what do you with a doctor?

[youngjock]

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hello. i just started shadowing with a doctor, he already gave me a name as "student observer." so i am not doing anything, but observing.

what about you? what did you do when you were shadowing with a doctor?

 

[DOc2be]

I have been working with the same physician for three years now during breaks. At first I "shadowed" but that didn't last long. I have gotten to do quite a few things. I have been doing hearing exams, vision exams, urinalyses, hemoglobins, immunization injections, etc. As well, I have done a lot of paperwork....filling out referrals (aren't they great 🙂, getting authorizations from insurance companies, calling in scripts, filing, calling patients with lab results, etc. The biggest piece of advice that I can offer to you and anyone else wondering what to do is to offer to put the charts away, or xerox that paper that needs to be copied; this allows the physician and office staff to see that you actually want to be there and get involved in all aspects of the field....even the "SCUT WORK"--Oh no! 🙂 You will be surprised the stuff you get to do once you show an interest in doing all aspects of work. [I am not saying that you havn't I am just saying this has worked for me and a few of my friends...and yes, all five of us are starting as MS-I in August]. Good luck and keep on working!

 

[youngjock]

what is ms-I?

I am just thinking, won't that suck if someone spent lots of time volunteering, and at the end, still didn't get into any med schools.

don't get me wrong, i am not laughing at anyone. i just think that there is so few openings, and so many applicants. and sometimes, we spend lots of effects and get nothing in return.

anyway, how many hours does a person usually volunteer per week?

 

[doublelle]

I shadowed a couple of afternoons a week for a while, but when summer classes started, I cut it down to only one day per week. I made sure the doc knew I was in class from 7:30 am -2:00pm 4 days a week. (Org 2 and Organic superlab in 8 weeks!) As far as the observation, yes, I just observed..and it was boring at times and still is...but I made sure I came each time with questions and such so I could interact more with the doc. I know this means alot, because I am progressivly becoming more involved in the daily stuff when I am there shadowing. I also have my EMT license (which means I can legally drive an ambulance! ha!) so, when I am working at the hospital, the nurses let me do vitals, put on oxygen, etc. It's not brain surgery, but people do remember someone who can get in there and do stuff versus someone who just stands back by the wall. With respiratory therapy training, I am able to draw blood gasses in the ER and such. My suggestion would be to get some training in something that you may be able to do while in the doc's office. When he knows you and trusts you...he will be happy to have your help.

So, bottom line, read some things so you can come to the doc with questions..and try to obtain even the smallest knowledge about his specialty. Also, find something that you CAN do and let him know that you are ~certified or whatever~ in this or that and would like to be able to practice your skills if he feels comfortable with that. Also, when I was shadowing an ENT, I about broke my neck trying to look into noses, ears, etc.. After the second patient, the doc got the idea that I just didn't want to stand around and begin letting me look at EVERYthing. Don't be shy when you are shadowing. Doc's can be very intimidating, just be honest about what you want to get out of the experience. Good luck.

 

[AMS-007]

Youngjock,

MS-I means 1st year Medical Student.

I know it seems like an impossible task to get into medical school, but it is also a fact that if you count the number of people who apply to any school and the number that get in, the number is better than chance (greater than 50%). Almost everybody gets into some school somewhere eventually.

However what you say about volunteering is only partially true. Yes, quite a few people volunteer to impress the admissions committees with their apparent altruism and it seems their efforts are a waste of time when they don't get in. However, if their motives were different and they were volunteering to actually learn how well they fit into the hospital environment and to learn more about how well they are suited to this profession then I don't think it is waste of time to volunteer so much. I don't think one should view an acceptance letter from a medical school as payment (or some type of reward) for spending endless hours with people who needed your help. I think it defeats the whole meaning of the word volunteer if you're looking for something in the end. Ones activities should be a reward in the themselves. You should never expect to get into medical school even if you've been volunteering since you were in high school. As you know medical school admission is based on quite a few factors. If one thinks their credentials are not sufficient enough to be accepted then one should not apply in the first place that way there won't be an wasting of time and money.

 

[reed99]

"don't get me wrong, i am not laughing at anyone. i just think that there is so few openings, and so many applicants. and sometimes, we spend lots of effects and get nothing in return."

I think the reason medical schools look for volunteer experience is because it shows a genuine desire to be of service to others. While I can relate to your feeling of initially not wanting to do the volunteer thing because there wasn't anything in it for me per se, I have inevitably walked away from my volunteer efforts feeling that I am the one who has been blessed. Maybe you should explore other avenues that would give you more hands-on time with people ie working in a children's shelter, rape crisis center, homeless shelter etc...I think working with people whose lot is far worse than your own does a lot to cultivate & sustain altruism. Service to others shouldn't be a hoop you have to jump through to get into medical school.

[This message has been edited by reed99 (edited 06-20-2000).]