Lack Confidence... "do-er"

[velocicaur]

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I have always been interested in health care, but I lack confidence in “doing” things. I’m always worried about messing up or not doing the right thing that I do not even attempt to do them. I am talking about little things like fixing a leaky pipe in the house, not something that holds more importance such as a person’s wellbeing.

Of course, once you do something a few times, it becomes easier and easier. Will I learn to become confident in my abilities/knowledge that I gain in school? It sounds stupid as all schools provide students with the knowledge/skillset required to get into residency and then excel into the real world, but still.

I’m also not particularly interested in complex surgeries such as complex ankle reconstruction or things of that nature. I understand that these things are covered in schooling/residency and I will likely have to do them, but once I get out of school, I don’t see myself going that way. (Well, maybe I’ll become more interested in it once I do it/gain confidence?) I’m more interested in become a generalist (fungus, inserts, ingrown toenails, etc.) and then partnering with someone that enjoys the complex aspect of the field, we could make a great team then.

Basically, does everyone have this anxiety and then it is relieved as they go through school or is there an innate confidence that one must possess? I am considering other “less do-er” fields, like pharmacy.

Sorry for the rambling, just looking for some thoughts/opinions.

I have yet to shadow a DPM. I am hoping to do so soon to see what it really is like to be a private practice podiatrist
Thank for your time!

 

[Feli]

Well, podiatry is definitely a specialty where you will do procedures. That can be as simple as clipping toenails, shaving corns/calluses, casting orthotics, and taping/strapping. It can be midlevel stuff like injections, derm lesion excision, superficial wound debridement, nail surgery, etc. It can also be OR surgeries from simple to complex.

The nice part of the field is that you can make it what you want it to be. I have worked with pods who do just the basics and refer the rest, and I have seen docs who will put in ankle implants and intramedullary nails. It's really all dependant on your training, your strengths, and your interests.

While you can always do just the basic stuff and make a pretty good living, today's residency models will teach you to do quite a bit more. In the end, you are the comprehensive lower extremity specialist, and you need to know it all... diabetic wounds, sports injuries, bone surgery, derm/nail pathology, pediatrics, etc. Whether you will treat everything that walks in the door or not is up to you, but you will learn it.

I'd try to keep an open mind for now... you might be amazed how interesting you find some aspects of the field (and how mundane or labor intensive you find other aspects). Shadowing is the best way to learn... try to find a couple different docs with different kinds of practices. GL 👍