How to get Pediatrician to let me Volunteer/Shadow?

Specialties Pediatric

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Hello all! :)

Wow it's been a while since I've last posted a topic. Well, to begin with, I am starting college this month on the 22 as a direct admit Nursing major at Arizona State University! Yay! :) I am so very excited to start this journey. My plan is to get my Bachelors and then continue my education to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner here in Arizona. I am wanting to know if anyone here could tell me if Pediatricians allow volunteers in their offices and if so, how should I present myself when asking to volunteer? I really want to be able to gain experience in that kind of setting and see if it really is the right path for me. I also want the opportunity to network and possibly get my foot in the door with a job as an RN after I get my Bachelors (are RN's often used in Pediatric offices? I know most use MA's, but how could I get an RN position at an office?) I am very much a "planner" and I really like to get ahead and establish myself for the future. If anyone has any suggestions/information about volunteering in a Pediatric office and/or RN's working in Pediatric offices, please post! Thank you so much in advance!

Amber

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Any info would be greatly appreciated! :)

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I wouldn't say "volunteer." Most people will be able to discern that you don't care about volunteering but rather want to see what it's like...which is fine and dandy but call it what it really is.

You could cold call some pediatric offices and ask if they would ever allow a nursing student from X school job shadow for a few shifts. Or letters. Or talk to your peds professor once you start classes.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Oh but I do want to volunteer if possible :) I volunteer at a hospital here in Arizona and I love it! If I could be of any help and get any experience in a Pediatric office, I would definitely jump at it. Thanks for the suggestion. I think I will do that tomorrow.

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Oh but I do want to volunteer if possible :) I volunteer at a hospital here in Arizona and I love it! If I could be of any help and get any experience in a Pediatric office I would definitely jump at it. Thanks for the suggestion. I think I will do that tomorrow.[/quote']

You're welcome! I just don't see what a person could volunteer with at a clinic. Hospital, yes. But what would you do at a clinic? Most of the work I imagine would be filing which is a HIPPA violation for a volunteer to do, I bet. I would just ask to job shadow at the office while keeping your volunteer job at the hospital.

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Specializes in Pedi.

If you want to be a nurse or a nurse practitioner, a doctor isn't exactly the best person to shadow to see what it's like...

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