Possibly wanting to Shadow a RN in the ER

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today i had someone suggest to me that the next time i am home on an extended leave from the military, maybe i should look into shadowing a rn in a few different areas that i may be interested in. i know i would have no problem shadowing in a local nicu or picu, but i would like to also check out the emergency department. i really do want to be a pediatric pa, but here lately i have been exploring all of my options in the medical field. i have looked into becoming a pa, np, rn, or even a respiratory therapist. i guess i have interest in a little bit of everything really.

is it possible to shadow someone in the emergency department and if so, who do i contact or if i know someone could they submit the request?

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

It would be helpful to know your current MOS.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

I shadowed troughout this past school year and this summer through my High School's Allied Health/ CNA training program where we were required to shadow so many hours. I specifically chose the ED, and ICU.I graduated this past jJune and had to set up my shadowing days for the summer myself.

Most of the time you can just go to your local hospital and contactd someone in human resources or the hospitals nurse recruiter, that what I did this summer.

I really enjoy shadowing. Especially because my mentor or nurse that I was shadowing didn't just let me sit ther eand do nothing. Since I was recieving CNA training he and she ( I have shadowed more than once with more than one nurse) let do the skills I had been checked off on and felt conmfortable doing. They talked to me kindly and taught me what the role of the nurse is in various situations. I got a chance to see a suture put in, participate in the care of a man who fell from over 25 feet, witness a truama, so much.

Shadowing will also look good on a resume for Nursing School and gives you a small glimpse into the daily schedule of a nurse. I am hoping that my shadowing experience will help me next fall when I hope to enter Nursing school.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I don't know how easy it will be to shadow, most places don't do it anymore beacuse of HIPPA. But you could always volunteer. I did that before I got into nursing school. I volunteered in the ED of a trauma center, so I got to see the trauma team work when something came in. It required very little paperwork, I think I had to get a TB skin test, and then an orientation that lasted about 2 hours (mostly doing HIPPA education).

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Specializes in ED.

You should ask the unit manager about shadowing. If the place(s) you want to shadow don't allow it, then yes, volunteer. Having volunteered in an ED myself, this is where I fell in love with the ED.

As for being interested in so many aspects of healthcare, my (biased) opinion is that RN is the best way to go. You have tons of options. Get tired of one aspect, transfer to another. It is wide open for you.

DC :)

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DC Collins you are the second person to recommend to go the RN route on here!! I just want to get a feel for which area I really want to go. My job now as an USN FMF Hospital Corpsman, I see everything and do a little of everything. There is no real seperation so I want to be sure when I go into the civilian world, that I am in the exact field I want to be in.

I think I will look into the shadowing idea. I have an extended leave coming up and I am going to try to work on it for that time.

Thank you everyone for the great advice and tips!

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