Uncertain about pre med

[Skrrrrrrr]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I'm a freshman in college right now and I plan on majoring in physics and going into med school from there. For a few years I've wanted to be a radiologist. I've interviewed a few different radiologists, I've researched the profession, it seems very much like a career I'd enjoy and could succeed in. However, I'm unable to get over a slight squeamishness over needles specifically. I'm generally fine with gore, and am enrolled in a MedPrep class that has given me plenty to test my stomach in the past few weeks, but I'm worried that med school and general residency etc might be difficult if I can't get over this distaste for needles. Advice?

 

[pms_testosterone]

You could try to get experience with needles by volunteering at a blood drive (obviously you won't be taking blood) or taking naloxone training. You could also try watching teaching videos on YouTube. Maybe start with the ones where they're practicing on an injection training pad rather than a person.

Everyone is nervous when giving a needle for the first time, so it's not something I'd be overly worried about, especially this far in advance.

 

[stickgirl390]

Side note: consider if you would want to be a doctor if you couldn’t be a radiologist. To my understanding, that specialty is fairly competitive.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Side note: consider if you would want to be a doctor if you couldn’t be a radiologist. To my understanding, that specialty is fairly competitive.

This has actually changed a lot in the last few years. With interventional radiology splitting off to become its own speciality, diagnostic radiology is now quite easy to match into as a US MD student.

However you are right, OP would be well served to consider the rest of medicine since you do have to learn all of it to become an MD

Finally, a little fear of needles is fine. Lots of my classmates freak out at the idea of drawing blood. Most docs will never draw blood more than a few times in their whole career. You’ll have to suture during surgery, but even that’s just a few times.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

So I'm a freshman in college right now and I plan on majoring in physics and going into med school from there. For a few years I've wanted to be a radiologist. I've interviewed a few different radiologists, I've researched the profession, it seems very much like a career I'd enjoy and could succeed in. However, I'm unable to get over a slight squeamishness over needles specifically. I'm generally fine with gore, and am enrolled in a MedPrep class that has given me plenty to test my stomach in the past few weeks, but I'm worried that med school and general residency etc might be difficult if I can't get over this distaste for needles. Advice?

Many students faint and get squeamish in anatomy or observing surgery as a pre med. You get desensitized to it as time goes by. Dont worry about it. Good luck and best wishes!

 

[LizzyM]

I didn't like the thought of needles or gore until I needed to inject myself with anti-coagulants after surgery. It turned out to be a piece of cake and 28 needles later (or something like that), I feel like an old pro. On the other hand, urinary catheters still freak me out.

Desensitization and a comfort with procedures as you gain experience is real.

 

[AllBleedingStops]

You know how I got over a fear of needles? I gave blood. The more times I gave blood the easier it got.