St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids - Job Shadowing
St. Luke's Job Shadow Program
Thank you for your interest in participating in a job shadow at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital. We’re committed to providing educational opportunities for individuals interested in healthcare careers, whether clinical or non-clinical in nature. Our Job Shadow Program is for students or individuals considering a career change or exploration.
Job shadows are unpaid, observational hours only and will not provide hands-on experience. This usually involves students in high school or college, but we also will consider requests from individuals that are considering a career change. You will be paired with a job shadow mentor and must remain with them throughout the job shadow experience. Your mentor will be able to answer questions about a typical day, education and skill requirements, and generally what the position involves.
Students must be at least a junior in high school in order to job shadow. Job shadows for high school students are at the discretion of the department. If you are interested in a nursing job shadow, please reach out to the Workplace Learning Connection at (319) 398-1040. Students under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign their application. Appropriate accident and liability insurance is the responsibility of the job shadow participant and/or parent or legal guardian.
Job shadow experiences will be evaluated on an individual basis. St. Luke’s Hospital reserves the right, at any time, to cancel or suspend job shadow experiences based on community health or patient safety concerns. Many job shadow opportunities are held Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., however exceptions do apply. Job shadows are generally four hours long and will last no longer than eight hours. Some departments within the clinic or hospital are generally unable to accommodate job shadow requests, such as CPC (Child Protection Center) and Behavioral Health Services. Requests are subject to the department manager’s approval and may be limited due to staff availability or workload. Some departments may have other specific parameters that must be met.
St. Luke's does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion, marital status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veterans' status or age. Applicants should not have been convicted of any crime, i.e., theft, acts of violence, child/adult abuse, that would eliminate them from being a job shadow participant at St. Luke's.
- Medical, PA or ARNP students: Please contact Cherie Weber at cherie.weber@unitypoint.org for information regarding job shadowing a provider.
- For all other interests, please see the application process below.
- Nursing job shadows are only available through Workplace Learning Connection. Interested junior and senior students should call the main office at (319) 398-1040.
- Emergency department job shadows are usually not available for high school students.
- For all other interests, please see the list of available job shadow opportunities below.
The Workplace Learning Connection brings together students from Cedar, Benton, Iowa, Jones, Linn, Johnson and Washington counties in east central Iowa looking for career information and connects them to area business professionals who are interested in preparing our region's future employees. Students become more prepared for the local job market, and businesses have the opportunity to mold potential employees, creating a hands-on way for students to explore careers while still in high school. Interested students should call the WLC main office at (319) 398-1040.
Application Process
In order to apply for a Job Shadow experience, you must complete the following steps.
- Check the list of available job shadow opportunities to see if there is an opportunity in your area of interest and find department contact information.
- Download, save, complete and email a Job Shadow Application. If you are interested in more than one job shadow, you must complete a new application for each area of interest.
- Email completed application to the appropriate contact person listed in the Available Job Shadow Opportunities.
- Review the Self-Study Orientation packet.
- Upon review of your application, you will be contacted. A minimum of two weeks' notice is required prior to actual placement. Job shadows are scheduled at the discretion of the department.
Our first priority is meeting the needs of our patients. While we attempt to accommodate the learning needs of our students, at times we may decline a request for a job shadow experience even if all the requirements are met. Please remember that we need to have adequate resources to serve our patient population. In addition, some areas require a high degree of sensitivity and are not suitable for job shadowing. If your request is not approved, you will be notified.
FAQs
Job Shadow Self-Study Orientation
- The purpose of the job shadow is to provide you with a worthwhile learning experience. Come to your job shadow with prepared questions to ask your mentor.
- Patients are our number one priority; thus, all job shadow participants must comply with rules designed to protect patient privacy.
- This packet will introduce you to our policies on: Confidentiality & HIPAA, Infection Prevention, Safety, Professional Conduct and Dress Code.
- It's important to comply with all of these policies to participate in a job shadow.
- Please stay home if you are ill - we'll make every effort to reschedule your job shadow experience. Contact your assigned department if you have questions, need to reschedule or will be late.
- Please share any concerns with Human Resources at: (319) 369-7275
- Patients have the right for their medical information to be kept private and confidential.
- HIPAA (Health Insurance and Accountability Act) regulations govern how patient information is handled. HIPAA applies to our entire workforce, including employees, students, medical staff and volunteers. It also applies to job shadow participants.
- You will be required to sign a form indicating that you understand the importance of patient and hospital confidentiality. In addition, you are expected to comply with appropriate hospital and clinic rules and regulations. We respect the rights of our patients. All patient-related job shadows are subject to patient approval. The patient has the right to refuse to have a job shadow participant present during a visit or procedure.
- Access to patient information is restricted to a "need to know" basis. As a job shadow participant, you do not have rights to access patient paper and electronic records. This includes paper and electronic medical records.
- However, if you job shadow in a patient care area, you may be exposed to PHI (Protected Health Information). PHI includes patient name, names of relatives, patient address, photos, email address, phone numbers or any other information that can be used to identify an individual.
- A breach of confidentiality occurs when patient information is accessed, used or disclosed without proper authorization
- Examples of situations you must keep confidential (do not share with anyone) while you are job shadowing:
- You may see public figures you recognize that are here for lab tests.
- If you are with a nurse you may go into a patient's room and realize it is a former neighbor.
- You may see a classmate leaving an OB physician's office.
- "What do I do if I see a patient I know?"
- It's okay to greet them
- You can tell them you are here as part of a job shadow experience, but don't:
- Ask why they are here
- Tell friends, your parents, teachers or anyone else that you saw them in the hospital
- "What information can I share about my job shadow experience?"
- General information about the department you visited
- Types of procedures that are typically done
- The education and skill level required for the jobs you observed
- Remember, patients trust us with their healthcare information.
- Job shadow participants will sign a Confidentiality Statement of Understanding.
- Ask yourself, "How would I want my personal healthcare information treated?"
- Infection Prevention is everyone's job.
- As a job shadow participant student you must remain with your guide or mentor, and follow their example:
- Cough or sneeze into your sleeve at the crook of your elbow.
- Wash with soap and running water for at least 15 seconds. Hand hygiene is the single, most effective way to prevent the spread of infection.
- Use waterless hand sanitizers. They are very effective and may be used up to 10 times between hand washing unless hands are visibly or knowingly soiled. Pumps are located in patient care areas and throughout the campus.
- Practice hand hygiene:
- Before entering a patient's room
- When exiting a patient's room
- Before and after patient contact
- Before and after eating
- If your hands have been near your mouth, nose, or eyes
- After using the bathroom
- Before and after using gloves
- Business casual attire is appropriate – slacks with a blouse or polo shirt.
- No perfumes or cologne.
- Long hair should be pulled back.
- Visible prejudicial tattoos must be covered.
- Jewelry must be appropriate: No facial piercings other than a maximum of 3 earrings per ear.
- No jeans, shorts, sweatshirts, t-shirts or tank tops.
- Scrubs and lab coats are generally reserved for healthcare professionals and shouldn't be worn unless the department provides them for you.
- Shoes must be closed toe and comfortable for prolonged walking and standing. No sandals, flip flops or high heels.
- Hosiery or socks must be worn.
- Clothing must be clean, and your general appearance must be neat and professional.
- Please comply with the dress code requirements. Individuals that are dressed inappropriately will be asked to reschedule their job shadow experience.
- Arrive 10 minutes early to your job shadowing experience and introduce yourself with a handshake.
- Professional conduct must be maintained at all times.
- The use of tobacco products is not allowed anywhere on the campus.
- Please turn cell phones off or set to "silent". Sending and receiving text messages at any time other than break times are disruptive and disrespectful.
- No gum chewing, food or drink.
- Patient care is our number one priority.
- You may park in the visitor parking lot. Please don't park in areas marked for Volunteers or Valet parking.
- You are welcome to use the cafeteria or Brewed Awakenings.
- Leave valuables at home or locked in the trunk of your car. St. Luke's is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
- Ask questions! We want this to be a learning experience for you.
- A light meal is suggested before you job shadow, but please let someone know if you become nauseous or light-headed while you are here.
- Stay home if you are ill - we'll gladly reschedule your job shadow experience.
- Please arrive on time for your job shadow experience.
- Contact your assigned department if you have questions, need to reschedule or will be late. You may also contact Human Resources, Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (319) 369-7275.