What is considered "good" clinical experience

[capone2975]

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I keep seeing everyone mention the need to have good clinical experience. What is considered good clinical experience? volunteering at a hospice? What about at a children's hospital that has exposure to the kids? Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but I am trying to learn as much as I can 🙂

 

[brotherbloat]

Hi there,

I am a non-trad and I have what I think is good clinical experience: 1/2 year full-time direct patient work at hospital (at present); one sem. volunteering at free clinic, one sem. shadowing doctor, one sem. volunteer at senior citizens' center. Basically what I heard was that direct patient contact is most important. All my volunteering was a huge load of crap--all I did was lame admin work and some shadowing, which told me nothing about the medical field. It was only when I worked full-time in the hosptial, in the OR, that I really learned about the field.

-BB

 

[Law2Doc]

I keep seeing everyone mention the need to have good clinical experience. What is considered good clinical experience? volunteering at a hospice? What about at a children's hospital that has exposure to the kids? Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but I am trying to learn as much as I can 🙂

I think clinical experience covers pretty much anything where there is direct exposure to patients, and the ability to observe doctors working with/on patients. The things you describe probably count. Med schools want to see that you know what doctors do and what "real" medicine is all about. I've actually had an interviewer tell me that good clinical experience should be one where there is "a good chance of getting thrown up on".

 

[Anastasis]

I think clinical experience covers pretty much anything where there is direct exposure to patients, and the ability to observe doctors working with/on patients. The things you describe probably count. Med schools want to see that you know what doctors do and what "real" medicine is all about. I've actually had an interviewer tell me that good clinical experience should be one where there is "a good chance of getting thrown up on".

In that case I'm counting the time I spent as an advisor in my dorm - I got thrown up on twice by drunk frat guys.

On a related note - Happy St. Paddy's Day from Ireland to everyone on SDN.