Is shadowing beneficial?

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Just a quick question-

Do you feel shadowing a nurse before starting your nursing program would have been beneficial? My Facility has this option, and I just applied today to shadow. I wanted to be able to get the feel of what i am walking into before I get excited about it.

If your facility has a shadowing program, how does it work? Do you enjoy the time you spend with your shadow? What ways can the shadower make the experience easier?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Are you talking about shadowing before starting nursing school or getting a job on that floor? When it comes to getting a job I definitely recommend doing a shadow day to get a feel for the unit.

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Are you talking about shadowing before starting nursing school or getting a job on that floor? When it comes to getting a job I definitely recommend doing a shadow day to get a feel for the unit.

Shadowing prior to nursing school.

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If there's a shadowing opportunity available, I say take it! Why not?

What to prepare for to make the best of it?

They usually pair you up with a working nurse for a set period of time and you follow them as they go about their work.

Be prepared to ask questions but also be prepared to be just observe and stay out of the way if the nurse you are shadowing has a crisis to deal with.

Wear comfortable shoes as you may be standing a lot. Bring a small notebook to jot down questions and observations.

Do know that shadowing can sometimes be boring or frustrating. The nurse you are shadowing may be too busy to explain all that they're doing and you don't know what you're observing. If the nurse doesn't tell you how they are assessing the patients and prioritizing care, it can look to an observer that the nurse isn't doing much. You see them walk into and out of patient rooms but you can't see their quick visual assessment of the patient's status and their mental figuring of what they may need to do given their assessment. You see them sitting at a desk with charts or standing at a computer screen charting away. It can look like they're just killing time waiting for something to pop up and can be boring to watch for someone shadowing.

On the other hand, you may get to shadow an enthusiastic nurse who loves to explain things and have a great experience. It's definitely worth doing if you're planning to go to nursing school.

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It depends on who you are shadowing. Shadowing a good one is a plus, but shadowing one that is unorganized and unwelcome is a NO, NO!

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Specializes in Behavioral Health, Show Biz.
It depends on who you are shadowing. Shadowing a good one is a plus, but shadowing one that is unorganized and unwelcome is a NO, NO!

:up:

YOU'VE GOT THAT RIGHT!

If the Nurse is organized

and WILLING

to explain his/her actions,

:yeah:

You've hit the Jackpot!!!

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Remember "Take your daughter to work" days? I took my 12 yo, which is when she definitely decided she didn't want to be a nurse after all! Yeah, well, I work in an ER. She did fine, but found out what nursing does and it really isn't for her.

Yes, shadowing is a good idea, especially for those who don't know what nursing is really all about.

BTW, dd is graduating college this spring with a Bach. in Pysch! Caring profession still!

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I think shadowing would be a great opportunity for any new nursing student! Before I started nursing school, I shadowed a nurse for a day. It was a pediatric unit so I also spent some time hanging out with the patients and got to see that they were just normal kids, but unfortunately had serious health problems that kept them from living a normal life. It was good to see the patient's side as well as the nurse's. I definitely recommend it!

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It depends on who you are shadowing. Shadowing a good one is a plus, but shadowing one that is unorganized and unwelcome is a NO, NO!

I absolutely agree. You also might get paired with someone that has little to no compassion for their patients and be fully put off by the experience.

My fingers are crossed for you to get assigned to a nurse with empathy, compassion, and a great attitude :D

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... Do you feel shadowing a nurse before starting your nursing program would have been beneficial? ...

Absolutely!

Try to be observant of everything that'll come your way: what the nurse does, reactions from patients, other team members, ambiance / team spirit, the physical plant, uniforms, relationship with MDs, etc. We could make a list that's pages long.

Main point: Lots of learning opps. Don't miss them!

Good luck.

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