Are you planning on going into or are in the health sciences/health careers? Have you heard of clinical hours and shadow hours? How are you planning on getting your hours?
General things to know:
- Clinical experience is “hands-on” work. Typically completing tasks and interacting with patients. Shadow experience is observing.
- Most PA schools require a specific amount of clinical hours and shadow experience does not count towards those hours. Some med schools/nursing programs require it, while most just prefer it.
Examples of Shadowing:
- Most schools consider medical scribes a position of shadowing because you do not actually interact with patients, rather just observe and record.
- Some types of volunteering are considered shadowing.
- You can also actually choose Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and other Health Care workers and shadow them, to see what they do in their daily lives.
Examples of Clinical Experience:
- Emergency room technicians, pharmacy technicians, certified nursing assistants, and emergency medical technicians.
- Why do these count? You are actually interacting with patients — communicating with and providing “hands-on” care within the limits of your certifications.
Why choose to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for clinical hours?
- You can choose to work on an ambulance, work in an emergency room or working at concerts/sporting events.
- You are one-on-one “hands-on” working with patients on a regular basis.
- You gain medical knowledge, prior to any other program you go into.
- You become a certified health care worker and also CPR certified.
- You meet clinical experience hour requirements for PA, Med school, etc.
Wondering how to become a certified EMT? Or wanting to explore the fire sciences? Check out our website today, and choose a class to attend. We can help you take the steps you need, and get you started on your journey today!