Having the opportunity to job shadow with a pediatrician gives you an inside look at the day-to-day responsibilities of being a health care provider. While job shadowing typically does not involve hands-on participation, asking questions about various processes and approaches will help you develop a well-rounded understanding of the job’s requirements.
Processes and Procedures
While you shouldn’t interrupt the pediatrician in the middle of an exam or procedure to ask a question, take notes while you’re observing if you have questions about what was done and why. Pediatricians often take different approaches with patients based on their ages and temperaments, and you can learn more by asking about the reasoning behind different actions.
Likes and Dislikes
Just like any job, there are things about a pediatrician’s job that she likes, and those that she doesn’t care for. You may ask about a particular scenario you witness with a question like, “Is it hard to give a shot to a crying baby?” or pose a general question, like, “Do you like it when a child’s parent tries to help with the exam and asks lots of questions?” Some issues may be confidential, but the doctor will likely be willing to share general thoughts and feelings about the profession.
Challenges and Obstacles
Being a pediatrician isn’t just about treating sick kids and conducting well-baby checks. There are often administrative functions related to handling insurance claims, scheduling appointments and dealing with emergencies that comprise a lot of a doctor’s day. Ask questions about the most frustrating challenges and obstacles the doctor encounters and how she deals with them. Include questions related to how many hours she works, how she combines work and family and whether she would choose the same career path again if starting over. This will give you insight into the realities of the profession.
The pediatrician you’re shadowing is a good source of information for how the health care industry is evolving. Ask questions about what type of employment opportunities she thinks will be available in the future and what type of skills and education are important for the job. Ask for suggested reading materials that will tell you more about the health care professions, and seek advice about other professionals and colleagues you might be able to meet.
At the end of the day, your goal of job shadowing is to ascertain if the profession is something you personally want to pursue. Ask the pediatrician to describe the personal satisfaction she finds in the job, and whether it outweighs the challenges and negative aspects. Ask her why she originally went into medicine and what the driving factors are that keep her committed to the profession.
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