![\"get-experience-healthcare\"](\"http:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/hsadvising\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19909\/2016\/08\/get-experience-healthcare.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
You’ve embarked on a journey toward becoming a nurse, dental hygienist, nuclear medicine technologist, or other health care professional.\u00a0 You are excited to start your college career and ready to focus on your studies, but now your academic advisor has told you that you have to get experience BEFORE you get into the program that’s going to make you a certified professional.<\/p>\n
Internships are great and you will have required internship\/clinical experiences once you get into your program.\u00a0 But, to get there we strongly encourage you to seek out opportunities for experience<\/strong>.\u00a0 This is important not just to build a competitive application, but also to confirm that you’ve chosen a career field that will be a good fit for you. Getting experience also helps you build a network of potential references when if comes time to apply into your program.<\/p>\n Contact the doctors office\/medical practice your family goes to, call up your dental office, etc. and ask if they will allow you to observe for a few hours. This is a great way to dip your toes in if you haven’t ever seen what the actual day to day operations of a medical office look like behind the scenes.\u00a0 This is a good first step, but don’t stop here!<\/p>\n Look for opportunities at a local hospital <\/strong><\/span>in a department related to your hoped for career.\u00a0 For example, if you are interested in Nuclear Medicine Technology, try to volunteer in the Radiology department.<\/p>\n Hampton Roads\/Coastal Virginia Hospitals<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Volunteer with Hospice<\/strong><\/span>. Hospice organizations assist patients and their families by providing care to maintain quality of life in times where opportunities for treatment of a disease or illness no longer exist and life expectancy is less than six months.<\/p>\n Look for Opportunities with Health Related Volunteer Organizations<\/strong><\/span>. Check out PublicHealth.org<\/a>‘s page with information about why volunteering is important and how you can benefit, as well as a comprehensive list of volunteer resources to get you started.<\/p>\n Healthcare companies or organizations <\/span><\/strong>sometimes accept volunteers or you may be able to find a paid position:<\/p>\n Seek out Free Clinics<\/strong><\/span> like<\/p>\n ODU’s Career Development Services<\/a> has Handshake,<\/a> a system where you can search a wide variety of jobs and opportunities.<\/p>\n Become a Medical Scribe<\/strong><\/span>, which is a great entry-level position that attracts many students.\u00a0\u00a0Check out opportunities with companies like:<\/p>\n Complete a Certificate or Licensure program<\/strong><\/span> that will give you even more direct patient contact and maybe even get you a paid position. Some examples include but are not limited to:<\/p>\n The opportunities are endless for those who really want to get a head start in their field.\u00a0 So get out and get some experience today!!!<\/p>\n So you want to be a health professional?\u00a0 Do you have any … ??????? You’ve embarked on Continue reading How Do I Get Professional Experience?<\/span>So, if not internships, how do you get started?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Shadow a Health Professional<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Volunteer!<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Volunteer\"](\"http:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/hsadvising\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19909\/2020\/05\/volunteer.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Get a JOB!<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Get](\"http:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/hsadvising\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19909\/2020\/05\/get-a-kpb.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
![\"Volunteer\"](\"http:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/hsadvising\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19909\/2020\/05\/volunteer.png\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"