During my volunteering time, I was working in the Radiology department’s film library. My job involved pretty much anything from mailing out patient medical reports to outside physicians and healthcare facilities to burning medical films on to CDs and updating patient medical records. It was a great experience getting to see how the behind-the-scenes activities function in conjunction with one another in delivering health care. Additionally, I liked how MedStar Georgetown offered a shadowing opportunity for its volunteers once they completed their commitments.
What I wish was different
I wish I had the chance to work with patients more directly. MedStar Georgetown had a department where volunteers could hang around young children and play with them during their time in the hospital, and I was really hoping I could work with them, instead of sitting in an office all day.
Advice
I would recommend that you definitely be straightforward from the beginning about what sort of department you want to work in, because if you play the nice guy and just say “I’m okay with anything,” chances are that you’ll be put in an office with data entry tasks (unless, of course, you actually are okay with any tasks).
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
June - August 2021 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I had a very flexible schedule, which was helpful since I was also studying for the MCAT this summer. I also had a very involved research team that met frequently and I was able to get support from everyone on the team, from the PIs to the research assistants.
What I wish was different
At times the flexible schedule made time management difficult because I didn't have many hard deadline to use to guide myself.
Advice
Be sure to use the human resources that are available to you, i.e. the knowledge and experiences of your coworkers and supervisors. I learned so much from discussing my own experiences and hearing about the experiences of the other people on my research team, and this really added to the skills I learned during the summer.
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Nurse Tech Externship
May - July 2021 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I was able to work closely with the nurses on the floor. I got to know them well and they taught me so much. I worked as a tech but the nurses let me watch or help with lots of nursing skills. I was able to have shadow days with them and we also had 5 classes about different things important to nursing students. Overall I think that this experience helped me grow a lot in my confidence as a nursing student. I came back to school in the fall feeling so much more prepared for class and clinicals.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have had more time.
Advice
Do not be afraid to ask if you can help the nurses! They loved teaching me things. I also think it would be helpful to jot down what they teach you and any interesting experiences you get to have.
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Patient Transporter
June - August 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I enjoyed the one on one experience of meeting different people.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Administrative Assistant Intern
June - August 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I loved working in a hospital setting and feeling like I could make a difference in someone's life.
What I wish was different
I wish I had had more contact with patients and other people visiting in the hospital.
Advice
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Student Nurse Technician
May 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I enjoyed the feel of acting as a part of the team on my unit. I learned a lot more than I have in my courses.
What I wish was different
I wish I'd been able to see other units more.
Advice
It requires hard work, but it's definitely worth being able to do this. I loved every moment of it and your unit will slowly become home.
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Nurse Technician
May - August 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
The nurse management was a fantastic program to work for. They were extremely helpful and supportive and gave us a lot of responsibilities and leaning opportunities. Not only did we get to shadow different units, but we got paid on these shadow days.
What I wish was different
I wish the role was more centered around the nurse rather than the technician, as that work sometimes deviated from the nursing responsibilities.
Advice
I would advice participants to reach out to nurse recruitment to show your interest in addition to the application. Jump on every opportunity they provide for you and ask all the questions you can!
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Summer Nurse Technician
May - August 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I think that the program is very well run. There are lunch and learns where different departments of the hospital come and speak with the nurse techs. There are paid shadow days (I shadowed in the ED, ICU, and on my own floor). The rest of the time I was a tech/Nursing assistant doing vitals, I&Os, EKGs, drawing labs, placing IVs, etc. It was great experience working 8 and 12 hour shifts.
What I wish was different
The application is a physical one - everything has to be sent in via mail, including an official transcript and signed letters of recommendation.
Advice
Start the application early! And if you have no specific floors you would want to work on, say you are open to anything!
