<p>But I'm sure ER isn't the only place you can get clinical experience...has anyone had other shadowing/volunteering experiences in other departments? I am most interested in pediatrics, and I'm not sure if Children's Hospitals have much patient care involvement. Anyone have any insight to the rest of the non-ER hospital?</p>
<p>Its the place were you can get the most without having any sort of degree or shadowing someone. In other places you will do more paperwork than anything else. That being said usually hospitals with a childrens part have a pediatric ER. You get to see a lot of cases there from the peds point of view. But other than the ER you don't really have many options for interacting both with patients and doctors. Most of the time if its non-er work you may read a story to a kid or something like that but you won't learn much medical stuff. You will just read things, and nurses and doctors won't really bother you/with you.</p>
<p>Having worked in ICU and ER as a nurse and having a close friend that is currently a dept. head in ER, I would caution anyone with an EMT that is volunteering in an ER from coming in and acting "too strong"---those types are called "Ricky Rescues" (not in a positive tone) behind their backs. Don't get me wrong, the EMT training is a great thing to have and I would encourage pre-meds to entertain the idea of pursuing this training---it is just easy at that level to be a case of "a little knowledge....".</p>
<p>yea and i agree with that, cause i see the EMTs out there who think they know everything, but then again i see the nurses out there who think we are a buncha doctor wannabees and dont trust us with a band-aid...when you reach a balence between a trustworthy EMT and an ED staff who arent stressed out to the point of being obnoxious...you can really have a good experience as an EMT in the ED.</p>
<p>My personal suggestion is this. If you are an EMT and want to volunteer in an ER that you are not familiar with, find out first what the ER is like and find out if you will be allowed to do anything. Not that an EMT would want to volunteer in an ER. And if you aren't looking to volunteer but are still an EMT who ends up in an ER ask the paramedics and other EMTs that know that hospital what you will be allowed to do. Its better not to have to find out from doctors or nurses if they dont allow it. They make scenes, especially when they have a lot of cases and you start annoying them/wasting their time. And in general I suggest asking techs, then nurses and if you must doctors for advice. Doctors usually won't answer anything. Nurses will depending on the type of person they are. Techs are awesome and will make you life nice.</p>
<p>I will mention that I'd advocate at least some time with patients that isn't medically oriented - i.e. reading stories to kids. It's a really great complement, and an important part of eventually becoming a doctor (esp. if you're going into peds eventually).</p>