How prestigious is being a doctor?

[Sobriquet]

How do people react when you tell them you're a physician? Does it depend on specialty? Do you think that prestige factors into why some students become premed? Does it help people reaffirm their career choice during rough times in med school or residency? I'm not trying to cause controversy, but I'm truly fascinated by the construct of prestige as an aspect of identity and motivation. Please share if you want. 🙂

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[doc05]

some people are impressed, but there is in fact nothing prestigious about being a doctor.

 

[waterski232002]

I'll start... Being a physician can be prestigious. People who tell you that it is not are lying. It may not be as prestigious as it used to be, that is true. There are also definitely things which are much more prestigious than being a physician, but once you are an MD most people will respect the amount of time and dedication that you have devoted to your career.

That being said, it does NOT (in any way, shape, or form) help you get through medical school or residency. People who are in medicine do not think of it as being prestigious because medicine is a job and becomes routine/monotonous like any other job. Additionally, physicians are usually too busy doing their daily work to think about how "cool and prestigious" they are (note the sarcasm).

If you enter medical school, you will not receive "pats on the back" or be fed BS about how "smart" you are. Get used to being the scum of the earth, and the idiot that knows nothing for the next 5 years. Medical school is a lot like high school. People keep tabs on you, you have little independence, you have to shadow people, and people treat you like you're in kindergarten (attendings, residents, and nurses). You will transition into someone who will learn to be humbled because everyone in medicine is intelligent and they will all know much more than you for a very long time.

Additionally, since you will be spending the majority of your life at the hospital amongst physicians, you will not feel prestigious at all. This is one of those issues that is only asked by Pre-Meds, b/c it has no bearing on the rest of your life! Wanting prestige is fine, but if that is the ONLY reason you want to be a physician, then you need to run... and RUN FAST! Or medicine will drive you insane.

 

[Lonestar]

Prestige will always have some effect on the premed studs. For me it didn't matter that much, but I have known classmates that were sold on the prestige factor to enter certain specialties. Do what's right for you. Just make sure you are ready to deal with the consequences of your decisions.

 

[surg4me]

I don't say that I am or will be a doctor to new people that I meet unless someone specifically asks what I do for a living...
Too many people I know are lawyers, dentists, or physicians that their friends and acquaintances are often in similar professions.
Prestige is superficial...respect is earned...that's what I hope to gain by working hard and caring for the sick...

 

[onceinawhile]

The only time I felt that being a doctor gave me some respect was during my nightfloat a couple of days ago. It was a busy winter night and multiple admissions would land on the floor in the same time. I went to see a patient at 3am, who was, obviously, soundly asleep in his bed. I shake him gently and start "I am sorry to wake you up...". He jumps up: "Oh, no, you don't look sorry at all! Why the $#& are you waking me up now?!!! What are you here for, to take my blood pressure?" (Note: a was wearing scrubs AND a white coat with a proper name tag. I guess the fact of being female makes you automatically a nurse or nurse's aid in some people's mind.) Me - "No sir, I am a doctor..." He - "Oh, I am sorry, I am so sorry. How can I help you?"... 😡 What a jerk!

Anyway, as somebody mentioned above, during your residency you spend most of the time in the hospital where you get no respect from the nurses, even nurses' aids and secretaries are pushing you around, and your peers well - they are doctors as well. Most of my friends are MDs or equally well-educated people, so no reason to have "prestige" over them. Maybe back at home (I am the first physician in my family) I would get some respect... along with inquiries: "My right leg hurts for 3 weeks, what should I do..." 😉

 

[beyond all hope]

Being a doctor is very prestigious, mostly outside of the hospital. It's still one of the most respected and honored professions. Most nonmedical people take a step back when they hear you're a doctor, for good or for bad. They see you in a different light.

I don't even like telling people I'm a doctor unless I know them well. I'd rather be just a regular guy and be judged on my own merits. I am immediately suspect of anyone who identifies themselves as "Dr. X" outside of the hospital. Indicates arrogance or lack of self-esteem.

It makes it easier to get out of speeding tickets (I'm on my way to the hospital, officer...). Doesn't seem to do much in hotels or restaurants, though.

Identifying yourself as a doctor under any circumstances will make people pay attention to you, and they will take you seriously.

 

[dry dre]

How do people react when you tell them you're a physician? . . .Please share if you want. 🙂

It always impresses everyone. Except your patients.

 

[VentdependenT]

Being a doctor is very prestigious, mostly outside of the hospital. It's still one of the most respected and honored professions. Most nonmedical people take a step back when they hear you're a doctor, for good or for bad. They see you in a different light.

I don't even like telling people I'm a doctor unless I know them well. I'd rather be just a regular guy and be judged on my own merits. I am immediately suspect of anyone who identifies themselves as "Dr. X" outside of the hospital. Indicates arrogance or lack of self-esteem.

It makes it easier to get out of speeding tickets (I'm on my way to the hospital, officer...). Doesn't seem to do much in hotels or restaurants, though.

Identifying yourself as a doctor under any circumstances will make people pay attention to you, and they will take you seriously.

I couldn't agree more. If you want prestige then you are going into the right field. One day I awoke with ideals of prestige and promptly applied to medical school. Now I have my own prestige website and everything.

I told the chef at boston chicken to make me fresh mac n cheese today and then I told him I was a doctor. Guess who got the freshest mac n cheese in boston market history? Ohhhhh yeah.

 

[daelroy]

Being a physician is prestigious. It has nothing to do with income potential or anything else. Investment bankers, dentists, lawyers and other professions may earn more money than physicians but even the lowest paid physician will garner more respect than these other professionals. People know how much committment and sacrafice it takes to become a physician and people will always respect that. I'm not trying to toon my own horn but I am being just honest and answering the question. Despite the increased work hours, law suits and decreased income, the one thing that hasn't change is the prestige a physician earns.

 

[doc05]

Despite the increased work hours, law suits and decreased income, the one thing that hasn't change is the prestige a physician earns.

I disagree. for the most part, people don't respect physicians anymore.

 

[Brass_Monkey]

I disagree. for the most part, people don't respect physicians anymore.

I agree wholeheartedly. Patients view physicians today with suspicion and are really just hoping to hit the "malpractice lottery". If I could do it again would I? Hell no! 👎

 

[Dr Who]

Four years of being intellectually humbled in medical school and 3-7 years of hard long hours in the slavery known as residency will take the word "prestige" out of your thoughts, I garantee it!

The more you know and experience medicine, the less prestigious it becomes.

 

[Dr Who]

but it is "prestigious" if you are looking to land yourself a trophy wife/ husband.

 

[Chankovsky]

but it is "prestigious" if you are looking to land yourself a trophy wife/ husband.

haha. people do look at u differently.

 

[jashanley]

I couldn't agree more. If you want prestige then you are going into the right field. One day I awoke with ideals of prestige and promptly applied to medical school. Now I have my own prestige website and everything.

I told the chef at boston chicken to make me fresh mac n cheese today and then I told him I was a doctor. Guess who got the freshest mac n cheese in boston market history? Ohhhhh yeah.

Which Boston Market? the one on Ashland? They make a mean creamed spinach........hope there is mostly spinach and no special cream.......nothing screams prestige more than a little "special cream" in your creamed spinach.
Boston Market the dinner of champions and "doctors".

 

[LADoc00]

I think the prestige lands somewhere between sheriff and firefighter. People equate prestige more with income, so if you are a bankrolled doc driving a benz you will have yards more prestige than some bum doc driving a beater honda. I actually had a girl go out on a date with me and bail after 20 min because my car wasnt up to what she thought a MD should drive therefore I must be a failure. The morale of the story is everyone should be a radiologist because you makes tons of $$$. Helping people is a worthless exercise in futility likely to get you sued more often than not. Funny, I think the "average Joe" is more likely to RESENT you than look up to you...boy have things changed!

I blame N.O.W. you can too.

 

[daelroy]

I think the prestige lands somewhere between sheriff and firefighter. People equate prestige more with income, so if you are a bankrolled doc driving a benz you will have yards more prestige than some bum doc driving a beater honda. I actually had a girl go out on a date with me and bail after 20 min because my car wasnt up to what she thought a MD should drive therefore I must be a failure. The morale of the story is everyone should be a radiologist because you makes tons of $$$. Helping people is a worthless exercise in futility likely to get you sued more often than not. Funny, I think the "average Joe" is more likely to RESENT you than look up to you...boy have things changed!

I blame N.O.W. you can too.

People respect those they resent....like the Yankees and Cowboys. Yeah, they don't think of you as the sweet ole trusting doc like they used to but they know you must be half-way intelligent to be a physician.

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

I think the prestige lands somewhere between sheriff and firefighter. People equate prestige more with income, so if you are a bankrolled doc driving a benz you will have yards more prestige than some bum doc driving a beater honda. I actually had a girl go out on a date with me and bail after 20 min because my car wasnt up to what she thought a MD should drive therefore I must be a failure. The morale of the story is everyone should be a radiologist because you makes tons of $$$. Helping people is a worthless exercise in futility likely to get you sued more often than not. Funny, I think the "average Joe" is more likely to RESENT you than look up to you...boy have things changed!

I blame N.O.W. you can too.

Pathologists make a whole lot of money too. Plus the prestige of radiology is lost on most people since they think you are a rad tech.

 

[LADoc00]

Pathologists make a whole lot of money too. Plus the prestige of radiology is lost on most people since they think you are a rad tech.

Huh?! The prestige of radiology is pulling up in the Austin Martin DB5, who gives a rat's a$$ whether people think you are a tech, the 5'11" hottie blond in the passage seat will tell them otherwise, trust me.
Path cant touch that and trust me Ive tried.

 

[melodious04]

doc05 almost broke my heart into little pieces when he said that medicine is not prestigious at ALL.

I would just like to say that I am in awe of physicians. I think that what they do on an everyday basis is amazing beyond words. Just to have the opportunity to be treated as little under an equal to any doctor would be amazing to me. And I am sure that many people feel the same way about you as well... even if they are a little afraid to show it. 🙂

When I am a physician, God willing, even if I work until I'm 90... if one med student or one patient is grateful of my service to them or admires me for my hard work, then that is prestige enough.

I guess it just depends on how someone personally defines prestige? To me... I could be the president instead of a doctor and still not feel quite adequate enough... I'm sure that once the profession hardens me, I'll be a less optimistic, but you just have to ask yourself... how much prestige/respect/glorification do I need exactly for it to feel significant? (Obviously for me... the tiniest bit gives me goosebumps!)

... but I'm just a naive little pre-med. What can I say that matters?

 

[doc05]

doc05 almost broke my heart into little pieces when he said that medicine is not prestigious at ALL.

I would just like to say that I am in awe of physicians. I think that what they do on an everyday basis is amazing beyond words. Just to have the opportunity to be treated as little under an equal to any doctor would be amazing to me. And I am sure that many people feel the same way about you as well... even if they are a little afraid to show it. 🙂

When I am a physician, God willing, even if I work until I'm 90... if one med student or one patient is grateful of my service to them or admires me for my hard work, then that is prestige enough.

I guess it just depends on how someone personally defines prestige? To me... I could be the president instead of a doctor and still not feel quite adequate enough... I'm sure that once the profession hardens me, I'll be a less optimistic, but you just have to ask yourself... how much prestige/respect/glorification do I need exactly for it to feel significant? (Obviously for me... the tiniest bit gives me goosebumps!)

... but I'm just a naive little pre-med. What can I say that matters?

yes you are very naive. your post clearly demonstrates how insecure most physicians (and physicians-to-be) really are. I can guarantee that most enter the field to compensate for some perceived inadequacy. so think twice if medicine is really for you.

I have seen firsthand (my classmates) that most graduates just want to get the cushest job/best lifestyle, because the "prestige" factor is not really there, and certainly doesn't justify the workload of the more "traditional" specialties.

best of luck.

 

[melodious04]

yes you are very naive. your post clearly demonstrates how insecure most physicians (and physicians-to-be) really are. I can guarantee that most enter the field to compensate for some perceived inadequacy. so think twice if medicine is really for you.

I have seen firsthand (my classmates) that most graduates just want to get the cushest job/best lifestyle, because the "prestige" factor is not really there, and certainly doesn't justify the workload of the more "traditional" specialties.

best of luck.

perhaps you misunderstood my point or did not read my post at all?

I as a person do no feel inadequate, but rather, I feel that if I weren't a physician, my life would not be complete. I love the hard work and the knowledge that school offers and by no means am I aiming for a "cushy" lifestyle job. Even the "lowest paid" doctors in FP make twice as much as my family makes so I will be grateful for that.

To better explain my points:
If one patient appreciates my work I will be happy even if there are 5 million other ungrateful ones. This is all the prestige that some people need and that *shock* some people actually aim for in life.

And if one doctor approves of my dedication, that will make up for meeting 5 million of them that don't. 🙁

 

[doc05]

perhaps you misunderstood my point or did not read my post at all?

I as a person do no feel inadequate, but rather, I feel that if I weren't a physician, my life would not be complete. I love the hard work and the knowledge that school offers and by no means am I aiming for a "cushy" lifestyle job. Even the "lowest paid" doctors in FP make twice as much as my family makes so I will be grateful for that.

To better explain my points:
If one patient appreciates my work I will be happy even if there are 5 million other ungrateful ones. This is all the prestige that some people need and that *shock* some people actually aim for in life.

And if one doctor approves of my dedication, that will make up for meeting 5 million of them that don't. 🙁

I understand your point very well.

you "love hard work?" I doubt it. few people really do. and few college freshmen really understand how much work medicine really is: you may spend 50 hours a week seeing patients, and then another 30-50 hours dealing with all the crap.

your life "would not be complete" if you don't become a physician? sounds like you're insecure with who you really are. I'm sure you'd be great at a number of different jobs, and medicine isn't really anyone's "calling."

of course you're not aiming for a lifestyle job. no college freshman is. wait until you finish med school. I guarantee things will change.

best of luck.

 

[melodious04]

yeah 🙂 I suppose you may be right about all of the above... but I guess I'll never know for sure until I try it... and if I regret choosing medicine in the future at least I attempted to live my dream.

No hard feelings I hope doc05. Thanks for giving me a little insight.
I didn't mean to get this thread off-topic. 😉 Maybe I should have stayed a floater?

🙂 O well... happy posting all.

 

[kmr]

yeah 🙂 I suppose you may be right about all of the above... but I guess I'll never know for sure until I try it... and if I regret choosing medicine in the future at least I attempted to live my dream.

No hard feelings I hope doc05. Thanks for giving me a little insight.
I didn't mean to get this thread off-topic. 😉 Maybe I should have stayed a floater?

🙂 O well... happy posting all.

Wow Melodiouso4 I was really rooting for you and then you went and backed down. Don't let people like Doc05 change you!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bruxomaniac]

I agree wholeheartedly. Patients view physicians today with suspicion and are really just hoping to hit the "malpractice lottery". If I could do it again would I? Hell no! 👎

What would you have done?

 

[melodious04]

Wow Melodiouso4 I was really rooting for you and then you went and backed down. Don't let people like Doc05 change you!!!!!!!!!

Ha ha... thank you. I really needed to hear that.

doc05 is really a good guy though (with a hell of a lot more experience than me too... probably why I didn't feel like fighting...) and he wasn't trying to change me at all. In ways he is right... there is no way I can know what I'm getting into, but in the end, the only person who can decide if I will be miserable in medicine is me. Although the odds may be against me, no other person has the authority to predict my future or my future happiness.

Similarly (really trying to get back on topic here) the only way to determine if being a doctor is prestigious or not is to evaluate exactly what prestige personally means to you. And I also would like to know what exactly would you DO if you were not a doctor? People are unhappy in ALL professions not just medicine and to me it doesn't make sense to pick another one just because I may be good at it or because others tell me too... Deciding on a career in medicine and then deciding that it is not right for you... even way down the line... is not necessarily a failure in my eyes... but each to his or her own. 😉

And don't worry, I am going to try to hold onto my optimism for as long as I can. There ARE several veteran, practicing physicians (who are not just dermatologists or radiologists) who share at least 90% of my sentiments.... so there is still hope. 🙂

 

[kmr]

Well first of all, I am actually a nurse and I have been for 15 years. I have experience working in a large urban teaching hospital on night shift. SO I have seen first hand the hard work, long hours, etc... that the interns & residents go through. I am one of those people that really do admire Physician's for the amount of time, hard work and dedication they put into their education & work.
I have never wanted to be anything other than a nurse. Even when I was a little girl that is what I wanted to do.
I have had horrible days - short staffed, high nurse to patient ratio with high patient acuity - blah, blah, blah. Although on those days I could rip every hair from my head I still love what I do. When I go home I sleep well (from sheer exhaustion lol). I know it sounds cliche' but I do feel good for helping people. I have thought about what I would want to do if I wasn't a nurse and I actually think that nothing is worth doing if I am not making a difference in peoples lives.
Wow, I sound very naive and idealistic especially for being a nurse 15 years huh? But hopefully this will show you that there is hope of keeping your desire to help without becoming too jaded.
I sincerely hope you find medicine rewarding and worthwhile. For anyone in the medical field (Physician's, Nurse's, CNA's...whoever) if you don't like it you are NOT doing anyone any favors. If you don't like it, it shows and in the end what's the point?? Life is too short to be miserable!!
Good Luck to you!!!!!!!! 🙂 Sorry for going so off topic but I want to respond to you melodious04.

 

[Bo Hurley]

You'll find out just how much "prestige" that M.D. has the first time you get sued. Joe Public may "respect" your M.D. to your face but the prosecuting attorney can easly make the jury resent it.

 

[TripleDegree]

I disagree. for the most part, people don't respect physicians anymore.

That is a totally inaccurate statement, and I don't see how you can make such a statement without any fact basis.

Doctors do and will command respect in society. If for nothing else - then the fact that we care for the sick and it is a noble profession.

Yeah, it may have diminished relatively speaking, but that is neither here nor there.

 

[Brass_Monkey]

What would you have done?

Knowing what I know now, most likely I would have become a nurse anesthetist. Let's think about this......4 years post-high school for a BSN, 1 year of critical care experience (which is required for almost all nurse anesthetist programs), and about 2 years to become a CRNA. Now that makes me 25 years old with SOME debt. Compare this with the idealistic situation of someone who completes college, medical school, internship and an anesthesia residency: age 30. Their debt is about $200k. This is my situation. However, I have to deal with all the bull**** of being a doctor, a huge student loan debt, and not working until I'm 30. Granted, my salary is nice.....but a nurse anesthetist can EASILY make $120-150k with MUCH LESS debt, stress, and bull****. Just think....had I worked for 5 years at $120k/year I'd have made 600g instead of working like a slave and living like a pauper. Oh well, life sucks

 

[satyr]

two years of your salary as a partner will more than make up for that lost time 🙂

 

[dr_almondjoy_do]

Knowing what I know now, most likely I would have become a nurse anesthetist. Let's think about this......4 years post-high school for a BSN, 1 year of critical care experience (which is required for almost all nurse anesthetist programs), and about 2 years to become a CRNA. Now that makes me 25 years old with SOME debt. Compare this with the idealistic situation of someone who completes college, medical school, internship and an anesthesia residency: age 30. Their debt is about $200k. This is my situation. However, I have to deal with all the bull**** of being a doctor, a huge student loan debt, and not working until I'm 30. Granted, my salary is nice.....but a nurse anesthetist can EASILY make $120-150k with MUCH LESS debt, stress, and bull****. Just think....had I worked for 5 years at $120k/year I'd have made 600g instead of working like a slave and living like a pauper. Oh well, life sucks

hmmm.... lets say this 25 year old CRNA makes 150K to start, just for argument's sake, and you, at 30, make 250K to start, which is modest for an anesthesiologist, and you are in debt by 300K. And lets say that you and the CRNA are the same age. You haven't made a dime from 25 - 30.

Now that the parameters are set, let's play.....

In the 5 years you have been in school, the working CRNA has made 450K, and you have accrued debt.

Now let's say you are both 30. At 250K, you will have matched his/her advance in salary in 4.5 years, while still having the 150K to live off of in those 5 years. If you saved the difference, it would be 450K in the bank in 4.5 years.

You: 450K in the bank at 35, living off of 150K annually.
CRNA: 0 in the bank, same 150K.


Or, you can also think that you could pay off your entire 300K debt in 3 years while still living off the CRNA's salary of 150K, and have 150K left over in the bank.

Following this idea,
You: 33, out of debt with a 250K salary + 150K in the bank.
CRNA: 33, out of debt with a 150K salary + 0 in the bank....
or..

You: 33, out of debt, 250K salary: 150K to live off of, 100K in the bank
every year....

CRNA: 33, out of debt, 150k salary: 150K to live off of, $0 in the bank
every year....

You will be one stressed out pauper at 33, debt free, all the way to the bank 3 years after you finish..

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

I disagree. for the most part, people don't respect physicians anymore.

I wholeheartedly disagree.

Anyone outside of medicine pretty much thinks that all physicians are geniuses (or at least verrrrrrrry smart). This yields a sense of respect and envy. They also know you make bank (relatively speaking).

= Prestige.

But, as a medical student, you have bitch nurses getting in their last licks before the MD arrives. BTW...I've put up with so much crap from dumb ass nurses that when I'm a resident and especially an attending...they better watch out, because I'll have no mercy!

 

[MS3NavyFS2B]

Knowing what I know now, most likely I would have become a nurse anesthetist. Let's think about this......4 years post-high school for a BSN, 1 year of critical care experience (which is required for almost all nurse anesthetist programs), and about 2 years to become a CRNA. Now that makes me 25 years old with SOME debt. Compare this with the idealistic situation of someone who completes college, medical school, internship and an anesthesia residency: age 30. Their debt is about $200k. This is my situation. However, I have to deal with all the bull**** of being a doctor, a huge student loan debt, and not working until I'm 30. Granted, my salary is nice.....but a nurse anesthetist can EASILY make $120-150k with MUCH LESS debt, stress, and bull****. Just think....had I worked for 5 years at $120k/year I'd have made 600g instead of working like a slave and living like a pauper. Oh well, life sucks

This is a weird way to look at medicine. To be a physician is to be the boss. To be a nurse is to be the employee, a order taker. So...then, the question is, Do you want to be the boss or an order taker? The money CRNAs make is PALE in comparison to their bosses, the attending anesthesiologist. Personally, I want to make big boy decisions, have big boy knowledge, and get big boy bucks.

 

[melodious04]

I wholeheartedly disagree.

Anyone outside of medicine pretty much thinks that all physicians are geniuses (or at least verrrrrrrry smart). This yields a sense of respect and envy. They also know you make bank (relatively speaking).

= Prestige.

But, as a medical student, you have bitch nurses getting in their last licks before the MD arrives. BTW...I've put up with so much crap from dumb ass nurses that when I'm a resident and especially an attending...they better watch out, because I'll have no mercy!

aw please don't do that 🙁
as the sig above states, an eye for an eye never got anyone anywhere....

... but being kind to nurses during residency may 😍
... as a physician you will definitely need nurses... burning bridges especially so early in your career couldn't possibly be a good thing 🙁

 

[novacek88]

I understand your point very well.

you "love hard work?" I doubt it. few people really do. and few college freshmen really understand how much work medicine really is: you may spend 50 hours a week seeing patients, and then another 30-50 hours dealing with all the crap.

your life "would not be complete" if you don't become a physician? sounds like you're insecure with who you really are. I'm sure you'd be great at a number of different jobs, and medicine isn't really anyone's "calling."

of course you're not aiming for a lifestyle job. no college freshman is. wait until you finish med school. I guarantee things will change.

best of luck.

Why don't you cut him some slack. Almost all of us were in his situation at one point in our lives including you. Try to remember what that was like instead of being condescending toward another pre-med. His time will come and I'm sure his perspective will change.

 

[DrDawg]

People will be impressed. They know that you have gone to school for a long time to reach your goal, and that you work very hard. I agree with several people that posted much earlier and I go out of my way not to tell people what I do. To my friends I tell them that anyone could have done it as long as they are dedicated and willing to put the time in. If your passionate about your career no matter what it is people will respect you.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

but it is "prestigious" if you are looking to land yourself a trophy wife/ husband.

I would have replied sooner, but I had to clean my screen. My wife sprayed her coffee all over the place from laughing at this one....

 

[Doc_Thks_JC]

To say there is not prestige in medicine is incorrect but also unimportant. I am a 4th year, soon to be graduating medical student. I have been treated like crap by about everyone that you can think of in the hospital. Just today I told a patient's husband they could go in the room (MRSA so contact precautions) because they have already been exposed and nothing to worry about, only to have a Physical Therapist standing beside me tell the same man but he needed to make sure he wore his gloves and washed his hands. This seems very degrading since this was not their patient and the last time I checked Microbiology was not a big part of training in a PT program, but because they were a physical therapist and I was just a student, they knew more. I will be a doctor in a little over 3 months, WTFlip? I have been treated like crap from nurses that don't know the difference in an elevated white count and a pair of white socks. So, premeds and up to 2nd year med students, You do not realize true medicine. You don't receive that experience until you are on the wards and actually work. However, in saying this, there is some prestige. Some pts, even when you are a student, treat you with respect and seem to be in awe. Also family members and lay people who know nothing of medicine, seem to think you are brilliant and saving lives on a daily basis. So, yeah there are some that think its great and treat you with prestige. But, let me ask. Does that matter? When its 4 AM and you are doing your 4th admit because you got slammed and you can't find any past medical records to sew up your H&P and medical history, the cold coffee you had 6 hours ago is no longer potent, and you are so tired your eyelids are saying "No more" and your brain is mush, and You still have to think of the best diagnosis and treatment plan for the patient, Prestige is not going to get you anywere. So, Don't assume medicine is perfect because its medicine and there is prestige. As a preceptor told me early in clinical rotations, "Never ASSUME anything because all you do is make an A-- out of U and ME."
Remember: Prestige don't pay the bills and when you are all alone, you have to be important to yourself because there is no prestige there. Be happy and secure in what you do. And Pre-meds and med students, don't let this post get you down, because in all the crap I said, I still love medicine and enjoy it and hopefully you will too.

 

[RADRULES]

Frankly, being a doctor is overrated.

 

[Seaglass]

That certainly is true.

 

[Dr Who]

I guess the quick answer is this:
Being a physician soon looses its "prestige" for those who are in the profession and have to go through all the **** that we have to go through.
For those that are not in the medical field, whenever they hear you are a doctor, they are impressed.

As a single (w/ girlfriend) guy, I notice the (almost universal) change in attitude most people (especially women) have towards me once they hear that I am in med school. We were all like that once, in some ways in awe at what physicians represented, in terms of "prestige" and lifestyle. Living through the experience though has a way of changing our perceptions soon enough.
So now, for some of us being a simple doc (primary care) is not enough, so we apply to the so called "prestige" residencies (surg) to fill the hole we feel. But ask any surg resident how "prestigious" they feel and you would be surprised.

In the end, its in the eye of the beholder. Prestige is relative.

 

[Winged Scapula]

As a single (w/ girlfriend) guy, I notice the (almost universal) change in attitude most people (especially women) have towards me once they hear that I am in med school. We were all like that once, in some ways in awe at what physicians represented, in terms of "prestige" and lifestyle.

Hmmm...for some reason, the reverse is generally not true for female medical students or residents. You can almost hear the gears whirring, "she's smarter than me, must get away..."

 

[USAF_Dentman]

Hmmm...for some reason, the reverse is generally not true for female medical students or residents. You can almost hear the gears whirring, "she's smarter than me, must get away..."

Its only a prob when she's a b*tch about it...you know "bow down males i am way better than you" types (i.e, femi-nazis)

 

[melodious04]

Hmmm...for some reason, the reverse is generally not true for female medical students or residents. You can almost hear the gears whirring, "she's smarter than me, must get away..."

So true! But you don't even have to be a med student or a resident for this to happen... Saying that I'm in a combined degree program is my new way to get rid of unwanted male attention... 🙄

Thanks for making my morning brighter Kimberli.

 

[toughlife]

Knowing what I know now, most likely I would have become a nurse anesthetist. Let's think about this......4 years post-high school for a BSN, 1 year of critical care experience (which is required for almost all nurse anesthetist programs), and about 2 years to become a CRNA. Now that makes me 25 years old with SOME debt. Compare this with the idealistic situation of someone who completes college, medical school, internship and an anesthesia residency: age 30. Their debt is about $200k. This is my situation. However, I have to deal with all the bull**** of being a doctor, a huge student loan debt, and not working until I'm 30. Granted, my salary is nice.....but a nurse anesthetist can EASILY make $120-150k with MUCH LESS debt, stress, and bull****. Just think....had I worked for 5 years at $120k/year I'd have made 600g instead of working like a slave and living like a pauper. Oh well, life sucks

If you live in a state where they don't practice independently, why not hire a few of those CRNAs in your group and pimp them out to hospitals and make you money?

 

[Dr Who]

Hmmm...for some reason, the reverse is generally not true for female medical students or residents. You can almost hear the gears whirring, "she's smarter than me, must get away..."

Not at all. I am actually attracted to smart women. Having intelligent conversations with my significant other is definately important for me. They also understand the sacrifices that we have to put up with and vice versa.

Brainy women are SEXY 😍 .
BTW it also helps if she looks hot.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Not at all. I am actually attracted to smart women. Having intelligent conversations with my significant other is definately important for me. They also understand the sacrifices that we have to put up with and vice versa.

Brainy women are SEXY 😍 .
BTW it also helps if she looks hot.

In reference to your last line: really? I thought once the lights were out it didn't matter. 😉

I am aware that "your type" is out there. I have one at home myself and I think he enjoys that fact that I know what he's talking about when he drones on (and on) about his day in the Trauma bay!