Doubts

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PAPrincess2018

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Does anyone ever have doubts about becoming a physician? I have never really thought about a career other than human or animal medicine. Last week I was at a job interview/ shadowing experience on a hospital floor. Nothing in animal medicine bothers me. However, the site of a few of the patients made me nearly faint. This was not my first time on a hospital floor. Needless to say I am having doubts on if I want a career with patient contact.
Secondly the position is part time with rotating shifts, weekends and evenings till 11pm included. At first the thought did not bother me, now I am thinking otherwise.

Am I sounding like spoiled brat who wants her weekends and nights off? Im concerned its going to be to much with school. I love science and medicine, but do I look for a career path other than a physician or a PA?
I discouraged and confused at the moment...
 
Does anyone ever have doubts about becoming a physician? I have never really thought about a career other than human or animal medicine. Last week I was at a job interview/ shadowing experience on a hospital floor. Nothing in animal medicine bothers me. However, the site of a few of the patients made me nearly faint. This was not my first time on a hospital floor. Needless to say I am having doubts on if I want a career with patient contact.
Secondly the position is part time with rotating shifts, weekends and evenings till 11pm included. At first the thought did not bother me, now I am thinking otherwise.

Am I sounding like spoiled brat who wants her weekends and nights off? Im concerned its going to be to much with school. I love science and medicine, but do I look for a career path other than a physician or a PA?
I discouraged and confused at the moment...


What bothered you about the sight of the patients?
 
Does anyone ever have doubts about becoming a physician? I have never really thought about a career other than human or animal medicine. Last week I was at a job interview/ shadowing experience on a hospital floor. Nothing in animal medicine bothers me. However, the site of a few of the patients made me nearly faint. This was not my first time on a hospital floor. Needless to say I am having doubts on if I want a career with patient contact.
Secondly the position is part time with rotating shifts, weekends and evenings till 11pm included. At first the thought did not bother me, now I am thinking otherwise.

Am I sounding like spoiled brat who wants her weekends and nights off? Im concerned its going to be to much with school. I love science and medicine, but do I look for a career path other than a physician or a PA?
I discouraged and confused at the moment...

Have you conducted research? Many who enjoy science/medicine but not so much the patient contact & rough hours prefer academia and research. If you haven't tried it out, see if that fits your interests more. My current job has mandatory overnights (11p-7a) in the emergency department, and I've loved every second of it. That's part of the reason why I can see myself as a physician. If you would like to have less crazy hours some specialties allow for that, but only after training, which can be very grueling if you do not expect to be working evenings, weekends, and the occasional overnight (or be on call, for that matter).
 
Have you conducted research? Many who enjoy science/medicine but not so much the patient contact & rough hours prefer academia and research. If you haven't tried it out, see if that fits your interests more. My current job has mandatory overnights (11p-7a) in the emergency department, and I've loved every second of it. That's part of the reason why I can see myself as a physician. If you would like to have less crazy hours some specialties allow for that, but only after training, which can be very grueling if you do not expect to be working evenings, weekends, and the occasional overnight (or be on call, for that matter).
I have not conducted research yet. The job is only 20 hours a week so ideally I would only be working 1 weekend day. I feel like I just get discouraged by seeing everyone else in my life have nights and weekends off...
 
I have not conducted research yet. The job is only 20 hours a week so ideally I would only be working 1 weekend day. I feel like I just get discouraged by seeing everyone else in my life have nights and weekends off...

I can't speak for myself since I haven't attended medical school, but from what others post it seems clear to me that will continue for quite a while if you go to medical school. Your peers that are in their mid-late 20's will be making much more money than you will and have much more free time. Sacrifices are made for any profession, of course. But medical school is a commitment that will be hard to hold true to if you get discouraged from seeing others enjoying their ample leisure time. Again though, this is just what I glean from SDN.
 
Honestly, having nights and weekends off is not a realistic expectation for going into most areas of medicine. People get sick at inconvenient times, and then they need care. I work in a clinic right now that's not even remotely close to an "emergency" specialty, but I've learned that I shouldn't make plans after work because inevitably, that's the night we have a difficult patient that isn't even out of the clinic until 7PM, not including my cleaning and wrapping-up routine. If you can't see yourself working nights and weekends, then you may be at an impasse.

However, getting faint at procedures/seeing patients isn't necessarily a death knell for medicine. I totally almost passed out watching one of my first procedures at my clinic (long story short, the room was really hot, I was trying to translate, and all the sudden I realized I had to sit down or else I would be on the floor), but now I'm totally fine with everything. Be aware of how you're feeling, and make sure that you're not locking your knees! I was really bad for doing that at first, and it's kind of amazing how fast some subtle knee-bends can help if you've been standing for a while. Also, watch your breathing. Sometimes I would forget to breathe when assisting with procedures or seeing patients(I know it sounds stupid, but it happens), and then I'd be a little light-headed. So take some breaths and bend your knees a bit next time.
 
Regarding your near syncopal episode, it is fairly common, the exciting new environment, a specific phobia (eyes, needles, blood, etc.), poor eating habits and exercise prior to the shift... the list goes on. Try your best with breathing exercises, sitting down, watching your feared environment on youtube, eating well beforehand. Eventually people can get accustomed to these things, I know I did.

Then to your second point, I take it you are a college student? You would be arrogant not to be concerned about a late night medical job being too much with school. Ultimately it is something only you can answer, but a strenous schedule can be a make or break point for people to either develop the best time managment skills, or to fail. If you think you would fail in this current situation, but still would like to be a competitive applicant, then I would not set yourself up for failure. There are many flexible scheduling, and summer opportunities to get medical experience (If PA is on the table for you, then you'll need 1000+ hrs. of real clinical work) that are more than adequate for medical schools.
 
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