When shadowing...

[Shinobiz11]

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Got a quick question about shadowing.

Do you go into the patients room with the doctor during the exam? If yes, what happens when he asks the patient to remove clothing or something like that, what should I do? Also how easy is it to shadow during a surgery?

 

[akinetopsia]

Usually if a patient has to disrobe into say, a gown, it's better to leave the room and give them privacy while they do so (I think most doctors do this), instead of just throwing a gown at them and saying, "I hope you aren't shy!"

 

[JustDance]

Got a quick question about shadowing.

Do you go into the patients room with the doctor during the exam? If yes, what happens when he asks the patient to remove clothing or something like that, what should I do? Also how easy is it to shadow during a surgery?

Also, to make things less awkward, make sure to introduce yourself (if the doctor doesn't do so) and explain that you're shadowing otherwise the patient may get creeped out by a random presence in the room. As far as surgery goes, you definitely have the chance to ask questions, but just don't do it when the surgeon is concentrating intensely on something. (you can use that time to talk to the anesthesiologist 😉) All the surgeons I've met so far have been really good about explaining each step as they went so if you have to opportunity to shadow a surgeon, go for it!

 

[FloatOn]

From what I know, the patient always undresses and gets into a gown before the doctor goes in. Sorry, no patient striptease! If you shadow surgeons, they are expecting that you follow them into the OR...it's part of their job and it's part of your job to see what they do. The only time you wouldn't is if the patient is uncomfortable having too many people in the room. This happened to me once. She didn't want more people in the room than necessary.

 

[Gallix23]

As far as shadowing surgeries, it's easy: don't touch anything, stay out of the way, and only speak to the surgeon during "good" times (things are going smooth, he speaks to you first, etc).

The circulating nurse will guide you where to go and they'll usually check and see how you're doing (in case you feel squeamish or lightheaded).

 

[cheekiemunky]

I think it depends on the doctor. During my one (and only) shadowing experience, I saw countless prostate exams and a camera in a lady's bladder (I am a male). He just introduced me to the patients as soon as we walked into the room, and asked if it was okay that I was there. No one seemed to care in the least. I'm sure that's not typical of most shadowing experiences though; he was a family friend.

 

[J ROD]

also, to make things less awkward, make sure to introduce yourself (if the doctor doesn't do so) and explain that you're shadowing otherwise the patient may get creeped out by a random presence in the room. As far as surgery goes, you definitely have the chance to ask questions, but just don't do it when the surgeon is concentrating intensely on something. (you can use that time to talk to the anesthesiologist 😉) all the surgeons i've met so far have been really good about explaining each step as they went so if you have to opportunity to shadow a surgeon, go for it!

+1

 

[Spiker]

I think it depends on the doctor. During my one (and only) shadowing experience, I saw countless prostate exams and a camera in a lady's bladder (I am a male). He just introduced me to the patients as soon as we walked into the room, and asked if it was okay that I was there. No one seemed to care in the least. I'm sure that's not typical of most shadowing experiences though; he was a family friend.

Lol same here ....though i dont know the physician. He did like 3 colonoscopy.... and he didnt even ask the patient. and one of the guy was not put under anesthesia because he drove himself.

Inside I was thinking WTF this is uncomfortable, and thought he should asked them at least. But oh well no one objected....

I think there is some psychology going on that alot of the patients are uncomfortable but are unlikely to say no even if the physician ask if they are OK with it.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

When I shadowed in the ER to get my EMT-B cert, I would always ask the patient if it was okay that I was in the room during any potentially awkward situations. If they said no, I'd just wait outside. Pretty simple.

Also, a good trick I learned while shadowing a surgeon is to try to talk to the anesthesiologist instead about what's going on--they're the ones that have more time on their hands to explain things, haha.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

The physician that I am shadowing goes into the room first and asks the patient if it's ok for me to come in. If it's a yes, the doctor lets me know and I go in and greet them. If it's a no, he doesn't say anything to me and I just assume that it was a no and continue to wait in his office. That has only happened a couple of times. Most people are willing to allow you to come in.

 

[Shinobiz11]

Ok. Thank you so much, just needed the information.

 

[praspudi]

the first surgery I saw was a total knee replacement. for the first like 20 minutes of it I was really sweaty even though the room was like 65 degrees, (it's weird to see someone sawing off the end of a persons femur), but then I got acclimated and it became no big deal. I also watched them do finger amputations on this lady who had a pacemaker and they forgot to set up a ground which was important because they were using a cauterizer and her whole body would jump in the air it happened like 5 times before they figured out the reason, (she was strapped down). After you get acclimated to whats going on it is really awesome stuff.

 

[Shinobiz11]

the first surgery I saw was a total knee replacement. for the first like 20 minutes of it I was really sweaty even though the room was like 65 degrees, (it's weird to see someone sawing off the end of a persons femur), but then I got acclimated and it became no big deal. I also watched them do finger amputations on this lady who had a pacemaker and they forgot to set up a ground which was important because they were using a cauterizer and her whole body would jump in the air it happened like 5 times before they figured out the reason, (she was strapped down). After you get acclimated to whats going on it is really awesome stuff.

OMG that sounds amazing!!!😀

 

[praspudi]

OMG that sounds amazing!!!😀

yeah I was shadowing orthopedic surgeons. I saw a couple total knee replacements, a few amputations, a bunionectomy, a hammer toe surgery, ankle surgery, and a hip replacement. I also was able to do rounds with the doctors who performed the surgeries, I stayed for 2 weeks and went everyday. I'd go to the office someday and watch as they talked to their patients and did all the stuff to diagnose problems then I got to go to the operating room. It's really cool and everyone's really nice about it. The surgical technicians always asked me questions and I got to hang out in the doctor's lounge. The hospital I went to had to verify me and stuff and got an ID badge and the doctors gave me a coat to wear in their office and during rounds at the hospital. Then I wore scrubs and all the necessary attire in surgey. So basically, surgeries are tight go watch some.

 

[Shinobiz11]

yeah I was shadowing orthopedic surgeons. I saw a couple total knee replacements, a few amputations, a bunionectomy, a hammer toe surgery, ankle surgery, and a hip replacement. I also was able to do rounds with the doctors who performed the surgeries, I stayed for 2 weeks and went everyday. I'd go to the office someday and watch as they talked to their patients and did all the stuff to diagnose problems then I got to go to the operating room. It's really cool and everyone's really nice about it. The surgical technicians always asked me questions and I got to hang out in the doctor's lounge. The hospital I went to had to verify me and stuff and got an ID badge and the doctors gave me a coat to wear in their office and during rounds at the hospital. Then I wore scrubs and all the necessary attire in surgey. So basically, surgeries are tight go watch some.

Not to sound like a total pre-med nerd, but....I AM SO JEALOUS, I WANT MY DAM WHITE COAT!!

 

[FloatOn]

Also, a good trick I learned while shadowing a surgeon is to try to talk to the anesthesiologist instead about what's going on--they're the ones that have more time on their hands to explain things, haha.

Very true. All of the anesthesiologists I've met are so mellow and laid-back. They're cool cats.

 

[Caesar]

I can't make any comments about the shadowing in surgery as I never did it. However, I can talk about what I did in a couple ER's.

I saw every exam that was done at one hospital and at the other the only one that I left for was pelvic and that was at patient request.

If you aren't comfortable then leave. If you can't be mature about it you should definitely leave. Typically the way it works for me is I go in with the Dr for the initial assessment and I am introduced to the patient. I rarely say anything except "hello" unless a question is directed towards me or the physician is engaging me. If they are going to need an exam she will tell them that and ask if they want me to stay out of the room for it. If that is the case we both leave she gets the nurse and she goes back in while I stay at the station. It's not a big deal to sit out for me and I still hear about the findings of the exam and go back in when she goes back to talk to the patient.

Perhaps I have been fortunate but in over 150 hours at this ER I have never been asked to leave for anything but Pelvic exams and the patients have, for the most part, been really nice and sometimes excited about me being there. As one of the attendings likes to say "People just want people to see them to feel like they are getting the best care". The more people they see the more serious they think they are being taken.

 

[FloatOn]

Perhaps I have been fortunate but in over 150 hours at this ER I have never been asked to leave for anything but Pelvic exams and the patients have, for the most part, been really nice and sometimes excited about me being there. As one of the attendings likes to say "People just want people to see them to feel like they are getting the best care". The more people they see the more serious they think they are being taken.

Yeah, for some reason, patients sometimes feel like more people makes it more official. They like seeing the entourage of white coats and scrubs.

 

[orthomyxo]

I know this is off topic, but I've been going crazy wanting to know:

How did you guys even get into a shadowing position?? I don't have any family members or family friends that are doctors. Did you guys just call hospitals and ask around?? I really want to shadow a surgeon.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I know this is off topic, but I've been going crazy wanting to know:

How did you guys even get into a shadowing position?? I don't have any family members or family friends that are doctors. Did you guys just call hospitals and ask around?? I really want to shadow a surgeon.

I did some shadowing in high school through one of those leadership camp thingies, but I'm not putting that on my med school app since it was so long ago. I'm shadowing a doc next week that I found through my alma mater's alumni mentor website. But I'm a post-bac, so I have that networking ability, and you're probably in UG still.

Sometimes you can get shadowing opportunities through volunteer positions, but it depends on where you're volunteering and how much contact you have with physicians. Also, the main thing is that you have to be proactive about it. A surgeon will rarely come up to you, even when volunteering, and say, "Hey, kid, wanna watch me do a surgery?" Possible, but unlikely. You could always try asking your own PCP if you could shadow him/her, or if s/he knows anyone you could ask. If you really can't think of any ways of networking to find someone to shadow, just start emailing/calling random doctors. You probably won't get many positive replies, but all it usually takes is one and through that doc you can get introduced to more.

 

[Caesar]

I know this is off topic, but I've been going crazy wanting to know:

How did you guys even get into a shadowing position?? I don't have any family members or family friends that are doctors. Did you guys just call hospitals and ask around?? I really want to shadow a surgeon.

called the hospital and asked if I could, they put me in touch with the group in the ER.

 

[FloatOn]

I know this is off topic, but I've been going crazy wanting to know:

How did you guys even get into a shadowing position?? I don't have any family members or family friends that are doctors. Did you guys just call hospitals and ask around?? I really want to shadow a surgeon.

Discover the wonders of email:
1. write a concise, thoughtful, yet generic email about who you are and why you're bothering them
2. insert appropriate name
3. send off to as many doctors as you want
4. wait for replies

Some are lightening-fast and get back to you within a couple of days. Some not for many weeks. Some never.

 

[orthomyxo]

Discover the wonders of email:
1. write a concise, thoughtful, yet generic email about who you are and why you're bothering them
2. insert appropriate name
3. send off to as many doctors as you want
4. wait for replies

Some are lightening-fast and get back to you within a couple of days. Some not for many weeks. Some never.

I just feel like this wouldn't go well at all and would only make me look like an ass no matter how well I phrased the email.

 

[Tatastrophy]

called the hospital and asked if I could, they put me in touch with the group in the ER.

man lucky!
I tried to look for one in Cali summer after my sophomore year...they gave me the runaround and that ended nowhere.
I ended up doing an internship which was actually 1000000x better because not only did I shadow Trauma surgeons, I attended the weekly conferences, got to watch surgeries and trauma cases and participated in clinical research...
ka ching!!!1
but yea...I am not shadowing a doctor who is my friend's father-he is great and is really really good at what he does. It is also funny when you realize that somehow you must have come up during the "dinner" conversations because he starts calling you by your nickname...funny.