Would this caregiving experience count as clinical, along with other questions about it

[MO JO]

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I work as a stay-at-home caregiver for two kids with autism, diabetes, and several other health issues. I bathe them, prepare their food, and administer their medication multiple times daily. I had to get CPR and first aid training along with medication administration training. I also manage the meds for my specific group home, and I've done this job for about 3 years now.

My question is, because this doesn't take place in a hospital setting, would it be sufficient for clinical experience when I apply? I'll also have 150 shadowing hours, so it's not as if I don't have any hospital experience. However, I've heard that although my job might be classified as clinical experience, Adcoms prefer when clinical experience takes place at a hospital/clinic.

 

[mmmedical]

I had a similar experience with a woman with health issues and did meds etc, I listed as clinical because my title was home health aide!

 

[MCCM123]

In a similar position, I worked as a caregiver at a home for adults with disabilities. I believe that the clinical vs non-clinical distinction truly doesn't matter when talking about your experiences and what skills you've gained from the work. Where clinical and non-clinical does start to have an impact is whether you have been in a clinical setting and seen how they operate. This is why I supplemented my 800 hours of caregiving work with about 80 hours of hospital volunteering and 300 hours of nursing home work as a nurse's aide.

I genuinely believe that my time spent in the caregiving position taught me more and gave me greater motivation for a career in medicine. Still, I would not designate it as specifically "clinical" solely because it was not in a healthcare facility. That is just my opinion, and I am by no means an expert in admissions.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I would not have an issue describing it as "clinical," since you are employed/certified/licensed/insured.

 

[Goro]

I would lean toward clinical, but there are other Adcom members who would consider it employment, and the kids are not actually patients but clients.