Thoughts on my volunteering situation?

[Xcited392]

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Hello all,

I used to volunteer at a hospital as a patient discharge transporter (120 hrs). Basically, I wheelchaired all outgoing patients from their rooms to the front door, where they can be picked up and taken home. I understand that this is definitely a clinical experience.

Now, for the past two years I have been volunteering at a university hospital in my city. I deliver complementary flower arrangements to ALL new overnight patients in their rooms (for a big hospital, that's a lot). While others might not enjoy this, I actually do enjoy doing it. Anyway, for a while I was unsure if it qualified as a clinical experience. The only thing that would make it clinical is that I always have to be observant if the patient has a respiratory problem or just had a lung transplant; in those cases, I cannot deliver to them. Plus, I usually smell them in their rooms. Regardless if it is/isn't a clinical experience, I greatly valued my experience there and will reflect that on my application.

Today, my volunteer coordinator asked if I would be interested in switching over to another position where I would conduct patient interviews with about 30-40 new patients (interviews will be documented and officially submitted). I would go to their bedside and ask them questions in a conversational manner; I would be asking about how their stay is going, how the hospital doctors and nurses are treating them, how was the admissions process, questions/concerns, relay any requests to the nurses, and other customer-service type questions regarding their stay. By LizzyM's definition, this would also be a clinical experience since I will be at bedside and will smell them. Also, I've talked with a person currently doing this and they have told me that some patients usually end up talking about their medical procedure and health condition, even though volunteers cannot ask about such things (HIPAA). So, that might make it a clinical experience.

I'm just unsure if I want to switch positions. How am I doing with my clinical experience? Other useful bits of info: I have strong research experience (2+ yrs with no pubs, but a few posters and a student grant), heavily involved in music (I consider this my strongest asset, but I'm not going to go into detail), and have a decent amount of shadowing (spread over three specialties including family). I do not have non-clinical community service and I have been told that it is not a problem in my case (but correct me if I'm wrong). The only reason I want to switch is because I'm getting really bored with my current position. However, my top priority is taking care of aspects related to my application. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[235788]

Hello all,

I used to volunteer at a hospital as a patient discharge transporter (120 hrs). Basically, I wheelchaired all outgoing patients from their rooms to the front door, where they can be picked up and taken home. I understand that this is definitely a clinical experience.

Now, for the past two years I have been volunteering at a university hospital in my city. I deliver complementary flower arrangements to ALL new overnight patients in their rooms (for a big hospital, that's a lot). While others might not enjoy this, I actually do enjoy doing it. Anyway, for a while I was unsure if it qualified as a clinical experience. The only thing that would make it clinical is that I always have to be observant if the patient has a respiratory problem or just had a lung transplant; in those cases, I cannot deliver to them. Plus, I usually smell them in their rooms. Regardless if it is/isn't a clinical experience, I greatly valued my experience there and will reflect that on my application.

Today, my volunteer coordinator asked if I would be interested in switching over to another position where I would conduct patient interviews with about 30-40 new patients (interviews will be documented and officially submitted). I would go to their bedside and ask them questions in a conversational manner; I would be asking about how their stay is going, how the hospital doctors and nurses are treating them, how was the admissions process, questions/concerns, relay any requests to the nurses, and other customer-service type questions regarding their stay. By LizzyM's definition, this would also be a clinical experience since I will be at bedside and will smell them. Also, I've talked with a person currently doing this and they have told me that some patients usually end up talking about their medical procedure and health condition, even though volunteers cannot ask about such things (HIPAA). So, that might make it a clinical experience.

I'm just unsure if I want to switch positions. How am I doing with my clinical experience? Other useful bits of info: I have strong research experience (2+ yrs with no pubs, but a few posters and a student grant), heavily involved in music (I consider this my strongest asset, but I'm not going to go into detail), and have a decent amount of shadowing (spread over three specialties including family). I do not have non-clinical community service and I have been told that it is not a problem in my case (but correct me if I'm wrong). The only reason I want to switch is because I'm getting really bored with my current position. However, my top priority is taking care of aspects related to my application. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Keep in mind they would love to see non-clinical too!

Just write about it on your AMCAS. I'd cite the transporting as clinical, flowers at non-clinical, and the interviews as clinical. Your fine bud.

If you have too many activities you could even possibly combine all of them and make a super activity, which i'd cite as clinical.

 

[Xcited392]

Okay, thanks for your input.


Any other opinions?

 

[varsityblue]

LizzyM states that clinical experience counts as being close enough to smell patients. From the looks of it, you might be well served by taking advantage of the new opportunity presented to you.

 

[deleted346323]

I think the new opportunity might be a good one for you as it'll give you a lot of experience w/ patient interviewing/interaction and will look great in your application.

 

[sector9]

Go for the new one since it sounds like a nice change of pace. You've already been doing your current job for 2 years which is sufficient longevity. Plus, I doubt people are queuing up around the block waiting to deliver flowers, so you can return to your old job if you don't like the interviews!

 

[NCOldie]

Hello all,

I used to volunteer at a hospital as a patient discharge transporter (120 hrs). Basically, I wheelchaired all outgoing patients from their rooms to the front door, where they can be picked up and taken home. I understand that this is definitely a clinical experience.

Now, for the past two years I have been volunteering at a university hospital in my city. I deliver complementary flower arrangements to ALL new overnight patients in their rooms (for a big hospital, that's a lot). While others might not enjoy this, I actually do enjoy doing it. Anyway, for a while I was unsure if it qualified as a clinical experience. The only thing that would make it clinical is that I always have to be observant if the patient has a respiratory problem or just had a lung transplant; in those cases, I cannot deliver to them. Plus, I usually smell them in their rooms. Regardless if it is/isn't a clinical experience, I greatly valued my experience there and will reflect that on my application.

Today, my volunteer coordinator asked if I would be interested in switching over to another position where I would conduct patient interviews with about 30-40 new patients (interviews will be documented and officially submitted). I would go to their bedside and ask them questions in a conversational manner; I would be asking about how their stay is going, how the hospital doctors and nurses are treating them, how was the admissions process, questions/concerns, relay any requests to the nurses, and other customer-service type questions regarding their stay. By LizzyM's definition, this would also be a clinical experience since I will be at bedside and will smell them. Also, I've talked with a person currently doing this and they have told me that some patients usually end up talking about their medical procedure and health condition, even though volunteers cannot ask about such things (HIPAA). So, that might make it a clinical experience.

I'm just unsure if I want to switch positions. How am I doing with my clinical experience? Other useful bits of info: I have strong research experience (2+ yrs with no pubs, but a few posters and a student grant), heavily involved in music (I consider this my strongest asset, but I'm not going to go into detail), and have a decent amount of shadowing (spread over three specialties including family). I do not have non-clinical community service and I have been told that it is not a problem in my case (but correct me if I'm wrong). The only reason I want to switch is because I'm getting really bored with my current position. However, my top priority is taking care of aspects related to my application. Thoughts?

Thanks!

I think I laughed for about five minutes about that sentence. Maybe it's because I have been up for 36 hours straight...
Anyway, I agree with the above. This new experience is far more interesting than the other one. People would line up for the new experience, but not to deliver flowers. If you don't like the interviewing, switch back to delivering flowers.

 

[Xcited392]

Thanks you guys. I just notified her that I want to take that position.

However, now I'm a little concerned that my clinical experiences are a little weak than I'd want them to be.

I know it's what you get out of it that matters, but I'm worried about the hours and duration of it.

The 120 hrs of transporting was spread out over a year, and this new patient interview job will potentially give me about 60-80 hrs, but this will be spread from now until I submit my AMCAS in June. Obviously, the new gig won't be as long-term and linear as I'd like it to be, but is it really that bad? Any thoughts?

 

[sector9]

Thanks you guys. I just notified her that I want to take that position.

However, now I'm a little concerned that my clinical experiences are a little weak than I'd want them to be.

I know it's what you get out of it that matters, but I'm worried about the hours and duration of it.

The 120 hrs of transporting was spread out over a year, and this new patient interview job will potentially give me about 60-80 hrs, but this will be spread from now until I submit my AMCAS in June. Obviously, the new gig won't be as long-term and linear as I'd like it to be, but is it really that bad? Any thoughts?

What does your shadowing situation look like? How often were you around doctors while fulfilling your responsibilities?

 

[plumhill]

From how you've described your experiences, your clinical exposure is definitely not weak, especially the new thing with patient interviews you're about to start. Most people don't get beyond stocking blankets or wheeling patients around. Quantity-wise, people have about 150 hours of clinical experience, and you're a little bit above that average. But more important is that it sounds like the quality of your experience was good, and that should more than make up for shorter hours.

If you haven't shadowed yet, you should at least try to get in 20 hours. Most people aim for around 40, but in your case, you have a good amount of clinic/hospital exposure, so you might get away with less.

 

[Xcited392]

What does your shadowing situation look like? How often were you around doctors while fulfilling your responsibilities?

From how you've described your experiences, your clinical exposure is definitely not weak, especially the new thing with patient interviews you're about to start. Most people don't get beyond stocking blankets or wheeling patients around. Quantity-wise, people have about 150 hours of clinical experience, and you're a little bit above that average. But more important is that it sounds like the quality of your experience was good, and that should more than make up for shorter hours.

If you haven't shadowed yet, you should at least try to get in 20 hours. Most people aim for around 40, but in your case, you have a good amount of clinic/hospital exposure, so you might get away with less.

I've shadowed a family practice physician for 16 hours (two whole days), and I am setting up a shadowing experience with a gastroenterologist--I'm unsure about how many hours I plan on following the GI, maybe two half-days for a total of 8 hrs. Also, a relative of mine gave me an oncologist's contact info, so I will try to shadow him as well. So, in the end I will probably have at least 32-40 hrs of shadowing.

To answer your question sector9, I always saw hospitalist physicians during my volunteering experiences. Whether I was bringing a wheelchair up to a patient's room or delivering flowers, every time I got up to the units, doctors would be around--sometimes at their work stations and sometimes in the room I was headed, talking to patients.

 

[CeeEstee0]

I have shadowed several GI's and it is INTERESTING. Basically I give you the same advice as everyone else. Switch positions, and go back when the work dries up. Good luck and have fun!

 

[sector9]

I've shadowed a family practice physician for 16 hours (two whole days), and I am setting up a shadowing experience with a gastroenterologist--I'm unsure about how many hours I plan on following the GI, maybe two half-days for a total of 8 hrs. Also, a relative of mine gave me an oncologist's contact info, so I will try to shadow him as well. So, in the end I will probably have at least 32-40 hrs of shadowing.

To answer your question sector9, I always saw hospitalist physicians during my volunteering experiences. Whether I was bringing a wheelchair up to a patient's room or delivering flowers, every time I got up to the units, doctors would be around--sometimes at their work stations and sometimes in the room I was headed, talking to patients.

I think you're doing fine on clinical exposure. Try to bump up your shadowing a little bit more (average is about 50 hours total) 👍

 

[Xcited392]

I think you're doing fine on clinical exposure. Try to bump up your shadowing a little bit more (average is about 50 hours total) 👍

Alright thank you!