Just saw the doctor and he said...

[moto_za]

So I saw the doctor today for a check-up and I asked what he thought about medicine and his first response was: "I would not recommend anyone to go into medicine". Thoughts?

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[osteohopeful09]

he probably just wanted to stop the conversation.

 

[Dr McSexy]

Many doctors say this. I guess they are pissy about their decision.

 

[jvesco22]

You've been here since 2006 and you decide to make a thread like this?

Someone wants attention...

 

[roseglass6370]

Are you really going to let one comment sway your decision about med school?

 

[brooklynblunder]

what % of professionals are really happy with their work?

 

[moto_za]

Are you really going to let one comment sway your decision about med school?

Good question, but the problem is that I have heard the same response from many doctors. Half of whom are really close family friends and are just trying to help me out before I go in.

 

[MilkmanAl]

...he's got a...BAD CASE OF LOVIN' YOU.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. not everyone is happy with his job.

 

[moto_za]

You've been here since 2006 and you decide to make a thread like this?

Someone wants attention...

Not really, just want to see what others think. Too many docs have been giving me the same response that it has made me think a little harder about medicine and if something maybe seriously wrong if most, if not all of the docs are giving me the same response.

 

[mvenus929]

My dad has been trying to dissuade me from medicine for years (he's an RN). The doc that I worked for told me that it was hard work, and there was a lot of crap involved, but that he loved it as a profession. There's downsides to every job you will ever have. The world of medicine is radically changing. You'll have to figure out whether you want to deal with the changes, or if doing something else is right for you.

 

[moto_za]

My dad has been trying to dissuade me from medicine for years (he's an RN). The doc that I worked for told me that it was hard work, and there was a lot of crap involved, but that he loved it as a profession. There's downsides to every job you will ever have. The world of medicine is radically changing. You'll have to figure out whether you want to deal with the changes, or if doing something else is right for you.

Good point and thanks for sharing. The only thing that really scares me is that many of the docs I have talked to have said that things are only going to get worse and many of the docs are trying to retire earlier, since they are just working more and getting paid less.

 

[jvesco22]

Good question, but the problem is that I have heard the same response from many doctors. Half of whom are really close family friends and are just trying to help me out before I go in.

You call someone telling you NOT to go to medical school, helping you? If that's the case, throw out your AMCAS app right now and consider yourself "helped."

But really though, if you're having doubts, just give up and go into i-banking, become a UPS driver, a plumber, or a garbage man (LOL.) You're on a premed forum and one of the only people that will tell you not to go to medical school is "Nilf."

So what exactly are you looking for people to say on here?

 

[SpaceDementia]

Every profession has its naysayers. Actually, pessimism is probably less prevalent in medicine than most other careers. The frustration with insurance and so on is real, and that's the crux of why some doctors wish they'd done something else.

But do your thinking for yourself. I've met just as many doctors who couldn't imagine doing anything else... and it's really for the emotional fulfillment (and for many, the challenge) that you choose medicine — not because it's easy or because it's the simplest financial path. That said, of course, if one isn't all that passionate about medicine to begin with, then it's bound to end in disillusionment.

 

[turkeyjerky]

i used to hear that a lot as a pre-med too, now every doctor seems to tell me how much they love their jobs.

I think part of it is that they know I'm stuck, so they don't want to be discouraging, but who knows

Also, if this was a primary care doc, keep in mind that the burn out rate is pretty high, specialists tend to be, in my experience, much more satisfied and enthusiastic about their work

 

[christina30]

My dad has been trying to dissuade me from medicine for years (he's an RN). The doc that I worked for told me that it was hard work, and there was a lot of crap involved, but that he loved it as a profession. There's downsides to every job you will ever have. The world of medicine is radically changing. You'll have to figure out whether you want to deal with the changes, or if doing something else is right for you.

My mom, also an RN, is the same. So are a lot of the attendings I work with in the ER. If you let a few people's opinions change your mind/instill doubt so quickly, then maybe you shouldn't be going into medicine, after all. If you wanted to do it that badly, you wouldn't be so concerned about what others had to say.

 

[wagmanager]

I wouldn't let it one comment sway your decision. keep in mind that a great percentage of people *hate* their jobs. i believe medicine is one filed that has a lot of options . And if they hate it so much why are they still in it ( no excuses about loans and the like) because I know one or two md's who have left the field

 

[ThaliaNox]

i used to hear that a lot as a pre-med too, now every doctor seems to tell me how much they love their jobs.

I think part of it is that they know I'm stuck, so they don't want to be discouraging, but who knows

Also, if this was a primary care doc, keep in mind that the burn out rate is pretty high, specialists tend to be, in my experience, much more satisfied and enthusiastic about their work

Big ditto to this. I was recently in the newborn nursery and it was amazing how enthusiastic the neonatalogist was about his work.

 

[roseglass6370]

\You're on a premed forum and one of the only people that will tell you not to go to medical school is "Nilf."

Naw, man! If he/she doesn't want to go, by all means DON'T APPLY! One last app for me to compete against!

But in all seriousness, I have YET to talk to an MD/DO who discouraged me from applying. All of the drs i have talk to have seemed very content with their jobs. If I've ever heard a dr complain its usually just the regular "work talk" that we all do. I complain about studying, but deep down I know I'm doing what I love.

 

[VisionaryTics]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=716586

Some mixed opinions here.

But seriously, you're nearing 1000 posts, and yet you still post threads like this?

 

[JaggerPlate]

Anecdotal.

I saw one today who congratulated me, said he was happy with his work, and that although it was tough, he'd do it again. Also, you probably saw your/a PCP ... I don't know if I'd be happy in FM, IM, etc at the moment either.

 

[morning]

Are you really going to let one comment sway your decision about med school?

I hope so. More room for me.

 

[crasiman]

Job satisfaction among doctors also seems to depend on what generation they are. Some of what I heard hints that a lot of older physicians and physicians who came into practice in the early 1990s have either seen the status of physicians decline in some ways from the 1970s and '80s. Those who came into practice in the late '80s/early-90s had some different expectations than what new doctors and current students have. So while some of them are a bit dissatisfied, the current crop of new doctors may end up with far higher rates of job satisfaction.

I don't know how accurate that explanation is, but it made some sense when I heard it and s'pose it's something to think about too.

 

[NotAsking4Much]

Medicine isn't what it used to be, hence why a lot of people are frustrated. If you're in it for $$, prestige, autonomy, etc...then look elsewhere. The system is broken, no doubt about it and the job leaves much to be desired when compared to its past. The "glory days" of medicine are over in the US.

That being said, there are still few jobs that give you the ability to have the potential to impact someone's life. You're entrusted with a skill set of and knowledge that few other people have and you are both entitled and entrusted to be responsible with it. It can still be a very rewarding profession, but it has to come from the heart and not so much driven by societal factors as it could have been in the past.

 

[476515678234896]

was this before or after he told you about the cancer?

 

[imperfections]

All I have to say to this is, how would you know that medicine's not the right profession for you unless you give it a try?

There's people in every field who dislike what they're doing. It shouldn't make a difference to you. Obviously, something attracted you to medicine - give it your best shot and see where it takes you. Don't let one person's opinion sway you.

 

[Doctor246853]

So I saw the doctor today for a check-up and I asked what he thought about medicine and his first response was: "I would not recommend anyone to go into medicine". Thoughts?

In my head I would secretly laugh at him no... out loud! There is nothing I mean nothing ANYONE can say to push me away from medicine That doc would have to come harder than that. MD or Bust

 

[Doctor246853]

I hope so. More room for me.

 

[Penner]

Good question, but the problem is that I have heard the same response from many doctors. Half of whom are really close family friends and are just trying to help me out before I go in.

You call someone telling you NOT to go to medical school, helping you? If that's the case, throw out your AMCAS app right now and consider yourself "helped."

But really though, if you're having doubts, just give up and go into i-banking, become a UPS driver, a plumber, or a garbage man (LOL.) You're on a premed forum and one of the only people that will tell you not to go to medical school is "Nilf."

So what exactly are you looking for people to say on here?

I think you misunderstood the phrase "help me out" as the idiomatic use of the phrase, while I think that poster may have meant "help me away from the field of medicine."

 

[MisterVeil]

All I have to say to this is, how would you know that medicine's not the right profession for you unless you give it a try?

You give a new video game "a try." You give a car "a try." You damn sure don't spend 7-12 years of your life becoming a full-fledged doctor unless you're positive you won't dislike it.

 

[imperfections]

How can you ever be sure that you won't dislike it though? You go through so many steps to medical school, from undergrad to the pre-clinical years of medical school to clinical rotations to residency etc. Everything's so different from the actual practice of being a physician. All I'm saying is that it's hard for someone to judge whether or not they will like medicine without ever having practiced it before.

What I meant by giving medicine "a try" is to be prepared to commit to the long years to come. You really don't know whether you'll like medicine or not until you are actually in the field itself, and there are people who go through medical school and realize that they hate it. There's no way to "be positive that you won't dislike it" beforehand.

 

[SabC]

My dad has been trying to dissuade me from medicine for years (he's an RN). The doc that I worked for told me that it was hard work, and there was a lot of crap involved, but that he loved it as a profession. There's downsides to every job you will ever have. The world of medicine is radically changing. You'll have to figure out whether you want to deal with the changes, or if doing something else is right for you.

This. People well established in their profession/job never respond well to change... Changes in medicine don't present the specter to me that they do to those who've been practicing for 20 years. By the time I'm actually out of school and working in a professional capacity, the changes will have developed beyond the rampant speculation they exist as now, they won't be new, and I will never be burdened with the comparisons to "way it was" beyond having to listen to someone else bitch about it. The fundamental elements that attract me to the profession won't change.

 

[locus000]

Of Course a primary care doctor dont want you to pursuit medicine. They dont want future competition setting up shop down the street taking away their pateint list.. especially after 2014!!

A Family doctor told me straight out to Get A Specialty and even a Sub-specialty since soon enough ARNP will take over the family doctor role.. His words not mine!

 

[cbrons]

If I've ever heard a dr complain its usually just the regular "work talk" that we all do. I complain about studying, but deep down I know I'm doing what I love.

I'm pretty sure most of us complain about studying and mean it (deep down) that is.

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