hate and love shadowing at the same time?

[batista_123]

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hello
How come when i shadow I hate it, but when i leave, i miss it?
Has anybody felt this way? Is this a sign that I wont make a good doctor?

 

[tennisball80]

There can be a number of factors that you hate shadowing. Maybe the doctor was mean. Maybe the place you did not like. Maybe you simply did not have a good sleep the day before shadowing.

Have you just done your first time shadowing or have you been doing it for a while?

There is no indication that you will be a horrible doctor just because you don't like shadowing.

 

[batista_123]

There can be a number of factors that you hate shadowing. Maybe the doctor was mean. Maybe the place you did not like. Maybe you simply did not have a good sleep the day before shadowing.

Have you just done your first time shadowing or have you been doing it for a while?

There is no indication that you will be a horrible doctor just because you don't like shadowing.

I have been doing it for a long time. every time i go, i hate it. i dont know why. i think its because i dont understand whats going on, i am confused. not by like medical terms, but like the doc and the patient talk about something and i dont understand it. Or they tell each other a funny joke and i dont understand it.
I like medical care. but to me, this is how it should be: patient comes in, talks about her problem, here is your prescription, goodbye. The doctor that I shadow just talks and talks about their personal lives, where did you go? oh, you took that freeway? its usually very difficult to go from that freeway, why didnt you take this other freeway? Oh you are going to your grandson's birthday? how old is he?
[a joke] [laughter] I have no idea what just happened. Not becuase i have a language problem, but because I dont care so I get ADD when i am in there, i cant pay attention. I dont care if your wife went to so and so freeway blah blah. So yeah, thats why i hate shadowing.
but then when a couple of days pass, i miss it and want to go back. but then when i go back all these feelings start again.

 

[rockaction]

I only shadowed like three doctors in my shadowing career. It was ok but I just kept feeling worthless because I didn't have much applicable medical knowledge. But it's cool to see how the doctors related to patients (except the pathologist, who never saw patients personally...)

I wouldn't say that not liking shadowing should dissuade you from medicine. Shadowing isn't hands-on...so it's not like you've really "tested" the medical field beyond observation.

 

[incognitoguile]

I have been doing it for a long time. every time i go, i hate it. i dont know why. i think its because i dont understand whats going on, i am confused. not by like medical terms, but like the doc and the patient talk about something and i dont understand it. Or they tell each other a funny joke and i dont understand it.
I like medical care. but to me, this is how it should be: patient comes in, talks about her problem, here is your prescription, goodbye. The doctor that I shadow just talks and talks about their personal lives, where did you go? oh, you took that freeway? its usually very difficult to go from that freeway, why didnt you take this other freeway? Oh you are going to your grandson's birthday? how old is he?
[a joke] [laughter] I have no idea what just happened. Not becuase i have a language problem, but because I dont care so I get ADD when i am in there, i cant pay attention. I dont care if your wife went to so and so freeway blah blah. So yeah, thats why i hate shadowing.
but then when a couple of days pass, i miss it and want to go back. but then when i go back all these feelings start again.

This is good, you might be one of the few genuine people who isn't fit to be a family physician then! Try shadowing a neurosurgeon and you'll love it, no talk, no ADD, complete concentration, complete business.

 

[dukemed22]

I shadowed in the OR a few times, and boy was it boring! After a few hours the novelty just kinda wore off for me.... luckily there were chairs though, and I was able to doze off for a bit 😴. But kinda like the OP, I kept going back for some reason.

 

[tennisball80]

My advice: Change a doctor and see what happens.

 

[dingyibvs]

I have been doing it for a long time. every time i go, i hate it. i dont know why. i think its because i dont understand whats going on, i am confused. not by like medical terms, but like the doc and the patient talk about something and i dont understand it. Or they tell each other a funny joke and i dont understand it.
I like medical care. but to me, this is how it should be: patient comes in, talks about her problem, here is your prescription, goodbye. The doctor that I shadow just talks and talks about their personal lives, where did you go? oh, you took that freeway? its usually very difficult to go from that freeway, why didnt you take this other freeway? Oh you are going to your grandson's birthday? how old is he?
[a joke] [laughter] I have no idea what just happened. Not becuase i have a language problem, but because I dont care so I get ADD when i am in there, i cant pay attention. I dont care if your wife went to so and so freeway blah blah. So yeah, thats why i hate shadowing.
but then when a couple of days pass, i miss it and want to go back. but then when i go back all these feelings start again.

It just means that you're not a good fit for becoming a primary care doctor, at least not yet. Small talk is important to get the patients loosened up and to gain their trust. If they're not comfortable around you, they may not be as honest with you. I know, it's illogical--why would you hide things from/lie to your doctor? But people are like that, and good primary care physicians can get the patients to confide in them, many times through small talk.