know if any clinics around the local area are understaffed and would appreciate volunteer work?
Yes, it's called the Internet. Another option is your pre-health club or program.

Thanks for your time guys!

1 character.

 

[SoBad]

That cleared up a lot of things, thanks for the info, time to go ask around . Also another tiny question, is it considered better etiquette to email the doctor when first contacting them or by telephone?

 

[drghost]

Honestly I would just call. The doctors I shadowed and my own personal doctor are too busy/not interested (you decide) to write out an email response to something like that.

 

[KTownGT]

I got to dispose of a few amputated limbs while watching a surgeon this summer.

I can only hope that counts as clinical experience.

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

No, expect to be a fly on the wall.

Yes, it's called a telephone.

Win.

 

[orthomyxo]

I got to dispose of a few amputated limbs while watching a surgeon this summer.

I can only hope that counts as clinical experience.

I'm callin' BS.

 

[CoolWhipp]

I'm callin' BS.

You risk too much, Chops369, your e-reputation is on the line!

 

[frescoengano]

shadowing is kinda / kinda not clinical experience. you're there, but you don't do anything...just "shadow". it was boring at times...but then again i wasn't shadowing dr. house

 

[Mithril]

I wish I were American so I could shadow, but shadowing is banned where I live.

 

[orthomyxo]

You risk too much, Chops369, your e-reputation is on the line!

That's a risk I'm willing to take, for the decisions I type are the decisions I make!

Dr. Seuss, IS THAT YOU?!?!!

 

[KTownGT]

I'm callin' BS.

BS as in, "Bro that's Sweet!" right?

It may have consisted of me donning gloves, getting a body part handed to me by a scrub tech, than carrying it 10 feet across the room.



Guess no one will know for sure though.