Program Overview
The Job Shadow Program at Central Vermont Medical Center provides experiential learning opportunities designed to aide individuals with learning about health career options as well as the skills that different occupations require. Shadowing provides an opportunity for a student or individual interested in a career change to spend time in a department or profession that interests them. The program offers one-time shadowing opportunities for up to four (4) hours in length.
Extended Job Shadow opportunities are available for high school students enrolled in a Work-Based
Learning course at their school. Extended Job Shadow opportunities are also available to students needing a specified number of hours (beyond four hours) in order to meet college course requirements and/or to apply to a specific degree program (i.e. Physical Therapy, Physician’s Assistant’s programs, etc).
Program Goals
The goals of the Job Shadow Program at Central Vermont Medical Center are to assist students in accomplishing the following:
- Observe the daily routines of healthcare workers
- Begin to identify a career interest in healthcare
- Gain awareness of the academic, technical and personal skills required in healthcare professions
- Develop an understanding of the critical connections between school, work and goal attainment.
What is Shadowing?
Shadowing provides an opportunity for a student or individual interested in a career change to spend time in a department or service area that interests them. Shadowing is not a hands-on experience. It is an observation and informational experience only.
What departments/positions of interest are available for Shadowing*?
- Administrative Assistants
- Care Management (Social Work)
- Marketing and Communications
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Dietician/Nutrition
- Emergency Department
- Financial Services
- Health Information Management (Medical Coding)
- Information Services
- Laboratory
- Materials Management
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Home Care
- Pharmacy
- Physician Assistant
- Physician (* restrictions may apply)
- Plant Facilities (Engineering)
- Registered Nurse
- Rehabilitative Services
- Respiratory Therapy
- Surgical Services
*exceptions may be made on an individual basis with both Director and VP approval
Who is eligible to participate?
Students who are at least 16 years of age and in their Junior or Senior year of High School can participate in the Job Shadow Program. The program is also available to college students and those individuals exploring a career change.
Students must be in good academic standing and have endorsement for the program from an appropriate academic representative (i.e. guidance counselor or faculty member).
How does a student apply for a Job Shadow?
CVMC is committed to providing a positive learning experience for students who partake in their program. Due to the high number of requests that are received each year, students may apply for a singular or an extended Job Shadow experience at two identified times in the calendar year. For Job Shadow experiences intending to be completed during the fall semester (September – December), applications must be received no later than August 1st of each year. For Job Shadow experiences intending to be completed in the spring semester, applications must be received no later than December 1st of each year. Students will be approved on a first-come first-serve basis. Placements will not be guaranteed and are at the discretion of the host department.
A formal agreement with Central Vermont Medical Center must be in place to begin placement request.
High school students must work through their guidance counselor who will, in turn, provide to CVMC’s Human Resources Department a copy of the completed Student Observer Confidentiality Acknowledgement, Job Shadow Program Registration Form, and Student Health Status Form with all required health records/documentation. Students are asked to indicate their department or position of interest in order of preference; CVMC will make every to attempt to give students their preference, but cannot guarantee availability. Students that are minors under 18 years of age must have a parent/legal guardian signature on the registration form in order to participate in the program. Criminal record checks may be required for extended job shadows for individuals above 18 years of age.
As soon as scheduling for the job shadowing has been finalized, written confirmation will be sent to both the student and the guidance counselor. This confirmation will contain the name of the contact person who will be providing the shadowing opportunity, the department, and directions for parking, time, length and location of shadowing.
Confidentiality
Central Vermont Medical Center has a legal and ethical responsibility to safeguard the privacy of all patients and protect the confidentiality of their protected health information (PHI). During the course of their job shadow experience, students may see, overhear, access or temporarily possess a patient’s protected health information. All protected health information must be maintained in the strictest confidence. As a condition of participation in the Job Shadow Program at Central Vermont Medical Center, all students must sign a Student Observer Confidentiality Acknowledgement before their shadowing experience begins.
CVMC’s Conduct and Dress Code Expectations
As part of the Job Shadow Program, the appearance and conduct of students is important. Students participating in job shadowing are guests of CVMC and will be expected to act in a courteous and respectful manner and abide by CVMC’s policies. During your job shadowing experience, you will not need a purse, cell phone, pager or backpack. Do not bring large amounts of cash, books, journals, etc. Cell phone use is NOT permitted inside the medical center during a shadowing experience.
Any students who do not abide by the policies and guidelines of the program may be dismissed from participation.
Transportation and Parking
It is the responsibility of the student to provide their own transportation to and from the job shadowing opportunity.
If you will be driving on the day of your shadowing experience, you may park in the Visitor’s Parking. If you will be dropped off on the day of your shadowing experience, you can be dropped at the front entrance of the building and stop for directions at the front desk.
General Safety
If there are any unusual circumstances while you are shadowing, you will be given instructions by the person assigned to you.
Central Vermont Medical Center is a smoke-free campus and we ask that you abide by the policies of CVMC.
If you are not feeling well due to a cold, flu, or other reasons, please reschedule your job shadowing experience. We do not want to put our patients at risk. It is required that you wash your hands upon entering and leaving the facility. Proper hand washing helps to prevent the spread of infections from one person to another.
Some participants may experience discomforts during their job shadowing experience due to the nature of health care professions. To prevent experiences of dizziness or discomfort, please be sure to eat before coming to the facility.
If you are unable to report for your scheduled job shadowing experience due to an emergency or illness, please notify the person you will be shadowing or the department you will be going to. In the event you are unable to contact that individual, please promptly notify the Human Resources Department at 802-371-4191.
Any student who does not come in as specified, and for whom cancellation has not been made will be reported to his/her guidance counselor. Anyone failing to cancel will not be rescheduled.
Health Requirements
All health requirements and the Student Health Status Form must be completed and approved before a Job Shadow appointment will be scheduled.
At CVMC, we strive to make your shadowing experience the best it can possibly be. We hope that you enjoy your experience at Central Vermont Medical Center and discover all of the rewarding career opportunities that healthcare professions offer.
We appreciate any feedback you may have to offer about your experience, so that we can continue to work at improving the program for future students exploring health careers.
For additional questions regarding the program, please contact our Human Resources Department directly at 802-371-4191.