Many pre-medical students look for work experience in the medical field that will help them gain some medical knowledge and give a boost to their medical school applications. Today, many are finding employment as medical scribes as they prepare to apply to medical schools. Medical scribes are relatively new in medicine, but the number of medical scribe jobs is increasing rapidly. To date, there is no reported literature about the experiences of medical scribes, or about how this unique work experience relates to what they do in medical school.The purpose of this study was to learn about the pre-medical experiences of medical students who worked as medical scribes, and how the medical students made meaning of their experiences. I used qualitative research methods to interview 16 medical students who worked as medical scribes before entering medical school. I used thematic analysis to identify the themes in how they described their experiences, and how they relate their experiences to what they are doing in medical school.My study showed that medical scribe work experience can give medical students a rich framework for learning, provide them with an informed commitment to the profession of a physician, and confidence in their abilities and career choices. By taking an active role in documenting many patient encounters, and by being a part of the medical team in the clinical setting, medical scribes can develop their knowledge, grow as professionals, and develop a positive outlook about medical school and their professional future.
Read
