vicinihil said:
I was wondering how shadowing a physician worked. If I follow them for a day, once a week, few times a month etc etc so they don't get annoyed or pestered by my presence. Also what do you expect to get out of shadowing or learn??? Input is much appreciate. 😕
I've shadowed a trauma doc in a larger city and a family practice doc in a small rural town. They were both very interested in teaching the entire time. The trauma doc will ask biochem questions and even some medical stuff. He would let me help turn patients and watch procedures, follow on rounds, watch surgeries, more rounds, quiz residents (that's a fun one!!
and students
😱 !!). The family practice doc did the same. Saw a C-section birth in the early am, diagnostic stuff for a cardiac patient, geriatric patients, alzheimers, u name it.
My advice is to ask. Tell them u feel as though you want to do too much and burden them too much and they will tell you when to come, when not to and what is appropriate. Be yourself, relax and enjoy the no pressure situation of medicine @ its finest. If the patients ask who you are, the doc usually says, oh, he's a student and is here to observe. But, sometimes, sometimes, they allow you to slip in and listen for breath sounds, pulse in the feet, etc. No major stuff, but a beginning. Have fun! It was a great experience and a lot less stressful than i had it being in my little mind
