What counts as clinical volunteer experience?

[Bevo]

is working at a hospital or a nursing clinical experience?

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[Doctor Peloncito]

An adcom officer at a med school told me that anything where you work with people in a clinical setting (ie. hospital, nursing facility, blood bank, etc.). Could be considered clinical work.

 

[Bevo]

is there a time limit, recency? I worked in a nursing home in 95. that too long ago to bother putting on there?

 

[Doctor Peloncito]

I would put anything that you've done after high school.

 

[SLE]

Definately listen to Wannabe and put done everything that you have done. They may ask why you don't have any current experience so you may want to shadow for a few weeks or get a per diem job. That way you don't have to put in a lot of time and still show that you have current interest. I worked basically as a janitor and answered call bells, wiped butts, passed food, did I/Os. But I found it to be very humbling. God I am glad that is done.

 

[ItNeverEnds]

If you're ambitious, you could become certified as a CNA or EMT. This way, you could actually make some coin while getting experience.

 

[Bevo]

Im actually completing the secondary now. Im taking this spring kinda lightly. Being a post bacc student and not going to see a big change in my gpa anymore.

So Im TA'ing for a class and studying my butt off for the april MCAT to retake it. Also looking to become a Surgical or Anesthesiology Tech or get into a scribe program.

EMT or CNA is a lot of work and if I had the time to put into the training and what not it would be nice to do.

 

[SM-UCLA tech]

Hey Imbebo.....

don't think negatively....be optomistic!

but.......being a surg. tech.....I suggest you don't do that if your ultimate goal is medicine....

the reason I say that....the only programs I know of are 4 semesters ( usually back-to-back ). So it takes about 1 1/2 years to complete....and they are very expensive....I believe the tuition is around $14,000 now at the school I went to.

I became a surg. tech because I didn't know at the time whether I wanted to go to med. school or not, but I had an interest in healthcare.

So I would just concentrate on doing the things necessary to get into med. school for now.

 

[Bevo]

oh. from what people have told me here it doesn't take but a few days of training. Our career office has been trying to find some opportunities like that as a part time job for students.

 

[SM-UCLA tech]

by the way...i'm not discouraging from becoming a surg. tech.

I absolutely love what I have been doing. The experience I have gotten, and the knowledge I have gained are invaluable. And the amount of hands on work I get is viturally uncomparable to the average pre med student.

 

[Bevo]

oh, no worries. I still have to get past the redtape at school. Can't get this "Internship" if Im TA'ing as well because it would be too much for me to handle even though I wont be taking classes and studying my butt off again for the MCAT.


Maybe the position isn't the same as you do. Less responsibilities and what not. I still have to get the ok from the biology department to do this unless I want to go out there and try and find my part time job where I can get some real hands on experience.

 

[MsDO15]

What schools really want to see is experience shadowing/working with a DO. Anyone can be a candystripper. School's want to make sure that you know what you are getting into and that you're sure that you really want to become a physician...and more specifically a DO. I would highly recommend you start interning w/ a DO if you haven't already. You can get into medical school w/o doing this but it gives you a bit of an advantage.

 

[Bevo]

I shadowed an Anethesiologist for an hour a few weeks ago. He really wasn't up for it to be a repeat thing, but was happy to help.

Ive called 5 other DOs in my area leaving msgs and talking with the nurses. I have been left hanging by them. I need to find more in my area to call.