Volunteering in the ED

[BennieBlanco]

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I just started volunteering in the ED. I actually volunteered 6 months in L & D before this. I must say, it is slow.

I was basically told I can change sheets or ask patients if they want books. It is weird going to the patients and saying, "is everything going ok?" because I can't offer any care and all I'm really offering is a book or water, lol.

"is everything ok"

"no"

"do you need a book or magazine?"

"no"

Good. Now I feel useful. lol. I don't feel like I'm doing anything but maybe I will just ask doctors here if I can shadow.

I actually have shadowed a few shifts in the ED (with attendings at a teaching hospital) and the difference in what I get to see and watch medically is 20-30 times more effective.

I wonder if this volunteering is useful? Do adcoms really care if you have years volunteering or do they also know that it doesn't involve much?

seems like 5 days shadowing is better than 1 year volunteering (1 day per week).

 

[BennieBlanco]

i don't mind paying my dues, I just want to make sure I'm paying the right dues.

I did purchase the Intern Pocket Survival Guide (INTERN POCKET SURVIVAL GUIDE SERIES) (Paperback) and the Tarascon Adult Emergency Pocketbook, 4E (Paperback). I figure once these come in the mail I can begin to memorize these and learn the emergency medicine while volunteering.

I would estimate that if I really focused I could read 3 hrs in a 4 hour shift (this is how much down time there is when the hospital is slow). Today is just shooting the **** with the nurses day. I guess I'm here at a slow time, Sunday 8am-12pm. I may try to change to afternoons as I heard they are busier.

 

[MedicineMike]

i don't mind paying my dues, I just want to make sure I'm paying the right dues.

I did purchase the Intern Pocket Survival Guide (INTERN POCKET SURVIVAL GUIDE SERIES) (Paperback) and the Tarascon Adult Emergency Pocketbook, 4E (Paperback). I figure once these come in the mail I can begin to memorize these and learn the emergency medicine while volunteering.

I would estimate that if I really focused I could read 3 hrs in a 4 hour shift (this is how much down time there is when the hospital is slow). Today is just shooting the **** with the nurses day. I guess I'm here at a slow time, Sunday 8am-12pm. I may try to change to afternoons as I heard they are busier.

Where did you get that book? I actually saw an intern carrying that in his white-coat the other day! haha

I start at the busiest ED (level 1 trauma center) east of the mississippi next week...I am really excited! My "boss" told me that it gets soo crazy in there that I might be doing waaaay more than the average volunteer hospital lets you do. Anything from sitting in on life-flight surgeries, to rushing around for the nurses, etc. Looking forward to it!

 

[J ROD]

I get to do vitals and transport and move patients. I also stock and run specimens. I have been a few codes as well.

I would look somewhere else where it is busier. The more work, the more you get to do. 🙂

 

[BennieBlanco]

I get to do vitals and transport and move patients. I also stock and run specimens. I have been a few codes as well.

I would look somewhere else where it is busier. The more work, the more you get to do. 🙂

The books are on Amazon. I think because I wasn't Level 1 trauma it was slow. I guess I may try to move hospitals.

Volunteerings seems semi important. It seems like shadowing is ten times better and probably looks 10 times better on applications.

 

[bkz]

i don't mind paying my dues, I just want to make sure I'm paying the right dues...

Today is just shooting the **** with the nurses day. I guess I'm here at a slow time, Sunday 8am-12pm. I may try to change to afternoons as I heard they are busier.

try nights

 

[SoftwareKevin]

I think your volunteer experience is what you make out of it. If all you do is quietly change beds you probably won't get much. Don't be afraid to watch procedures. I think most hospitals understand why people are volunteering and are more than happy to let you observe in exchange for the work you do. Make friends with the staff from housecleaning up to the doctors. Ask questions when the opportunity presents itself. When a surgical intern is stitching up someone that's passed out, they're usually more than happy to chat with someone while they're doing it 🙂

 

[BennieBlanco]

I think your volunteer experience is what you make out of it. If all you do is quietly change beds you probably won't get much. Don't be afraid to watch procedures. I think most hospitals understand why people are volunteering and are more than happy to let you observe in exchange for the work you do. Make friends with the staff from housecleaning up to the doctors. Ask questions when the opportunity presents itself. When a surgical intern is stitching up someone that's passed out, they're usually more than happy to chat with someone while they're doing it 🙂

Thanks for the ideas. I will make an effort to get more out of it.

Also I will try to schedule nights.

 

[SoftwareKevin]

Thanks for the ideas. I will make an effort to get more out of it.

Also I will try to schedule nights.

If you can find a busier hospital (level 1 trauma is nice) I'd definitely go for that as well

 

[QofQuimica]

Good. Now I feel useful. lol. I don't feel like I'm doing anything but maybe I will just ask doctors here if I can shadow.

Get used to it. That's about how I've felt for most of my entire third year. Ok, so I'm exaggerating, but only slightly.

As others have said, if you are not getting what you need/want out of this experience, take the initiative to find a better one. It is your responsibility to seek out opportunities, not wait around hoping they'll fall into your lap. You should also recognize that as a premed, your ability to participate will necessarily be limited, not the least of which is because you don't have malpractice insurance. (Med students do.) Try to be patient and learn as much as you can from your experiences. You will find, as I have, that some docs love to teach and are great at it, while others will blow you off. Keep looking until you find one of the former types. Best of luck. 🙂

 

[BennieBlanco]

Get used to it. That's about how I've felt for most of my entire third year. Ok, so I'm exaggerating, but only slightly.

As others have said, if you are not getting what you need/want out of this experience, take the initiative to find a better one. It is your responsibility to seek out opportunities, not wait around hoping they'll fall into your lap. You should also recognize that as a premed, your ability to participate will necessarily be limited, not the least of which is because you don't have malpractice insurance. (Med students do.) Try to be patient and learn as much as you can from your experiences. You will find, as I have, that some docs love to teach and are great at it, while others will blow you off. Keep looking until you find one of the former types. Best of luck. 🙂

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it because I still have a ton to learn and am lacking wisdom!