- Joined
- Jan 22, 2018
- Messages
- 42
- Reaction score
- 47
Hey all,
I was deadset on EM/PEM when I first entered med school, then the wave of doom and gloom had me switch focus and I tentatively looked towards Med/Peds. As I've gone through my rotations, I loved working with kids, I loved working with complex problems, and I loved the MICU. The thing is, I wont be able to get any PICU experience until after ERAS, and so deciding between IM and Peds is becoming difficult (Med/Peds really just being a back-up due to decision crisis heh).
So how does the PICU compare to the MICU? I personally enjoy treating kiddos more than adults, probably like a 70/30 teeter towards kiddos. I also prefer children's hospitals and the culture therein, at least with my experience you find a lot more driven folks and a lot less complaining about patients. However, I really enjoy the cerebral sitting down and management of complex conditions, the occasional split decision life-saving decisions/resus, and the procedures I get to do in the MICU. It also pays better which is a bonus, though to be frank i dont know how much the salaries actually differ and I don't think it'd alter my lifestyle much anyways.
Also I know folks say don't go for a subspecialty if you can't enjoy the specialty. I enjoy peds, I actually really enjoy office visits and just meeting with and talking with patients, well-child is fun and rewarding even if parts may get mundane I enjoy talking to the patients and parents. As for IM, I enjoy hospitalist work and could go into primary care easily enough.
Any input would be super appreciated <3
I was deadset on EM/PEM when I first entered med school, then the wave of doom and gloom had me switch focus and I tentatively looked towards Med/Peds. As I've gone through my rotations, I loved working with kids, I loved working with complex problems, and I loved the MICU. The thing is, I wont be able to get any PICU experience until after ERAS, and so deciding between IM and Peds is becoming difficult (Med/Peds really just being a back-up due to decision crisis heh).
So how does the PICU compare to the MICU? I personally enjoy treating kiddos more than adults, probably like a 70/30 teeter towards kiddos. I also prefer children's hospitals and the culture therein, at least with my experience you find a lot more driven folks and a lot less complaining about patients. However, I really enjoy the cerebral sitting down and management of complex conditions, the occasional split decision life-saving decisions/resus, and the procedures I get to do in the MICU. It also pays better which is a bonus, though to be frank i dont know how much the salaries actually differ and I don't think it'd alter my lifestyle much anyways.
Also I know folks say don't go for a subspecialty if you can't enjoy the specialty. I enjoy peds, I actually really enjoy office visits and just meeting with and talking with patients, well-child is fun and rewarding even if parts may get mundane I enjoy talking to the patients and parents. As for IM, I enjoy hospitalist work and could go into primary care easily enough.
Any input would be super appreciated <3
Last edited: