I have not been involved in any work experience but I do arrange it for students to gain work experience within the Practice. Most of it however is just sitting and watching what others do as it is very hard to give them anything practical to do that is meaningful. It does however give students a good insight into how a Practice runs and what are problems and advantages of working in the Health industry.
I did two lots of work experience: one where I shadowed a junior doctor in the hospital and the other in the hospital pathology department where I saw how they process urine samples, cervical smears, and tissue biopsies. Both were useful and gave me two completely different perspectives of possible medical careers.
I didn’t have any work experience in health before applying (for some reason I chose to do mine in a hotel!) I think it would have been really beneficial for me to know what nursing was like before I began as I found the responsibilities really weighed on me in my first year.
I worked as a carer in a residential home for young disabled. I also shadowed doctors in our local A&E department a couple of times. I remember messing up at the hospital, when I was left with a patient in a recovery room for what seemed like ages.
After what seemed like ages I didn’t know what was happening so left the patient to find someone. I got a right rollocking from the staff for that! But learnt my lesson.
They were both useful introductions to different aspects of healthcare.
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