How do you guys feel about shadowing?

Nurses General Nursing

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So I emailed a hospital with all 3 level NICUs located about 45 mins from me in Greenville, SC called Greenville Hospital System in the Bryan Neonatal Intensive Care unit (if anyone has or is working there), about shadowing at there NICU, and possibly PICU and Oncology Peds as something to do over the summer and to see if nursing is truly for me :)

Well anyways I was wondering how you guys felt about students (Junior/High School) shadowing you? Would you see it as a teaching experience or a nuisance? I always feel like sometimes I'm getting in the way by shadowing :p

Thanks in advance!

- Katurah

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Specializes in Geriatric Assessment, management and leadership.
So I emailed a hospital with all 3 level NICUs located about 45 mins from me in Greenville, SC called Greenville Hospital System in the Bryan Neonatal Intensive Care unit (if anyone has or is working there), about shadowing at there NICU, and possibly PICU and Oncology Peds as something to do over the summer and to see if nursing is truly for me :)

Well anyways I was wondering how you guys felt about students (Junior/High School) shadowing you? Would you see it as a teaching experience or a nuisance? I always feel like sometimes I'm getting in the way by shadowing :p

Thanks in advance!

- Katurah

Depends on the nurse. I am hoping we will be continuing to develop a mentoring culture in nursing. All nurses would guide, encourage and inspire other nurses and potential nurses. My neice shadowed me in my nurse practitioner practice when she was a junior in high school. She is now a RN working in labor and delivery. I am thrilled I may have had a part in her decision! Hope you find someone who will be a positive mentor for you.

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Does your high school have an Occupational Health class? Mine allowed me to complete a 100 hour internship at a local hospital where I got to shadow the entire spectrum of acute care (MD's, PA's, RN's, rad techs, OR, ER, cath lab, autopsy, and others I can't remember). It's a great opportunity to see your available options and you are typically paired with people that want to be shadowed. Plus, we got early release from school every day :up:

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They do but unfortunately I missed the deadline to get into them :( we do however have a club called HOSA that might offer something similar, I'll have to check it out!

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I would LOVE to have a high school student shadow me. I entered college 5 years ago and chose nursing as a profession because it was the only thing I could see myself doing out of all the choices that are out there. My experience was based solely on the observations & interactions I had had with nurses when I visited my friend in the hospital undergoing treatment for cancer. I wish I would have had the opportunity to shadow prior to making the decision to go into nursing. I volunteered at a hospital while I did my pre-reqs but did not have very much interaction with the nurses. Therefore, I ultimately had no idea what nurses really do until I started clinical in nursing school. Good thing I loved it or I would have seriously regretted pursuing this profession for the last 3 years of my life.

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Thank you everyone!

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Specializes in 5 yrs Med/Surg. 2yr-ICU/ER.
So I emailed a hospital with all 3 level NICUs located about 45 mins from me in Greenville, SC called Greenville Hospital System in the Bryan Neonatal Intensive Care unit (if anyone has or is working there), about shadowing at there NICU, and possibly PICU and Oncology Peds as something to do over the summer and to see if nursing is truly for me :)

Well anyways I was wondering how you guys felt about students (Junior/High School) shadowing you? Would you see it as a teaching experience or a nuisance? I always feel like sometimes I'm getting in the way by shadowing :p

Thanks in advance!

- Katurah

When I was a Senior in High School, I shadowed a friend of the family who was a NICU nurse and I loved it! And, she was so great about letting me shadow...everyone was very receptive. It helped me make a decision about my future: nurse vs. teacher, now I'm a LPN for 4 1/2 yrs and I love it. I haven't quite made it to the NICU yet, but maybe oneday I'll be there. Good luck! I think shadowing is a great idea plus most hospitals have staff that are great to be shadowed they don't just throw you with anybody. Some people aren't teachers. I've been shadowed numerous times and I love sharing my love of nursing.

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When I was a Senior in High School, I shadowed a friend of the family who was a NICU nurse and I loved it! And, she was so great about letting me shadow...everyone was very receptive. It helped me make a decision about my future: nurse vs. teacher, now I'm a LPN for 4 1/2 yrs and I love it. I haven't quite made it to the NICU yet, but maybe oneday I'll be there. Good luck! I think shadowing is a great idea plus most hospitals have staff that are great to be shadowed they don't just throw you with anybody. Some people aren't teachers. I've been shadowed numerous times and I love sharing my love of nursing.

Thank you MaryB! I look forward to it :)

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Specializes in geriatric, ER.
They do but unfortunately I missed the deadline to get into them :( we do however have a club called HOSA that might offer something similar, I'll have to check it out!

I did HOSA in high school! It's health occupations students of America. I competed in research speaking and CPR/First Aide. It looks great on a college resume!

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Specializes in None.

You all have a good Health Occupations class in high school. At my high school...yeah right. We have none of that, and all of our lab equipment is a piece of crap (better than nothing) the beds are broken, etc. It sucks that they put students in that class, and they aren't the least bit interested

in nursing, or being a CNA. All they want to do is "play" taking the wheelchairs through the school, and destroying everything. Sorry for the vent. However, I would love to shadow a nurse too this summer so this thread is interesting for me.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I love it when someone is interested in psychiatric nursing and welcome the opportunity to provide a shadow experience.

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Thank you everyone!

I'll definitely look into HOSA and ask the teacher in charge what it is they do and how it could help me in the future :) I'm glad it did good for you!

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