We're happy to offer job shadowing opportunities to our community.
Our program aims to help students:
- Observe the daily routines of health care workers
- Identify career interests in health care
- Gain awareness of the academic, technical and personal skills required in health care professions
- Develop an understanding of the critical connections between school, work and goal attainment.
Job shadowing is designed to be an observation-only experience, lasting two to eight hours. The experience does not fulfill any clinical or internship requirements nor does it provide any hands-on experience. Job shadowing is for individual participants only and is not available for groups of students.
Who is eligible to participate?
- High school students age 16 and above (parent or guardian signature is required for all applicants age 16 or 17)
- College students
- Employees
- Volunteers
- Individuals exploring a second career
How to apply
Step one: Read the FAQs.
Please read the FAQs at the bottom of this page to learn more about the program before submitting an application.
Step two: Take the quiz.
Watch the Program Guide Video below. When the video ends, a link will be provided to take a short quiz about the program.
Step three: Submit a completed application.
Send a completed application to student_education@coxhealth.com. If you prefer to hand-write your application, a clear, well-lit photo of the application is acceptable to send via email. If you would like to submit the application electronically, please download the PDF and save it to your desktop before you fill out any fields. Please use the checklist on the back page of the application to ensure your submission is complete. Incomplete submissions will not receive approvals. It will take one to three business days to review your completed application.
Step four: Schedule your shadowing experience.
After you have submitted a complete application and are approved to schedule, you will receive a list of phone numbers for departments you expressed interest in shadowing. It is your responsibility to arrange a shadowing experience with a provider. Further instructions on scheduling will be provided upon submission of a complete application.
Step five: Check in.
After making a reservation with each department you plan to shadow, you must check in with the link provided to you by the Education Center. You will not be authorized to shadow until you have checked in. After the education center receives your check in, you will receive written authorization to shadow within one to three business days.
Job Shadowing Program Guide
Can I perform any procedures?
No, shadowing is observation only. If any attempt at a hands on experience is made, you will be sent home immediately and flagged on all future job shadowing applications.
What does the job shadow application entail?
There are five forms within the application that must be filled out and signed. The first form is the application itself. The second form is the immunization form. Here you record the date and place you were vaccinated. Photocopies of these vaccinations must be attached to your application. The remaining three forms are the program participant waiver warning, the confidentiality and security agreement and the acknowledgement checklist. In addition, applicants must watch a brief program guide video and pass an online quiz about the program.
What vaccinations do I need to job shadow?
- Two varicella shots or proof of chickenpox immunity
- Two measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shots or proof of immunity
- Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) shot
- Flu shot (only required during flu season)
- Tuberculosis (TB) test, read within the last 12 months
View our vaccination requirements to learn more.
How do I know what I scored on the quiz?
You won’t know your quiz score immediately. Scores are automatically sent to the Education Center. After submitting a complete application, the Education Center will notify you if the quiz needs to be retaken.
How old do you have to be to job shadow?
The minimum age to job shadow is 16. No exceptions will be made for anyone under the age of 16. You must be 18 to job shadow in the Pediatric Department.
How do I submit an application?
Email your application to student_education@coxhealth.com or fax it to 417-269-4787. An emailed photo of the completed application is also acceptable.
Can employees job shadow?
Yes, employees can job shadow. Employees are not required to complete the application, but are required to check in before they are authorized to shadow. Please contact the Education Center to receive the check in link. Checking in is mandatory for all shadowing experiences.
Once my application is approved, how long do I have to job shadow?
About 90 days. If you have not job shadowed within that time period, contact the Education Center and receive an extension.
I’ve had the chicken pox, do I still need the Varicella vaccine?
No, but you will need a document on official letterhead with your physician’s signature stating you have been exposed to the chicken pox and are immune. You may also submit positive titer results to prove immunity. For more information on how to get a titer drawn, see “Where can I get vaccinated?”
Where can I get vaccinated?
- Your
primary care provider
- Westside
Public Health Center, a division of Springfield-Greene County Health Department;
417-874-1220
- Your
local county health department; a directory can be found online at health.mo.gov
- Jordan
Valley Community Health Center; 417-831-0191
- Any
Lab Test Now, 1921 E. Independence Ave. Springfield, MO; 417-889-8378
- Request
A Test, 1310 E. Kingsley St. Springfield, MO; 417-882-2900
- Various
Walgreens, Walmart, Hy-Vee and CVS locations
Do I need to do anything else once I have scheduled my shadowing experience?
Yes. After you receive instructions on how to schedule your shadowing experience, you will make reservations with a provider. To receive approval for those reservations, you are required to check in with the link provided to you.
If I want to shadow more, do I have to check-in again?
Yes, each shadowing experience must be checked-in.
How long does it take to receive written authorization after I have checked-in online?
You will receive authorization in three business days after the planned shadowing has been checked in with the link provided by the Education Center. See step five, above.
How long can I shadow in a single department?
You may shadow in a single department for up to five days. Anything longer than five days in the same department must be approved by the Vice President of Human Resources.
Can I shadow a family member?
Yes, but it must be approved by the Vice President of the department you plan to shadow.