St. Tammany Health System’s Summer Collegiate Shadowing Program is now accepting applications for summer 2022. The application deadline is April 15.
See below for additional information on the program, including program requirements and how to apply.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Summer Collegiate Shadowing Program provides an opportunity for college students to observe or shadow a healthcare employee in order to develop a broader understanding of their intended field of study. Participants must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the shadowing program.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Collegiate Shadowing Program is to provide the best learning opportunity for the individual seeking a medical/healthcare career path. The Shadowing Program provides:
- Opportunities to observe healthcare in practice.
- Exposure to various healthcare career options.
- Information about the requirements to enter various healthcare careers.
- Access to positive role models.
The Shadowing Program is open to persons who are actively enrolling in a four-year healthcare degree program that requires hours of observation as a part of the application process. Observation areas include: respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, etc. (There are no observations with physicians or in surgical services as part of this program.) Participants must be committed to volunteering a minimum of 20 hours.
BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS
- Due to COVID restrictions, participants must wear a mask at all times while shadowing.
- Participants will be respectful and courteous to patients, family members and staff at all times.
- Participants will not touch patients. If participants are allowed to observe a patient during a procedure, the director or manager must obtain the patient’s consent first. If the patient does not have the capacity to consent, the director or manager must obtain the consent of the patient’s legal representative.
- Participants will not make any decisions regarding or render any advice or recommendations as to the treatment or care of patients.
- Participants will not touch medical equipment.
- Participants will not have access to EPIC or STHS Network.
- Participant will not assist in feeding a patient but may assist in food delivery.
- Participants will not approach physicians about personal illness or medications.
- Participants will dress professionally. Recommended professional dress should be polo shirt, khakis or dress slacks and closed toe shoes with a back (This includes dress for orientation). Participants must cover body piercings and tattoos and secure long hair. No jeans or sweatpants. No tank tops or bare midriffs. No baggy clothing or clothing that drags on the floor. No exposed undergarments. No scrubs or lab coats. No open-toe or open-back shoes. No dangling jewelry. No caps or hats.
- Participants will not be permitted to wear scrubs or lab coats, as they are reserved for members of the care provider team.
- Participants must wear their school ID on shirt collar, not at waist level.
- Participants will not perform personal care in the clinical setting (i.e. applying lip gloss, handling contact lenses, eating or drinking, brushing hair, etc.)
- Participants will not be permitted in areas of contamination such as isolation rooms, soiled linen areas and autopsy rooms.
- Participants cannot participate in the program on days they are ill, including but not limited to cold/cough, fever (must be fever-free for 24 hours), chicken pox, pertussis (whooping cough), influenza (respiratory flu), stomach/gastrointestinal flu, tuberculosis, MRSA, COVID.
- If you become COVID-positive during this shadow rotation, please contact the program coordinator as soon as possible. At this point, your date of return will be discussed.
- Participants should not bring purse, cell phone, pager or backpack, as there will be no place to secure belongings.
- It is not advisable to bring large amounts of cash, books, etc.
- Cell phone use is not permitted.
- St. Tammany Health System is not liable for any theft of or damage to personal property while you are on campus for your job shadowing. It is best to leave important personal items at home.
- Participants must park in Parking Lot 7 or Lot 10 and abide by parking instructions.
REQUIRED FORMS FOR SHADOWING PROGRAM
The following materials are required for candidates to the program:
IMPORTANT DATES
- Orientation to the hospital and the program is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18, 2022, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Madisonville Room at St. Tammany Health System’s Covington hospital, 1202 S. Tyler St. Orientation includes explanation of policies and procedures of the hospital, explanation of the program and work schedule, ID badge, N95 fit testing and a tour of the facility. Participants must wear a mask while on-site.
- The program runs from May 23 to June 24, 2022.
- Applications are due by Friday, April 15, 2022. Applicants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.
For additional information, contact: