Need advice please - Nurse shadowing

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I've seen many people on this site recommending to shadow a nurse for a day. I'd love to do this, but I'm not sure how to go about doing it. Do I contact the volunteer hotline at the hospitals in my area? Shadowing a nurse isn't exactly volunteer work though is it?

If you are already a nurse, have you ever had anyone "shadow" you? The last thing I want to be is a pain in the rear for anyone, but I also want to see firsthand what it's all about. Not to mention I think it would look good on my admissions paperwork. ;)

I'd appreciate any information on this that you can give me.

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Well, all you can do is ask at your local hospital. I'm sure they would be willing to accomadate you especially if you are thinking about going into the nursing profession.

Good Luck

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I called a local facility and asked how I would go about shadowing a nurse, and they said that I couldn't due to HIPPA laws. I only called the one facility, though, so maybe you should call several in your area, ask for the human resources department, and just ask!

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Are you in a nurse program? Or, do you want to be a nurse? Either way, figure out where you want to be as a nurse. Close your eyes right now for a second and think if you will....... Ok, so go there and see. If one place says no, go somewhere else. Where I am, we are so short, they may put you in scrubs right away. Be well.

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Oh, I just read one of the replies about the HIPPA program. Hospitals use volunteers all the time. I wonder how HIPPA affects that. Not an issue, knowing the amount of people on a unit. Just ask and ask. Find a place. Where do you live?

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Oh, I just read one of the replies about the HIPPA program. Hospitals use volunteers all the time. I wonder how HIPPA affects that. Not an issue, knowing the amount of people on a unit. Just ask and ask. Find a place. Where do you live?

Thanks for your suggestions everyone! :)

I'm not in nursing school yet, but I'm currently going through the admissions process now. I'm actually waiting for my letters of recommendation to be mailed back to me before I mail everything off to the school.

I called the volunteer line at 2 of the hospitals here in Richmond Va. I haven't heard back from one, but I heard from the other and they don't do nurse shadowing there. There is no floor work at all. The application is being mailed to me so I'm going to do the work anyway. I figure volunteering in a medical setting is better than nothing at all. I'm still not going to give up on shadowing a nurse though. I'll put a call into the nursing school and see if they have any ideas.

Thanks again!

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The volunteer department is not the place to ask about this. It is unlikely that the volunteer department would know anything about this.

Go to human resounces and talk to a nurse recuriter. Tell her what you have in mind. Or even better contact the hospital education department.

You might also try the public relations department.

But I think your best bet is 1.the education department or2. recruiting

Check these out the volunteer department may not be aware that the hosp. does this.

Because one hosp does not doesn't mean they all won't so check with several

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Fastest way is to go through the Director of Nursing. In my experience, they have been only too happy to help out.

Good luck........................ :balloons:

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