Shadowing vs Volunteering

[deleted421268]

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Is there more value placed on volunteering or shadowing? I’m having a hard time finding an in-patient hospital PT to shadow for long period of time but can find in-patient hospital PT department volunteering opportunities.

 

[SATXDPT]

Some organizations are going to process you as a volunteer in order to let you on site. The question isn't so much what they label you, but rather whether the PT is going to sign off on your observation hours.

 

[Louisiana2018]

Shadowing and volunteering are essentially the same thing, at least for when I got hours. I usually went through the volunteer department who set me up to shadow a therapist. If you have the time, maybe see about getting a part-time tech job. You will be able to be on site for a longer time and be able to do stuff. When I shadowed, I would just watch all day, but as a tech (acute), I was able to join in and actually help with treatments. I learned so much.

 

[deleted421268]

Some organizations are going to process you as a volunteer in order to let you on site. The question isn't so much what they label you, but rather whether the PT is going to sign off on your observation hours.

Ya the place that would let me in as a volunteer would just let me in as a volunteer and not to shadow. They only allow 6 hours of Shadowing but unlimited volunteering. As a volunteer I would just be escorting so I’m not sure If it’s worth my time.

 

[ya1]

Shadowing or volunteering does not matter as long as they will be able to verify your shadowing/volunteering as observation hours. Ask the clinic if they are able to do that before you start spending your time there. And keep track of your hours.
Most places will not let you do anything with patients as a volunteer or "shadower" since it's illegal to touch patients if you are not trained/have a license. So escorting and just sitting there staring at people are normal during observation hours.

 

[deleted421268]

Shadowing or volunteering does not matter as long as they will be able to verify your shadowing/volunteering as observation hours. Ask the clinic if they are able to do that before you start spending your time there. And keep track of your hours.
Most places will not let you do anything with patients as a volunteer or "shadower" since it's illegal to touch patients if you are not trained/have a license. So escorting and just sitting there staring at people are normal during observation hours.

Ya but I’m shadowing you can ask the PT questions but as a volunteer it’s harder to do that and I don’t think volunteers do that.

 

[ya1]

Why is it harder? Do you have limited interaction with PTs?
Anyway, observations are observations and you ARE observing while volunteering. As long as a PT verifies your hours, it does not matter if you can ask them questions or not. If you do not interact with PTs much, they would not be a good person to write a recommendation letter. But they still can verify your observation hours and you will get letters of recommendation from other PTs who you will have a chance to interact more.