Clinical Hours

Medical schools like to see that you have clinical experience before you apply. This shows that you've actually spent time within the medical field and have a feel for what it's like (aka that you like what you're getting yourself into before devoting 4+ years of study to it). Clinical hours also help medical schools identify "driven candidates" for their programs. I am using my clinical hours as an opportunity to explore different healthcare systems, specialties, and roles within a hospital, while still spending the most time in the specialty that interests me most. 

There is no set guideline for how many clinical hours you should aim to attain. Some resources list a minimum at 100, others at 200 -- one source I found even listed it at 500. Check with the medical school you hope to attend and your advisors at school, and keep in mind that more is generally considered better (as long as you don't spread yourself too thin or stress yourself out over this).

At PARSE, we recommend a minimum of 200 non-shadowing clinical hours.

Many programs will try to charge you for clinical hours, but they are surprisingly easy to get for free! Here are some ways to get experience in the medical field:

• Volunteer experience 

  • Many hospitals accept student volunteers; these positions range in terms of how much patient interaction you'll get, but they are all great first steps into the medical profession! 

  • In the past, I've volunteered as a "floater," where I restocked supplies near patient rooms and did "rounding" where I helped patients adjust their rooms, got them water, and otherwise helped them feel more comfortable

  • I also volunteered with my local hospital's Child Life department -- this has been my favorite way to gain clinical experience so far! For me, a typical shift involves playing with pediatric patients, either in waiting rooms or in their rooms, and sanitizing toys

• Medical-related projects 

  • If you work on some kind of passion project related to healthcare, shadowing might be a great way to identify your target audience's needs! 

  • Many labs also employ student research assistants

    • You would work with patients in clinical studies to gain consent, explain procedures, and otherwise assist with the research

• Work experience (lisenced) 

  • You can take online/night/otherwise courses over the course of a few weeks or months. Once you have that license, you can practice in the real world! 

  • Here are some examples of jobs pre-medical students (who have the means -- time, money, etc. -- to take courses) might take on:

    • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

    • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

    • Phlebotomist 

    • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

    • Scribe

    • Translator