Suggestions for clinical experience.

invision_sales
Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:29:54 +0000

Here is my input-

I started volunteering about a year and a half ago- probably a bit longer. When I started people didn’t really know me, and I was basically stuck on candy-striping duty (ie delivering flowers and talking to people).

After about six months I applied for a unit placement, which upgraded me to patient contact and transport.

After about a year the staff knew me and the NA’s and RN’s knew me by first name basis (on several floors and different units). From there I became acquainted with a few physicians and asked them if I could observe procedures…procedures evolved into hour+ shadowing experiences.

It all boils down to networking- a wise M3 in the ETC once told me that if you know you want to do something and you are told you can’t…you have two options. One- don’t do it, or two- find a way to do it.

Start working- meet people and network. Give it a month, ask around and you will get plenty of experience.