Where to start getting clinical EXP?

[Og kingofBashan]

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Hey, guys. Should an undergrad premed student take a part-time job as a physical therapist assistant at a small PT clinic? Being a PT aide doesent look to have much relevance to my interests besides patient interaction. Or should I instead head to a local hospital and start some good'ol volunteering?

I know there are people out there that have worked as PT aides. Any info on what it's like? Would you go back? Wouldn't you much rather find a doc to shadow around?

Thanks for any comments, everyone! 😍

 

[fullefect1]

go for the paid job.

 

[Og kingofBashan]

Why? Am I missing something embarrassingly obvious here besides pay?

 

[dankev]

I was a PT aide in college before I planned on being a doc. I learned way more about healthcare (esp insurance) than during any other volunteering or shadowing. Different schools look at it differently, though. Some really liked it, some didn't.

 

[Syranope2]

there's really no right or wrong answer here. you said that being a pt aide would really only give you experience with patients, but i actually think that's one of the most important aspects of clinical experience. i think it's much more effective for you to become a member of the team (as you probably would in a paid position) rather than to just float around a hospital not really doing anything. some hospital volunteer jobs are great, but some can be pretty boring.

if getting paid would help you out financially, there's no reason not to do the pt job. no med school would look down on it because you're not in a hospital. and really, you have no idea how your work there might be related to your future medical career. it might be much more pertinant than, say, changing bed pans in the geriatric ward.

i got most of my clinical experience in during the summer. i found a job in my local OR and it was really hands on and completely worthwhile. but when i tried doiing the same job as a volunteer at the hospital near my college, i got absolutely nothing out of it, mostly because i was only there for a few hours a week instead of on a regular basis. people you work with will learn to trust you and let you do things that you might otherwise not get to do.

wow, sorry this went so long... good luck with whatever you choose. and remember that med school's aren't picky, so do what you want, not what you think they want you to do. 🙂

 

[LJoo83]

working in a hospital is great. it is true what synranope said about how people in the hospital will be more willing to trust you and allow you to do more things as you prove yourself faithful. you are able to learn some great bedside mannerisms as you observe various healthcare employees and their personal treatment of the patient. for example, while a lot of the nurses at my hospital don't necessarily belittle the patients they speak with them as if they are a small child. that personally gyrates on my nerves so I've learned to treat my patients with respect.

and the networking possibilities are great. not only do i have a great relationship with my immediate manager, i also have a great relationship with the supervisor in charge of all the other managers. i have a good relationship with one of the e.r doctors and he allows me to shadow him into pt. rooms when I'm working in the e.r. also, one of the surgeons at the hospital and i discussed the possibility of me sitting in a surgery in the future.

you have much more of an importance when working at the hospital as a paid employee; you are able to see the intricacies of the hierarchial structure in a hosptial setting and you can understand the true meaning of teamwork while working at a hosptial. you begin to see the importance of every position in the hospital and how they work together for even more excellent patient care.

 

[Anka]

Take the paying job. It's unfortunate, but your time will be seen as more valuable if someone is paying for it, than if you're working for free. Hospital volunteers usually don't get to do much, and don't get much clinical contact at all (you may well wind up filing papers). If you aren't sure, make it very clear to the volunteer office what you're looking for, and see if they can give it. Be prepared for the guilt trip, though (usually, "We need help with blah blah; it's no less important than clinical work").

Other possibilities depend on future interest -- what do you want to do?

Anka

 

[skypilot]

You will be comfortable with having to touch and interact with patients. That is much more than most students get out of their volunteer experiences.