Shadowing Opportunities at Children's Hospital, Inc.

Career shadowing is an academically motivating activity designed to give students an up-close look at the world of work and to answer the question, "Why do I have to learn this?"  The student gets to see firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to the workplace. 

The shadowing experience here at Children's, encourages students to enter healthcare professions by providing relevant and realistic experiences via shadowing trained professionals.  The program is designed to allow interested students the opportunity to spend one day with a healthcare professional in a particular field.  Children's beginning in October of the 2003-2004 school year, will offer Shadow Days on non school days for Columbus Public Schools .  Limited space is available, so early registration is encouraged.

Criteria

• Contact your Career Connections teacher (Mrs. Hendrickson) or the Internship Coordinator (Mr. Dunlap)
• Internship or Guidance counselors should be the liaison for students.
• Notify the Education Department two weeks prior to the requested observation date.
• Students must attend a school covered by a Letter of Understanding
• High School students
•  14-15 years of age permitted to shadow in clinic areas
• 16 years of age and older may shadow in clinics or patient units

Responsibilities

• Complete registration form online--see the link below
• Complete pre and post job shadow assignments (including a thank you note)
• Arrange transportation
• Arrive 10 minutes prior to scheduled time of 8:30 a.m.
• Students should have professional appearance (discuss with your parent and teacher--slacks and nice shirt would look good)
• Follow Children's Hospital  procedures and guidelines
• Complete an evaluation at the end of the shadowing experience
• Complete an Internship Form--get signed by the healthcare professional--turn in to Career Connections teacher or Internship Coordinator

Some Participating Departments

• Audiology
• Behavioral Health
• Cardiology
• Department of Dentistry
• Central Ohio Poison Center
• Clincial Social Worker
• Education
• Eye clinic
• Family and Volunteer Services
• Nutrition Support Services
• Finance
• Homecare
• Human Resources
• Infectious Diseases
• Information Services
• Marketing
• Neonatology
• Patient Care Services
• Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy
• Pastoral Care
• Pharmacy
• Pulmonary
• Radiology
• Respiratory Therapy
• Rheumatology

To schedule an observation experience or if you would like additional information,

Keyla Fincher, Operations Coordinator
Education Department (614)722-4904
[email protected]

Please only register to sign up to job shadow if you are interested in that department or career.  The professionals at Children's Hospital are taking time away from their work to let students job shadow them. 

Memo from one of the job shadow mentors:

Thanks for the opportunity to have high school shadow student today.  Just wanted to make you aware of a few things I found interesting.  First the freshman that was my shadow had on open toed sandals today.  In the areas in which I work this is not acceptable per the hospital dress code.  Not sure if you go over this type of thing prior to their coming here but it might be something to think about for future shadow students.  It made me a bit uncomfortable given that I work in these areas on a daily basis.   Fortunately no one said anything to me/us about it. 

Also, I was under the impression that the student had an interest in the department.  When I was talking to her about this she acted surprised.  I asked what made her decide that she might want to go into the field of _____________ her reply was that she wasn't sure she wanted to be a ____________(I got the impression that she may not have had any idea what a _________was??..again, it was my impression and I might be wrong..she was pretty quiet all morning) and that she just wanted to "work with kids".  When I told her that we don't get to "play" with the kids/patients she was very surprised and somewhat disappointed.    I realize she is only a freshman but I am not so sure she got out of the day what she had hoped to get out of it.  I changed gears and tried to show her some of the other areas, including dietetics, that might be options for her (i.e. child life, nursing, doctors, social workers etc).  I am hoping her time with me was not a total disappointment but I also got the impression that she did not have much interest in the ________'s career ladder.  She talked quite a bit about being a pediatrician.