KayJay,

I just completed my externship and i can tell you that many offices like when an extern shows initiative. You have to ask questions, and ask anyone and everyone if they need help or if you can watch them/practice with them. Some people are just not good at teaching others, as may have been the case in your friend's experience.

I was lucky in that the office I went to (an urgent care clinic) was staffed with MAs, a nurse practicioner and a doctor, all of whom were willing to take the time to talk with me and teach me and let me put the skills I learned to use. Your friend needs to speak up and ask to be able to do things. If she does that and nothing changes then she should speak to her program director about finding another site.

Your externship is truly what you make of it. If you show initiative, ask questions and try to get involved as much as possible you will take away a lot of valuable information and you will improve your skills. Best of luck to you!!

Are You Still In School? yes

Are You Working? no, but looking

Amy - Thanks for replying. You are right...you do have to ask questions. I like to do that by nature, so I'll have no prob w/that! :)

As far as my classmate is concerned, things haven't gotten any better for her. She is currently looking for another site but found out she's gonna have to do it on her own. She said the office is so unprofessional. She talked to the office mgr and addressed her concerns. The mgr is supposed to talk to the staff, but I'm not sure if that will happen or not. I say that bc its a small office and I'm sure she knows what is going on there. My friend/classmate said staff are contantly arguing & its been done in front of patients as well. It defintely sounds like I place I wouldn't want to drive to everyday. To me, that's bad business and if they're gonna be like that, they shouldn't take students. When you are trying to learn in an externship, that's the LAST thing you want to put up with. She said the kicker was when one of the MAs told her that she should have waited until she was finished w/the program before trying to do an externship. She said it in a nasty fashion. Whew...I'm glad I'm not going to that site!

Are You Still In School? Yes

Are You Working? No