- Joined
- Sep 6, 2007
- Messages
- 8
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I fell in love with surgery during my 3rd year clerkship. I loved being in the OR, I got a lot of positive feedback from the surgery residents and attendings, and I found myself to be very comfortable doing things with my hands. I didn't mind the long hours, they flew by. I did a 4th year general surgery elective and even though it was mostly bread and butter cases I really enjoyed it and thought surgery was for me.
Then I did my required E-med rotation at a busy level 1 trauma center. The whole month all I heard was the lifestyle of surgery sucks, be sure you know what you are getting into. There were two ER attendings who said they actually were in surgical training programs but switched out because they couldn't take the lifestyle or at least didn't want to (it was before the 80hr limit). I went into the ER rotation thinking I was only going to enjoy seeing the trauma cases, which I did, but I also enjoyed the rest of my shifts as well. I liked the fast pace, I liked never knowing what was going to come in next, and I have to admit it was nice being able to go home at the end of a shift if I wanted to. All of this combined with constantly hearing, "you want to go into surgery- ha, better you than me" or "do you not plan on having kids" etc. really has me worried.
I remember the first several times of being in the OR was absolutely thrilling. The first time I got a femoral central line in, I was so happy and proud of myself I was floating on cloud 9 all day and the next. I love my experinces in surgery. I'm not sure if I can say I loved ER, but I did enjoy it more than other rotations. I'm concered that the thrill and rush I feel in surgery might wear off in years to come. But I feel picking ER because it seems like a safe lifestyle bet is a cop out.
Application season is here and I need to figure this out asap. If anyone else found themselves in a similar situation, I'd appreciate your input. Thanks!
Then I did my required E-med rotation at a busy level 1 trauma center. The whole month all I heard was the lifestyle of surgery sucks, be sure you know what you are getting into. There were two ER attendings who said they actually were in surgical training programs but switched out because they couldn't take the lifestyle or at least didn't want to (it was before the 80hr limit). I went into the ER rotation thinking I was only going to enjoy seeing the trauma cases, which I did, but I also enjoyed the rest of my shifts as well. I liked the fast pace, I liked never knowing what was going to come in next, and I have to admit it was nice being able to go home at the end of a shift if I wanted to. All of this combined with constantly hearing, "you want to go into surgery- ha, better you than me" or "do you not plan on having kids" etc. really has me worried.
I remember the first several times of being in the OR was absolutely thrilling. The first time I got a femoral central line in, I was so happy and proud of myself I was floating on cloud 9 all day and the next. I love my experinces in surgery. I'm not sure if I can say I loved ER, but I did enjoy it more than other rotations. I'm concered that the thrill and rush I feel in surgery might wear off in years to come. But I feel picking ER because it seems like a safe lifestyle bet is a cop out.
Application season is here and I need to figure this out asap. If anyone else found themselves in a similar situation, I'd appreciate your input. Thanks!