Can I "shadow" a nurse for the day?

U.S.A. New Jersey

Published

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone knew of any facility (hospital, ltc, rehab...) in north jersey that allows you to "shadow" a nurse for the day?

I keep hearing about it, but dont know where to inquire. I am just about done with pre-req and ready to apply to the nursing program, but would really like to have that opportunity before I jump in head first...lol...

I am changing careers and a little nervous about taking such a big step. It really is a leap of faith. I have thought about this for a long time, but would love the chance to spend a day "in action".

Any advice would be much appreciated....thanks!! :coollook:

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Specializes in None.

Denise,

I took an online Introduction to Public Health course at Kean University and one of the greatest things they had us do was shadow a public health nurse for a day through the local health departments. There is a major shortage of public health nurses and the local health department will "fall over backwards" to help you shadow one of their nurses. Even if you are planning to be more "hospital oriented," it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

For any nursing shadowing experience, get a letter from your college or nursing school (deans office) requesting it and it will help facilitate your setting up the shadowing experience.

Give it a try.

Jersey Nursing Girl

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Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.

I have never heard of shadowing a nurse unless you are in school or planning on working at the facility. What about volunteering at the hospital? That would at least get you in the door and you can see if you like the environment.

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Jersey girl, thank you for the info...that is a great idea. I never even thought about contacting the health dept. I will give it a try!

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Denise, I live in Colorado, so I don't know specifics about northern New Jersey. In my town the major hospital handles job shadow requests through the human resources department. All the information needed to get the process started is on their website. They have a standard procedure to follow which involves:

1. Registering for an info session that covers a range of health care jobs.

2. Attending the info session. At the session, applications for a job shadow experience are available. The hospital limits shadow opportunities to two hours, with *one* health care worker.\

3. The application includes some health requirements (vaccinations, TB test, etc.), HIPAA statement and an essay question.

I'm finishing my CNA clinicals before I apply for the job shadow, so I can't tell you what that's like yet. I'm guessing either browsing the websites of the facilities you're interested in or calling the human resources would work for you. Good luck!

Dina

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Hi Benedina,

Thanks for the info. It sounds like you have a wonderful program available to you.

I will try the HR departments and see what they have to offer,but so far

I have not been to lucky. I even asked my advisor at school and she did not know of anything...thanks again.

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Specializes in Emergency.
I will try the HR departments and see what they have to offer

Don't talk to the main HR office, they're generally useless. Find out who the nursing recruiter is and contact them directly. Check each hospital's website, you should find a separate contact for the nursing recruiter somewhere in the employment/career pages.

Good luck.

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Specializes in ED.

You can also contact the education department. I did a day of shadowing the trauma team in Cooper Hospital down in Camden and it was well worth the drive! And I was a junior in a 4-year program. Good luck!

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Specializes in med/surg- sub-acute, LTC,ICU,.

I work in a facility in North Jersey PM me, I will give you the information you will need in order to shadow there.

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Hi Newgrad,

That sounds like a great opportunity, it must have been so interesting!

Do you know who I can contact at Cooper Hospital? Should I contact the HR department?

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Specializes in ED.
Hi Newgrad,

That sounds like a great opportunity, it must have been so interesting!

Do you know who I can contact at Cooper Hospital? Should I contact the HR department?

Hey! I contacted [PM for info], the Trauma EMS Outreach Coordinator, to set up the shadowing. I am an emergency medical technician but I don't believe that the program is only for EMT's as I told him it was more for nursing school. It's worth a shot anyways! I spent half the day in the trauma room, the other half in the trauma ICU, and got to go up to the helipad and see the trauma rooms on the roof. It was pretty awesome (if you like trauma, that is).

[PM for info]

Good luck!

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Hello, just stumbled upon this message...and wanted to share what I am doing...do you have any nursing contacts that you can use to set up some shadowing?

Fortunately for me, my mom is a nurse, and she contacted the HR department at her hospital so I can shadow her and some others...there is evidently a lot of paperwork (that she is sending me) regarding patient confidentiality and yes, I have to have a TB test.

I'm also planning on contacting some friends who are nurses in my area (my mom is a 4 hour drive away) to inquire about shadowing where they work.

And lastly (and this may not be an option for you depending on the timing) I'm planning on doing some volunteering over the summer.

Hope this helps!

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