Suggestions on how long of a session I should set for PT shadowing?

[NATO]

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I am going to start PT shadowing starting in August. The program that I want to get into requires at least 100 hours of shadowing.

When a program asks for a minimum set of hours, is it assumed that if you put in more hours, then your chances of getting in are better? PT wil be my 2nd career and I work full time, so I can't rack up 200+ hours like some applicants are able to because I simply do not have that free time.

Also, how long of a session do you suggestion I do? Two hours per session? 3? 4? A full 8 hours? Do PT shadowing sessions go by fast or do they just drag out?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[stephilosphy]

I am going to start PT shadowing starting in August. The program that I want to get into requires at least 100 hours of shadowing.

When a program asks for a minimum set of hours, is it assumed that if you put in more hours, then your chances of getting in are better? PT wil be my 2nd career and I work full time, so I can't rack up 200+ hours like some applicants are able to because I simply do not have that free time.

Also, how long of a session do you suggestion I do? Two hours per session? 3? 4? A full 8 hours? Do PT shadowing sessions go by fast or do they just drag out?

Thanks for your advice!

I work 4 hrs/week....

from 8:00~12:00am

 

[johncronejr]

My school of choice requires 45 hours and they said it is a "cut off point". Getting more hours won't help my chances of getting in. I am not certain how it is at other schools.

The observation hours I have done went by very slowly. It was interesting to get to ask questions, but when you are not allowed to actually do anything but watch, the time just goes by slowly. I do my hours in sets of approximately 4 hours.

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

It's the cumulative hours they care about, not the individual sessions (they don't ask how long you stayed there...they just want to know how many total hours you have at each place). I did an 8 hour shift for inpatient for one day, whereas I did 15 hours at an outpatient neuro clinic for 3 hours for 5 days. It depends on what your schedule is like, and what the school requires. The only reason I did 8 hours of inpatient is because I thought it would give me a little more variety...I had like 1000 hours from paid aide work, and then 2 other 15 hour experiences (as required by UIC), but wanted some inpatient. For me the hospital I shadowed at was an hour commute, so I only wanted to go once and wanted to do a full 8 hour day...going there for 2 hours for 4 days would have been annoying and not worth it.

Check to see what the schools you're interested in require...UIC wants 45 hours (15 at 3 different places)...other schools just want 20 hours of experience, and it can be all at one place. After a certain point observation hours are irrelevant (200 hours vs. 500 hours doesn't really make much of a difference, or at least I don't think so)...they just want to make sure you have some experience in the area so you're familiar with it.

And yes, most of it is extremely boring. I was a paid aide at an ortho clinic, so that counted and that was fun because I could do stuff. Shadowing at another ortho clinic was boring because I couldn't do anything (and I currently was working as an aide at the other place, so it was frustrating that I was capable of doing work but legally couldn't). Shadowing for 15 hours at a special needs elementary school was awesome, because I had previously worked with the PT I was shadowing, and since it wasn't a medical facility I had more I was allowed to do. I was actually able to play with the kids and help them do some of their exercises (which is basically holding their hands to go up and down stairs, or playing catch). Definitely observe in a school if you can. It's fun.

 

[dizzy88]

I usually did 4 hrs per week when I was shadowing/volunteering. The minimum total hrs I did at one site was probably 30.

From talking to different mentors who helped me in the process of getting into PT school, they say that the total numbers of hours you do isn't all that important (obviously do a little more than the minimum requirement). But, rather the knowledge you acquired and how varied your experience is.

When schools read your essays and interview you, they want to know that you've worked in the field and know what it's like. Not just outpatient orthopedic either...they want to know that you understand what neuro rehab is like, what a SNF demands, etc etc.

One of the PT's I shadowed didn't get in his first time applying even though he had competitive grades and 1500 hrs of work experience in an OP clinic. When he went back to the adviser to see how he could improve his application for next time, she told him to go get some more experience outside of OP clinics.

Not to be a downer, but after the first couple times...it will probably get pretty boring. You don't really do much, it's strictly observing. Hence why I didn't stay more than 4 hrs!

 

[jbizzle]

Yup I did 3 hours at a time, and it was just observing, but i really liked it. If you are asking if time went by slow....how interested are you in PT.

 

[NATO]

If you are asking if time went by slow....how interested are you in PT.

I'm very interested in PT; hence the reason I'm going to apply to PT school once I complete my prereqs and shadowing hours. However, if all I am allowed to do is sit/stand there for 4 hours and watch the PT work, then I will most likely get bored.

Thanks for your input everyone! I've decided to schedule my PT shadowing hours in 4-hour blocks.

 

[Lizarde]

I did anywhere from 2-5 hours at a time. It was often boring when you couldn't do much, but I still learned a lot. I had about 130hrs and 100 were required. The majority of my classmates had hundreds of hours through jobs and internships. I do think that may have helped them get in even though there is no way of actually knowing. I got a job as a PT Tech after being accepted to PT school (I start school next month!) and am definitely getting a better experience and learning a ton more as an employee than I ever did as a volunteer. If changing jobs is a possibility for you then finding work in a PT setting would kill two birds with one stone (although you still need to observe in a variety of settings).