shadowing help

[avpu]

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I just wanted to share my experience thus far with shadowing various specialties. So far my impression is that most doctors are more than willing to help you out as long as they know that you are sincere. I just got done shadowing an orthopedic surgon in the OR, I have 35+ hrs with the same doctor and it has been an amazing experience. I have also shadowed doctors in the ED, internal medicine and Radiology. All have been great, I know that there is a lot of threads out there that have a real negative feel to them. What I suggest is to talk to them face to face, be sincere and be willing to work your schdule around theirs, after that good luck.

 

[NJ BK]

How did you choose who to shadow? Did you choose them randomly or did you know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone...etc?

 

[avpu]

I talked to the nurses and PA's that worked with said named specialty, they would usually tell me the doctors that would be the most receptive to taking me under their wing. As anyone that has been around the medical field for a while you know that the nurses will make you or break you, be nice to them and the will return the favor(most of the time.. the scrub nurses really didnt like the fact that the doctor wanted to take time out during the procedure to explain the details of what was going on..and getting closer to the sterile field).


I would find out a hospital that has been receptive to shadowing in the past or talk to a doctor that you have a semi decent relationship with and ask them if they have any connections in the field that you wish to shadow in. Be sincere, tell them why you want to shadow in X specialty and be very thankful for all that they do for you.

I think that being a nontrad has a more positive influence on them accepting you to shadow them, you have the age and life experience working for you along.

For me I found a great Orthopedic surgeon to follow and his resident took me under his wing and was "kind enough" to show me what I would have to look forward to in my residency(I spent upwards of 14 hours at the hospital that day with surgery and then rounding on patients.)
I hope that this helped a little bit and if you have more questions I would be happy to help.