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    Job Shadowing

    The diversity of occupations within health care continue to grow and expand. If you are a student interested in a health-related field, consider a job shadowing experience at Deaconess. We provide supervised shadowing opportunities in both clinical and non-clinical areas. Select a category for details on how to participate.


    Eligibility
    For Students
    For Sponsors
    Day of Job Shadowing
    Application Form


    Eligibility

    This program is geared towards high school and college students with an interest in working in the medical field.


    For Students

    Steps if you want to shadow:

    1. Determine the area/department and the specific person (sponsor) with whom you would like to shadow.
    2. Contact the potential sponsor and ask to shadow him/her. In order to participate in an observation experience at Deaconess, students MUST have a sponsor.  A sponsor is a Deaconess employee who has the shadowing experience arrangements and will accompany the student at all times during the visit. If you need help finding a sponsor, please email studentpathways@deaconess.com.
    3. Complete the Student Application form. This form can be saved and resumed at a later date using a unique form URL. If you save your form to resume it later, you must keep this form URL and will have 30 days to complete the form. Within the form you must submit the following four sections:
      1. General Application
        • Immunization Record Upload: This section will include a place for you to upload the necessary vaccine information outlined below. The upload field accepts up to 7 files with a maximum file size of 10 MB. We recommend uploading a ZIP file of all required immunization documents if possible. 
          • All students must submit proof of flu vaccine for observations from October 1 - March 31.
          • Students Shadowing in Patient Care Areas must also provide the following immunization records: 
            1. MMR documentation (2 doses or immune titers for Rubella/Rubeola (measles/Mumps)
            2. Varicella (chicken pox) documentation (2 doses of vaccine or immune titer)
            3. T-spot TB test given in the last 12 months.  Two TB skin tests given in the last 12 months are required for Surgery or Emergency Department.  One QuantiFERON TB Gold blood test is acceptable to meet this requirement.
            4. Influenza (flu) documentation for current season (October 1-March 31)
            5. Hepatitis B series vaccination or a signed declination
            6. Tdap required if interning/externing at Deaconess Women's Hospital
        • If you are a Deaconess Employee, you must provide your Employee ID number and submit authorization from your supervisor approving your internship/externship.
      2. "Patient Confidentiality and Observers Document" and Quiz
      3. Statement of Confidentiality Upload
      4. Observer Orientation Training
    4. Have your Deaconess sponsor sign the second page of The Statement of Confidentiality and email it to observations@deaconess.com with a subject line of "Job Shadowing Statement of Confidentiality - Student/Job Shadower Name"
    5. Set a time, date and location for the job shadowing experience.

    Please note: 

    • If you are a minor, the Patient Confidentiality and Observers document acknowledgement and Statement of Confidentiality Upload must be signed by a parent. Please contact observations@deaconess.com for details on how to complete these documents. 
    • All required paperwork and form elements should be completed along with documentation of immunizations and returned to HR no later than 2 weeks prior to start date. If incomplete, they will not be accepted and you you will not be able to job shadow.
    • After supporting documents, and rotation availability have been reviewed, you will be contacted with an approval or denial via email or through your school advisor.


    For Sponsors

    Steps for Deaconess employees who wish to sponsor an Job Shadowing Student:

    1. Review the qualifications to observe to determine if the student meets criteria.
    2. Refer to Policy & Procedure 45-22 S: Visiting Observer to ensure understanding of Deaconess observation policy and procedures.
    3. Gain approval from manager or director of the area and ensure they are aware of the visit. No one may sponsor an observation without permission and complete paperwork, including physicians.
    4. Be clear with the student regarding the length of job shadowing.
    5. Students job shadowing must be a high school junior at minimum and meet one or more of the following qualifications:
      1. A student has a requirement for a college course, for college credits or to get into a college course
      2. A high school student is in a structured program such as Health Occupations or the observation is required for their class
    6. High school job shadowing students are not permitted in the following areas (exceptions may be made for Deaconess sponsored programs):
      • Emergency Department
      • Behavioral Health Inpatient and Outpatient Services
      • Deaconess Riley Pediatric Unit
      • Pediatric Trauma
    7. No job shadowing students are permitted in the following areas:
      • Patients with isolation precautions
      • Any locked down area
    8. Job shadowing students are not permitted to watch procedures performed on patients under sedation or anesthesia unless the patient has given prior permission and the job shadowing participant is either:        
      • a licensed health care professional, or
      • enrolled participant in a school-based health occupations exploratory program
    9. Establish a date and time for the job shadowing experience.
    10. Direct the job shadowing student to www.deaconess.com/For-You/students. The student will need to complete all requirements and email documents to observations@deaconess.com at least two weeks prior to their job shadowing experience. (Send one email with all forms attached.)
    11. Incomplete paperwork will not be accepted and the student will not be able to participate.
    12. Meet your student at the Information Desk if observing at Deaconess Midtown Hospital or Deaconess Gateway Hospital. Your name, the student’s name, date and time of observation will be sent to the Information Desk before your arrival. If the observation is at a different Deaconess location, arrange a meeting place with your student.
    13. Before entering a patient’s room, please gain permission from the patient by saying, “I have an observer with me today. Is it okay if they join me?”


    Day of Job Shadowing

    1. Park anywhere in visitor parking.
    2. Be punctual. If more than 5 minutes late, the observation will be cancelled for that day.
    3. Go to the Information Desk (or other designated spot) to meet your sponsor.
    4. Students should wear business professional or business casual attire during their shadowing experience. Students participating through a school Health Science or Career and Technical Education program may wear school-approved scrubs or official school attire displaying the school's logo, along with professional bottoms and closed-toe shoes. Professional appearance standards apply at all times while on a Deaconess campus. Students are not issued a Deaconess badge unless they are participating through an approved Health Science program or have received prior approval from Human Resources.
    5. No food or drink is allowed in patient care areas during the observation experience.
    6. Do not record, photograph or video any of your observation.
    7. If you are suffering from a cold, flu, fever, diarrhea or other indicator of communicable illness, PLEASE CANCEL YOUR OBSERVATION AND RESCHEDULE.


    Please contact observations@deaconess.com with any questions regarding Job Shadowing opportunities at Deaconess.


    Student Application Form

    Do you have a sponsor? You MUST have a sponsor to be a Job Shadowing Student. If you need help getting a sponsor, email studentpathways@deaconess.com

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