Volunteers...

[anes_asmaj]

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I am a third year UG student and have been volunteering at the ER for the pass 6 semesters at a major hospital. I was wondering what do you guys allow the volunteers to do/see when they are their. In the ER I volunteer at they are always open to explaining things or making me watch things. For example, when traumas come in I get to go in the main room stand by the door or behind the 2 nurses?/doctors? that write done everything the team is doing. I also like to work in minor care in the ER b/c you get to see a lot and talk to the medical students rotating through there. Only time I get banned from a room is when this one surgeon comes done to help with the trauma. What have your guys impressions/experiences been with volunteers? Thanks.

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

In my experience as a volunteer, I would say you are very blessed with how much you are getting to do. I volunteered in the ED for 2 days and then quit because all I got to do was sit out front and make sure nobody went through the doors without permission.

I ended up doing most of pre-medical school volunteer stuff in the GI lab. At least there I got to be with patients as they came back to and help with the D/C instructions.... and the one GI doc was cool and would take me back to watch scopes from time to time. I actually won an award for volunteering at my hospital, it was just a piece of paper for like the most hours in a week ever for a volunteer.. it was somewhere around 55 hours.

All my experience was at a non-teaching hospital so that certainly makes a difference. I have tried to go shadow in the ED as a medical student when I go home and they are dead set against it. Poor judgement on their part, that has certainly contributed to the fact I probably will not go back to my hometown; but has also allowed me to see I would rather be in at least a 'student friendly' hospital at minimum. I sometimes think I should go back and change things, although I am certain its a political thing more than a doctor thing.. so good luck getting it changed.

I am anxious to see what others say and certainly hope their experiences are at least closer or better than what you are getting to do...

 

[quinsy]

I've never volunteered at an ED, but I did volunteer doing patient discharge and flower delivery, which was kinda fun. I just wanted to add that I highly recommend to anyone who's pre-med that they should shadow a physician to see what they spend most of the day doing. I think ideally it should be someone in one of the core specialties (Internal Med, Peds, Family Practice, Surgery, OB/GYN) working in the hospital. All pre-meds should know what it is like to round, write notes, be in the OR. Otherwise, if you shadow someone in some cush office setup, you will not have any idea what you are getting yourself into. Even though I am going into EM, I still have had to spend tons of time on the wards and will have to spend tons more in residency. I think too many people want to go to med school but have little to no idea what training physicians' lives are actually like. It's the prime of your life, spend it wisely.

 

[J.J.]

I think too many people want to go to med school but have little to no idea what training physicians' lives are actually like. It's the prime of your life, spend it wisely.

Couldn't agree more !! I spend most of my time trying to talk volunteers out of their pursuit of medicine. You spend the better part of your late teens and most, if not all, of your 20's trying to endure all the necessary BS so you can become an excellent physician. don't get me wrong, I've had alot fun, but I feel I've sacrificed alot as well! In the end, I know it will all be worth it but sometimes you can't help but wonder....

JJ

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I am a third year UG student and have been volunteering at the ER for the pass 6 semesters at a major hospital. I was wondering what do you guys allow the volunteers to do/see when they are their. In the ER I volunteer at they are always open to explaining things or making me watch things. For example, when traumas come in I get to go in the main room stand by the door or behind the 2 nurses?/doctors? that write done everything the team is doing. I also like to work in minor care in the ER b/c you get to see a lot and talk to the medical students rotating through there. Only time I get banned from a room is when this one surgeon comes done to help with the trauma. What have your guys impressions/experiences been with volunteers? Thanks.

If you're careful we won't realize you're volunteers and we'll let you do all the rectal disimpactions! Whoopeee!

 

[quideam]

When I was an undergrad, I did clinical research in truama surgery (mainly chart reviews, etc.) and in exchange go to be on call with the trauma surgery team - go to morning report, go down with them for traumas (I even got to carry a pager!) and scrub in for the surgeries. I didn't actually get to "do" very much (aside from occasionally cutting off clothes, cleaning out a wound, or suctioning during a surgery) - but it was an awesome experience. Try to find a hospital that has a shadowing program set up already - those kinds of programs are typically more open to letting students see and do stuff than other places. Also, hang around medical students if you can - we're usually pretty busy, but also friendly because we remember what it was like to be an undergrad, and if you're polite and not too clingy we'll definetely explain stuff and even let you do things (when possible). Good luck!

Q

 

[DocYuki]

It sounds like you people have had wonderful experiences volunteering! I volunteered at my local hospital in the ED, but certainly do not consider it a particularly fulfilling experience. The clinical exposure certainly affirmed my decision etc, but I was unable to do much, if at all, and spent most of my time idle and checking mail for the department. The most I ever did was wheel a woman in labor up to the maternity ward, and that wasn't really even within my "job description" - boo. It was bad when I stopped the elevator on the wrong floor, though xD