Shadowing in ER as volunteer?

[hockey833]

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I volunteered in this ER 3 years ago in high school when I was curious about the healthcare field. It was really cool but I didn't ever put myself out there to talk to the nurses or Docs because I was timid and not sure what I wanted to do in healthcare. So I ended up following around the CNA's and doing volunteer work which was still rewarding. Plus they probably didn't take me seriously since I was just a high schooler.

Now I am going to be a junior in college (president of pre-med club, senator on campus, doing research, 3.6 GPA student)

I am extremely interested in the fast paced, changing environment of the ER.
I am volunteering again this summer(3 years later) and will be expected to do the same volunteer work such as restocking and helping patients but I really want to get a shadowing experience out of this.

My only worry is that the nurses and doctors always seemed too busy and didn't want to be bothered when I volunteered there previously. I am unsure how to approach the doctor and what exactly to say when I first meet him. I don't want to explicitly request to shadow him or be that kid always bothering him, but, don't want him to forget about me after only introducing myself once and waste this really cool experience. Should I just talk to the nurses a lot and hope he joins in and starts to notice my passion and interest in medicine? Or stay out of the way and don't say a word unless someone talks to me? I figure I need to be talkative because last time I barely talked and I felt unwelcome so it ended up hurting my experience slightly. I just don't want to be that pre-med gunner who is annoying.

 

[Alucard6]

When it comes down to medicine, you really have to go out of your way to get what you want. Just like finding a research position, you really do have to go around and ask people repeatedly because it is not easy otherwise.

I would just do the same thing here. Go up to the doctor and let him know you are very interested in medicine. You are different then who you were 3 years ago, because of your stronger passion for medicine and you want to take the opportunity exactly for the reasons you said (in regards to being in the ER). Let him know you can do it a few times a week, and the other days you will do the volunteering stuff you did, perhaps when he is very busy.

Worst thing he says is no. It is not like he will kick you out and never ask you to come back again. All of these doctors were in your exact footsteps, so I am sure they will understand your desire and how difficult it can be to do shadowing. Just be very polite with him and ask him what he thinks. You want to avoid beating around the bush and asking the nurses because you do not know what will happen. Instead, ask the nurses what the possibility of you shadowing the doctor would be like, or if there are any other doctors you could shadow in the hospital.

 

[baxt1412]

You're thinking of yourself as lower than the doctor. Stop that. While it is true in some senses, not in a personal relationship. Tell him that you are applying to medical school and would really appreciate being able to shadow him a bit more while in your volunteer experience IF YOU HAVE DOWN TIME. Because you are primarily there to volunteer for the clinic, not for shadowing. Don't try to double dip and ignore your volunteer commitment.

 

[styphon]

You're thinking of yourself as lower than the doctor. Stop that. While it is true in some senses, not in a personal relationship. Tell him that you are applying to medical school and would really appreciate being able to shadow him a bit more while in your volunteer experience IF YOU HAVE DOWN TIME. Because you are primarily there to volunteer for the clinic, not for shadowing. Don't try to double dip and ignore your volunteer commitment.

I agree with this. There is a difference between volunteering at a hospital/clinic, and shadowing. You are volunteering with the purpose above: doing CNA duties, filing papers, help giving out trays, etc and opposed to shadowing - where your purpose is to "act like a shadow" to the physician.

Why not ask the physicians if you could shadow? Or even ask the volunteer dept, or ER staff - "does any specific physician often have pre-meds shadow?"

 

[Radon XP]

I found two shadowing opportunities as a hospital volunteer. Both times, it came down to meeting the physicians and being polite. If they are in the middle of something, then obviously don't ask them at that time, but if you get lucky they will talk to you and you might get the opportunity to ask.

I was a volunteer in the cancer department and was invited to the staff lunch, and that's where I met one of the physicians I ended up shadowing.

As everyone above has said, you can try to find shadowing opportunities while volunteering but shadowing in itself is a separate activity, so don't try to do it while you're supposed to be volunteering.