Is Nurse Shadowing Volunteer, a Huge Liability?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I was shocked, when I was told that WSU was going to cancel their Volunteer BSN Shadowing of a Nurse for 24 hours pre-req's? And...by the way...it had to be by a BSN only.

Why was I so shocked? Because, it took me almost 3 months and 14 days of continuous calling, all over, to get only 'a' hospital to agree to allow me to shadow anybody, let alone a BSN!

Then WSU told us why it was so difficult to fulfill that nurse shadowing pre-req' with the majority of hospitals and the medical field. The hospitals didn't want the liabilities.

Do you think Shadowing a Nurse is a huge Liability to the Healthcare community in your State? Why or Why not?

My 24 hours experience:I was NOT allowed to touch a patient; look in their file; touch the computer with information; touch any med cart; go anywhere without a BSN Nurse Shadow...and this was done all with the knowledge that I was an experienced 28 yrs LPN, and who had already gone through background check; fingerprinted; shots updated; filled out forms; safety rules; Hippa regulations; etc...And I am so proud of Detroit Receiving Hospital Neuro trauma unit, in Michigan, for giving me that valuable opportunity to shadow a BSN and teaching me the enforcement importance of safety; privacy; and the great opportunity to see real true honorable nursing on an experienced trauma floor unit...for 3 days. Boy...did they make me feel proud to start a BSN degree program!!!!!!!

Hey, did anyone else have difficulty in getting your 24 hours shadowing, or if you did what were your experiences? What is your State" pre-reqs in pre-nursing experiences? Is there a day; week; month or more pre-req for volunteering?

Now I will start, the agonizing, odious count down for that long await of a notification from WSU, by June 30. I have already been accepted by Oakland University Accelerated Second Degree Nursing Program (ASDN CD2) here in Michigan...Yay...Yep!!!!

Come on everyone lets support each other on this nursing community site!!!!

My school doesn't have a shadow requirement either. I did volunteer at a hospital a few years ago and they really didn't check anything. I had a TB test and that was about it. I think I may have signed a form for a criminal background check, but whether they did it or not, I have no idea.

I'm sure the school thinks it is weeding out some people by requiring that. But at the same token are they requiring engineer hopefuls to shadow and engineer, or a business student to go shadow a CEO, probably not.

Hi Heathermaizey you make an excellent point!

Is shadowing, Volunteering, or CNA experience even necessary?

I ask this question because, so many schools tell you once you enter the nursing program to...forget all you have learned in the hospitals...and do it the way the Book says...in order to past the NCLEX!!!!!!

Does it actually deter potential nursing students away...especially those who don't even like nursing...but just going into it for the money?

I suppose having volunteer hours and CNA experience will show a personal dedication and passion for helping others as a future RN. Plus it looks "good on paper" You have a point as to the schools possibly being a money hungry business.

Hi MarthaL thanks for the information, this will help a lot.

let me ask you a question, do you already work in that hospital?

Are you a RN already...if not are you in a nursing program?

Do your nursing program requires volunteer experiences as a pre-reqs to get into your nursing program?

No i don't work in a hospital and i was just accepted into the BSN for fall 2014. My program did not require volunteer or shadowing but my advisor strongly recommended doing it. So I volunteered first for about 6 months, got to know some of the nurses and then shadowed.

"No i don't work in a hospital and i was just accepted into the BSN for fall 2014."

..."My program did not require volunteer or shadowing but my advisor strongly recommended doing it. So I volunteered first for about 6 months, got to know some of the nurses and then shadowed.

Hi MarthL, Congrats to being accepted into the BSN for Fall 2014!!

Great Job!

Which school?

Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Maybe it has something to do with an incident in the past in Michigan?? I am in Indy and we can volunteer as student nurses in a local ED and shadow nurses. We cannot do patient care but it was good experience to watch them work.

Hi MarthL Congrats to being accepted into the BSN for Fall 2014!!

Great Job!

Which school?

Thanks. I'm so excited. GRU in Augusta, Ga

Maybe it has something to do with an incident in the past in Michigan?? I am in Indy and we can volunteer as student nurses in a local ED and shadow nurses. We cannot do patient care but it was good experience to watch them work.

Thanks J.A.B.,SN, you probably are correct...even though they just told us at the information meeting....it was for healthcare liabilities. Michigan health laws are very much enforceable.

Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
Hi SoranoKris,..do you think this is Michigan's problem, of either being denied, placed on a wait-listed, or just a huge liability problem here in our State? I ask this because MI has some very powerful healthcare laws, as I am sure other States have also.

Did your school require any volunteering experience..as a pre-reqs?

No, we didn't have any requirement to volunteer, but you got bonus points on your application if you had a minimum of 100 volunteer hours (up to 500 max).

As far as hospitals not allowing shadowing or restricting it, I'm not sure if it's a MI thing or like that everywhere.

Lots of luck to you. I hope you get in! I'll be officially halfway done with my RN in 2 weeks :)

Today I received an email from a school, (one of my top picks) the subject line read "Congratulations!" I open the email to find they are inviting me to participate in the graduation ceremony for my other degree. Son of a...

Well...Wayne State University, they did it again. I just got notified that the deadline is nearing, June 1, 2014, and because that day falls on a Sunday...they just wanted to seen out a reminder!!!!!!!!

My heart dropped...and I thought...they need to stop doing this. If no one know what the deadline is by now...they don't need to be in a nursing school...right!?.

And then I came to my senses, and felt sorry for the people who are just finishing up their pre-reqs...and then I became respectful of the process...and appreciated their reminder.................but just for moment...............just kidding!!!

But I will add they did state this that, we would be notified in June, and an alternate list will be listed, if there were to be any openings.

Please cross your fingers for me!!!!!

I've shadowed twice, mainly because the hospital I did it at is pretty laid back about it. Also very small! I followed my mom and another nurse (depending who was doing what) as a way to let me see what actually happens in their ER on a weekend, which ends up being more like a clinic. To see if my interest in the field would hold. It did :D I stayed on my feet through watching some blood draws, IVs and some stitches. So yay! I stand a chance.

If it did become mandatory as part of a program in the future, I thankfully have a place I could in theory do it...though so far from where I live.

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