What type of experience is accepted towards the 500 hours of patient care experience?
Patient
care experience must be direct, "hands-on" patient contact e.g., RN,
EMT or paramedic, health educator, patient care attendant or nurse's
aide, clinic assistant, Peace Corps volunteer or other cross-cultural
health care experience, technologist, therapist, clinical research
assistant, respiratory therapist/aide, medical assistant, OR tech,
PT/OT assistant, therapist.
What types of experience will NOT be accepted toward the 500 hours of patient care experience?
PA
or physician observer or shadowing, non-clinical research assistant
positions, student "intern" experiences (considered on a case by case
basis), candy striper or junior volunteer positions, CPR or ACLS
instructor,
wilderness medicine instructor, patient transporter, pharmaceutical
representative, ski patroller, life guard, aerobics instructor, unit
clerk, insurance clerk, medical secretary or other clerical positions.
Do you have any suggestions on how I can obtain the 500 hours of patient care experience?
Many
applicants begin working in the health care field in the summer between
high school and college. By working in health care each summer through
their undergraduate education they accrue the necessary hours.
Potential entry-level positions (paid and unpaid) include EMT,
phlebotomist, nursing aide, home health care aide, and volunteers for
community mental health or family planning agencies.