Shadowing for the first time tomorrow

[Tipp]

Im shadowing an internist/infectious disease physician... Any tips? Questions I should ask or anything like that?

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[typicalindian]

Wear a dress shirt, tie, dress pants, dress shoes. Shave, comb your hair, and brush your teeth. Better to be well dressed than looking like a slob.

 

[Tipp]

Wear a dress shirt, tie, dress pants, dress shoes. Shave, comb your hair, and brush your teeth. Better to be well dressed than looking like a slob.

Good idea... i was wondering if i should wear scrubs cuz i work in transport at the hospital but ill just have to ask the dr. to make sure..

 

[BrightandClear]

Im shadowing an internist/infectious disease physician... Any tips? Questions I should ask or anything like that?

Eat a meal and drink some water beforehand. It's embarrassing if you pass out, hit your head, and end up as a patient yourself. Trust me ... 😳

 

[DinoSaysRawr]

Im shadowing an internist/infectious disease physician... Any tips? Questions I should ask or anything like that?

Dress nice.
Be polite.
Ask questions if you have any.
If you ever view a surgery, stand with your knees slightly bent.
Enjoy your time there 🙂

 

[LossForWords]

Take a small notebook/paper and a pen with you to write down any words or things you don't know, but might not want to ask about right away. (i.e., drugs that keep coming up, procedures they prescribe, etc.) Look them up and read about them when you go home so you'll know a little more each day.

The first few days of shadowing were just a blur since I didn't know most of what they were talking about. By answering the easier questions on my own I kept from being too annoying to the doc and was able to keep up with what was going on a little better.

 

[MrBananaGrabber]

If you're shadowing a surgeon in the OR, don't be afraid to talk to the anesthesiologist. In my experience, they enjoy having someone to talk to.

 

[Tipp]

Good advice everyone, thanks alot.

 

[Morsetlis]

Don't give medical advice to patients who ask for it.

I did... 🙁

 

[alexandertg6]

Im shadowing an internist/infectious disease physician... Any tips? Questions I should ask or anything like that?

do not breathe and/or lick anything or anyone no matter how much you want to. Expect ebolas.

 

[Doctor246853]

Eat a meal and drink some water beforehand. It's embarrassing if you pass out, hit your head, and end up as a patient yourself. Trust me ... 😳

This..Dam this is soo true...

 

[Doctor246853]

Dress nice.
Be polite.
Ask questions if you have any.
If you ever view a surgery, stand with your knees slightly bent.
Enjoy your time there 🙂

Never underestimate this statement. I dont care how minor the surgery is. (If you go in the OR)

 

[kpcrew]

Never underestimate this statement. I dont care how minor the surgery is. (If you go in the OR)

I don't understand, why do you need to bend your knees?

 

[PJ meowerton]

I don't understand, why do you need to bend your knees?

to avoid passing out, I think it increases blood flow

 

[PJ meowerton]

Don't dress too warmly, eat before. I kept some mints in my pocket in case I felt like passing out, the sugar helped a lot! But you have to sneak them in discreetly.

I felt like I was going to pass out A LOT. Not from seeing anything "gross" mostly from standing for so long and being nervous. If you are shadowing someone in a clinic you will likely stand the whole entire day, and if you are in the hospital you'll still be standing but you'll get to move around a little more. I mostly got nervous and hot from wearing too many layers, don't be afraid of dipping out of a room to go the restroom or get a drink from the water fountain if you need to. I did a few times, just snuck out quietly and waited outside until the doc was done and moved on to the next person.

And don't try to talk to the doc or the patient when you are with the patient, and I wouldn't stare the patient down either, its more awkward in a clinic since the rooms are more cramped.

 

[Doctor246853]

I don't understand, why do you need to bend your knees?

The chances of you passing out increases due to blood flow. When I worked in the OR, students would stiffen their legs to see better...bad idea. Most would pass out, especially if you have a gown and mask on. (The heat makes it worse) It happened to me and I was just in a patient room during a spinal tap. I seen this a thousand times and just remember waking up on the floor.🙁 Don't do that.

 

[Doctor246853]

Don't dress too warmly, eat before. I kept some mints in my pocket in case I felt like passing out, the sugar helped a lot! But you have to sneak them in discreetly.

I felt like I was going to pass out A LOT. Not from seeing anything "gross" mostly from standing for so long and being nervous. If you are shadowing someone in a clinic you will likely stand the whole entire day, and if you are in the hospital you'll still be standing but you'll get to move around a little more. I mostly got nervous and hot from wearing too many layers, don't be afraid of dipping out of a room to go the restroom or get a drink from the water fountain if you need to. I did a few times, just snuck out quietly and waited outside until the doc was done and moved on to the next person.

And don't try to talk to the doc or the patient when you are with the patient, and I wouldn't stare the patient down either, its more awkward in a clinic since the rooms are more cramped.

This.👍