Voluntary work, doubts

[Ranniks]

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I started voluntary work last week. I did not realise I would be working with people with brain damage. I was scared at first, but did not show it on the outside. I smiled and shook every one's hand.

A few are blind, one misses a limb and a few realise they have braindamage but try to live a happy life. I have so much respect for them and I have even more respect for the nurse taking care of them.

Is it normal to be sort of scared after seeing that? I keep thinking, they were once normal before their accident......

I am only doing this to impress the medical board, but also to enlighten my spirit and get a feel of meaning something for people. I get them drinks, make a little bit of small talk here and there and bring them to their rooms on their wheelchairs (yesterday I helped in the kitchen and cleaned a bit). It's hard because some of them have severe braindamage. It is really an eye opener.

My dad told me I should quit the voluntary work if I really felt out of place. He said as a doctor you'll just be in patients rooms, diagnose and such and not work with handicapped/brain damaged people, that work would be for the nurses/other employers. He didn't mean it like that, he meant it in the sense that if I became a doctor I wouldn't be working 24/7 with braindamaged people (after surgery).

Thing is. I would feel so guilty if I left because it would feel like
abandoning them......

 

[HealthE]

You sound like you are exactly where you should be. Enjoy the experience it will make up a better physician down the road. Things like this give you great perspective when you get to those moments where you feel like quitting because you are overwhelmed.

 

[Freesia88]

I started voluntary work last week. I did not realise I would be working with people with brain damage. I was scared at first, but did not show it on the outside. I smiled and shook every one's hand.

A few are blind, one misses a limb and a few realise they have braindamage but try to live a happy life. I have so much respect for them and I have even more respect for the nurse taking care of them.

Is it normal to be sort of scared after seeing that? I keep thinking, they were once normal before their accident......

I am only doing this to impress the medical board, but also to enlighten my spirit and get a feel of meaning something for people. I get them drinks, make a little bit of small talk here and there and bring them to their rooms on their wheelchairs (yesterday I helped in the kitchen and cleaned a bit). It's hard because some of them have severe braindamage. It is really an eye opener.

My dad told me I should quit the voluntary work if I really felt out of place. He said as a doctor you'll just be in patients rooms, diagnose and such and not work with handicapped/brain damaged people, that work would be for the nurses/other employers. He didn't mean it like that, he meant it in the sense that if I became a doctor I wouldn't be working 24/7 with braindamaged people (after surgery).

Thing is. I would feel so guilty if I left because it would feel like
abandoning them......

It sounds like you are having a hard time with this. Sorry to hear that.

If the job really really demoralizes you, then it is your prerogative to quit but realize that if you became a physician you will face damaged people in some way shape or form..it's part of the job. It might not be brain damage but it would be damage all the same.

However, if you say the work is eye-opening for you why not stick it out and see what you learn from the experience?

 

[Abider]

You have to be a lady. Who talks to their dad about this crap. And why would that occur to you? Doesn't anybody have proper awkward silences with dad anymore. Young people....

Man....the setting of anything is irrelevant. People get f'd up. Bright-eyed youth. Crotchety old bastards that everyone hates. They're going to get and be f'd up with or without you. You might get f'd up. And this conversation would be ironic. The cyber relic of irony lost in time. Forgotten cyberspace. Is anyone going to remember any of this. What is this anyway?

Take care of whoever is there. I think I need that to not forget to put my pants on in the morning. But whatever it is to you....it is to you. For the premed to med circus....it's own lunacy, irrelevant except as crosstown transportation. The specifics of which are no more important than bus or car or train.

 

[n3xa]

I am only doing this to impress the medical board, but also to enlighten my spirit and get a feel of meaning something for people. I get them drinks, make a little bit of small talk here and there and bring them to their rooms on their wheelchairs (yesterday I helped in the kitchen and cleaned a bit). It's hard because some of them have severe braindamage. It is really an eye opener.

My dad told me I should quit the voluntary work if I really felt out of place. He said as a doctor you'll just be in patients rooms, diagnose and such and not work with handicapped/brain damaged people, that work would be for the nurses/other employers. He didn't mean it like that, he meant it in the sense that if I became a doctor I wouldn't be working 24/7 with braindamaged people (after surgery).

Thing is. I would feel so guilty if I left because it would feel like
abandoning them......

There are also many, MANY other ways you can enlighten your spirit and "mean" something for people.

 

[Abider]

It sounds like you are having a hard time with this. Sorry to hear that.

If the job really really demoralizes you, then it is your prerogative to quit but realize that if you became a physician you will face damaged people in some way shape or form..it's part of the job. It might not be brain damage but it would be damage all the same.

However, if you say the work is eye-opening for you why not stick it out and see what you learn from the experience?

That's an amazing quote by bilbo baggins in your signature by the way. Reads like his love of riddles would suggest. Man...I don't know if I've ever had more intense fun absorption than reading all the Tolkien books in the 5th grade. I must've had a cool teacher, cause all I did was read during class. Thanks Mrs. Bailey, your my fave teacher.

 

[Ranniks]

You sound like you are exactly where you should be. Enjoy the experience it will make up a better physician down the road. Things like this give you great perspective when you get to those moments where you feel like quitting because you are overwhelmed.

I hope so, thanks.

It sounds like you are having a hard time with this. Sorry to hear that.

If the job really really demoralizes you, then it is your prerogative to quit but realize that if you became a physician you will face damaged people in some way shape or form..it's part of the job. It might not be brain damage but it would be damage all the same.

However, if you say the work is eye-opening for you why not stick it out and see what you learn from the experience?

I think you are right! I'll stick it out this year and see what happens.

You have to be a lady. Who talks to their dad about this crap. And why would that occur to you? Doesn't anybody have proper awkward silences with dad anymore. Young people....

Man....the setting of anything is irrelevant. People get f'd up. Bright-eyed youth. Crotchety old bastards that everyone hates. They're going to get and be f'd up with or without you. You might get f'd up. And this conversation would be ironic. The cyber relic of irony lost in time. Forgotten cyberspace. Is anyone going to remember any of this. What is this anyway?

Take care of whoever is there. I think I need that to not forget to put my pants on in the morning. But whatever it is to you....it is to you. For the premed to med circus....it's own lunacy, irrelevant except as crosstown transportation. The specifics of which are no more important than bus or car or train.

Are you feeling alright sir? I'm a male btw turning 21 (still nontrad, don't ask how/why).

There are also many, MANY other ways you can enlighten your spirit and "mean" something for people.

Hmmm.

 

[Aminex]

I hope so, thanks.
Are you feeling alright sir? I'm a male btw turning 21 (still nontrad, don't ask how/why).

Not to be all bumlicky but pay close attention to Abider's posts. 21 is the perfect age to take a crash course on Werner Herzog and Abider's post history. This may not make sense now. Squirrel it all away because it will. The more you understand what it means to be a conquistador of the useless and absurd, the easier it gets.

 

[Leonid Rogozov]

I started voluntary work last week. I did not realise I would be working with people with brain damage.

Am I the only person who lol'd after reading this?

OP it's kind of the name of the game for being a physician. It's sad and a lot to take in at times but being a physician is about helping people at their worst. Dealing with people who have brain damage/mental ******ation/enuresis/abuse/a metal pipe jammed through their hand is part of the job.

 

[Freesia88]

I think you are right! I'll stick it out this year and see what happens.

Awesome. And just remember that it is not for med school admissions committees to see how great you are. It is for your own development as a person...

You have to be a lady. Who talks to their dad about this crap. And why would that occur to you? Doesn't anybody have proper awkward silences with dad anymore. Young people....

Man....the setting of anything is irrelevant. People get f'd up. Bright-eyed youth. Crotchety old bastards that everyone hates. They're going to get and be f'd up with or without you. You might get f'd up. And this conversation would be ironic. The cyber relic of irony lost in time. Forgotten cyberspace. Is anyone going to remember any of this. What is this anyway?

Take care of whoever is there. I think I need that to not forget to put my pants on in the morning. But whatever it is to you....it is to you. For the premed to med circus....it's own lunacy, irrelevant except as crosstown transportation. The specifics of which are no more important than bus or car or train.

My first reaction...😕
My reaction after 3rd reading...

That's an amazing quote by bilbo baggins in your signature by the way. Reads like his love of riddles would suggest. Man...I don't know if I've ever had more intense fun absorption than reading all the Tolkien books in the 5th grade. I must've had a cool teacher, cause all I did was read during class. Thanks Mrs. Bailey, your my fave teacher.

I'm obsessed with Tolkein. I truly believe he is one of the greatest writers of the last century..if not the greatest. My ambition is to read all of his works.

 

[notbobtrustme]

I think you hit the nail on the head. This is an EC to impress adcoms, nothing more, nothing less. The patients you encounter will have their lives go on with you or without you. You have a good EC in the making, so just suck it up and stuck with it for a couple of months. Then you can wax BS on your interview and coast to a medical school acceptance.

The process to get into medical school isn't enlightenment or awakening, it's playing a game. Do you honestly believe that most pre-meds saw the light after spending a summer in the ER? They've already made up their mind that they want to go to medical school, so volunteering at the ER is a necessary evil to get to that goal. It's just like hazing in sports; if you want to be in the treehouse, you gotta pay the price.

 

[Leonid Rogozov]

The process to get into medical school isn't enlightenment or awakening, it's playing a game.

That doesn't really speak to me... Granted I didn't have such awakenings just volunteering in an ER but a lot of the stuff I have done has been really eye opening.

 

[Freesia88]

I think you hit the nail on the head. This is an EC to impress adcoms, nothing more, nothing less. The patients you encounter will have their lives go on with you or without you. You have a good EC in the making, so just suck it up and stuck with it for a couple of months. Then you can wax BS on your interview and coast to a medical school acceptance.

The process to get into medical school isn't enlightenment or awakening, it's playing a game. Do you honestly believe that most pre-meds saw the light after spending a summer in the ER? They've already made up their mind that they want to go to medical school, so volunteering at the ER is a necessary evil to get to that goal. It's just like hazing in sports; if you want to be in the treehouse, you gotta pay the price.

At risk of sounding like a wide eyed Pollyanna, the fact that the way you describe it is how things have come to be does not mean it is the way things should be. I doubt Adcoms intended for EC's to become this circus where people jump through hoops to show that they are better human beings.

Possibly, EC's were encouraged so that potential medical students could get some depth of personality, get to know themselves a little better and develop habits and coping mechanisms which will enable them endure and thrive as medical students and then doctors. You gotta admit, the path is not the easiest one. EC's were for pre-meds to see the real world, and in the case if clinical type EC's, see the medical world they aspire to be a part of, get out of the happy bubble of college life and get some maturity. It was intended for them to as much as possible confront human suffering in all its macabre glory and let those experiences guide their decision to pursue medicine.

It is a sadder commentary on the relative immaturity and shallowness of aspiring medical students that it has become this tiresome process of seemingly meaningless activity. No mater how many times people in Pre-Allo are told to do the things that interest them, and seek out opportunities to test their interest in medicine which do not necessarily involve handing out pillows in ER (or playing angry birds all day), how many of them listen? And for the love of God, why is it now when you decided to become a doctor that you have to worry about doing things outside of school work. Isn't that how it is supposed to be anyway? Aren't we human being who at least should have an interest in the world around us?

 

[HealthE]

At risk of sounding like a wide eyed Pollyanna, the fact that the way you describe it is how things have come to be does not mean it is the way things should be. I doubt Adcoms intended for EC's to become this circus where people jump through hoops to show that they are better human beings.

Possibly, EC's were encouraged so that potential medical students could get some depth of personality, get to know themselves a little better and develop habits and coping mechanisms which will enable them endure and thrive as medical students and then doctors. You gotta admit, the path is not the easiest one. EC's were for pre-meds to see the real world, and in the case if clinical type EC's, see the medical world they aspire to be a part of, get out of the happy bubble of college life and get some maturity. It was intended for them to as much as possible confront human suffering in all its macabre glory and let those experiences guide their decision to pursue medicine.

It is a sadder commentary on the relative immaturity and shallowness of aspiring medical students that it has become this tiresome process of seemingly meaningless activity. No mater how many times people in Pre-Allo are told to do the things that interest them, and seek out opportunities to test their interest in medicine which do not necessarily involve handing out pillows in ER (or playing angry birds all day), how many of them listen? And for the love of God, why is it now when you decided to become a doctor that you have to worry about doing things outside of school work. Isn't that how it is supposed to be anyway? Aren't we human being who at least should have an interest in the world around us?

Agreed....go out and do it so you wont bore the admissions committee with your lack of real world experience. I know people with perfect grades that got rejected from medical school because they lacked that personality and depth the adcoms were looking for. Go to your volunteer experience and take it seriously and learn as much as you can from those people. Dont be afraid. Life is scary its better you start getting used to it sooner rather than later. Maybe, you will better be able to handle patients when you get to start seeing them in the future.

For the record, I used to be like OP. Extremely sheltered and grew up in the suburbs. A couple of years of doing health work in low income communities after college cleared this fear of the world and naivety right up.

 

[Abider]

At risk of sounding like a wide eyed Pollyanna, the fact that the way you describe it is how things have come to be does not mean it is the way things should be. I doubt Adcoms intended for EC's to become this circus where people jump through hoops to show that they are better human beings.

Possibly, EC's were encouraged so that potential medical students could get some depth of personality, get to know themselves a little better and develop habits and coping mechanisms which will enable them endure and thrive as medical students and then doctors. You gotta admit, the path is not the easiest one. EC's were for pre-meds to see the real world, and in the case if clinical type EC's, see the medical world they aspire to be a part of, get out of the happy bubble of college life and get some maturity. It was intended for them to as much as possible confront human suffering in all its macabre glory and let those experiences guide their decision to pursue medicine.

It is a sadder commentary on the relative immaturity and shallowness of aspiring medical students that it has become this tiresome process of seemingly meaningless activity. No mater how many times people in Pre-Allo are told to do the things that interest them, and seek out opportunities to test their interest in medicine which do not necessarily involve handing out pillows in ER (or playing angry birds all day), how many of them listen? And for the love of God, why is it now when you decided to become a doctor that you have to worry about doing things outside of school work. Isn't that how it is supposed to be anyway? Aren't we human being who at least should have an interest in the world around us?

I don't disagree with you. But my take on it that it's an ecological phenomenon. We may look at komodo dragons and think that they're vile and disgusting, and yet we recognize that they've been f'n **** up on the Galapagos so long that they the own the place. They've mastered the Galapagos game.

Similarly someone who executes perfected applications most successfully has reptilian instincts. There's no way to quantify sincerity, and to crosshatch that with a sense of humor, and then do an pcr amplification on their humility sequence. So by process of competition and quantitative selection we create the medical students we seek.

And then when we have them...the real mindsex begins.

 

[MedWonk]

I don't disagree with you. But my take on it that it's an ecological phenomenon. We may look at komodo dragons and think that they're vile and disgusting, and yet we recognize that they've been f'n **** up on the Galapagos so long that they the own the place. They've mastered the Galapagos game.

Similarly someone who executes perfected applications most successfully has reptilian instincts. There's no way to quantify sincerity, and to crosshatch that with a sense of humor, and then do an pcr amplification on their humility sequence. So by process of competition and quantitative selection we create the medical students we seek.

And then when we have them...the real mindsex begins.

Just FYI, komodo dragons live somewhere in Indonesia, not the Galapagos.

/good post, though
//slashies

 

[Ranniks]

Wow....

So the nurse of the voluntary place told me to call her and so I did. I was absolutely not expecting this. She said because I had to learn so much new things in coordination, that it was not well for either the patients or myself and also because of the neurological damage to the patients. She said that the other coordinator will call me and place me somwhere else I think, but she didn't think my place was right at that her departement.

She said she saw I did my very best and all. I am bewildered when she said 'you have to learn' and 'another place'. Aren't you supposed to learn at new places?

She also seemed aggitated on the phone. Maybe I'm arrogant, but maybe she thinks that way because I want to be a doctor? I never did anything wrong there I think, I did my very best and helped and now this?

I don't even understand what she meant be 'the you learning part will be troublesome for yourself and the patients'.....Just wow......Wow........ And she said 'it's better you are placed in a group sort of thing'....I'm not even that social!

So now I'm going to get a call and be placed somewhere else.

So did I do something wrong or are they just not looking for 'new' volunteers?

*Sigh*

 

[theseeker4]

Wow....

So the nurse of the voluntary place told me to call her and so I did. I was absolutely not expecting this. She said because I had to learn so much new things in coordination, that it was not well for either the patients or myself and also because of the neurological damage to the patients. She said that the other coordinator will call me and place me somwhere else I think, but she didn't think my place was right at that her departement.

She said she saw I did my very best and all. I am bewildered when she said 'you have to learn' and 'another place'. Aren't you supposed to learn at new places?

She also seemed aggitated on the phone. Maybe I'm arrogant, but maybe she thinks that way because I want to be a doctor? I never did anything wrong there I think, I did my very best and helped and now this?

I don't even understand what she meant be 'the you learning part will be troublesome for yourself and the patients'.....Just wow......Wow........ And she said 'it's better you are placed in a group sort of thing'....I'm not even that social!

So now I'm going to get a call and be placed somewhere else.

So did I do something wrong or are they just not looking for 'new' volunteers?

*Sigh*

Obviously I have no clue what actually happened or what is going on, but it sounds like she either decided she didn't like you for some reason (did you possibly act arrogant in some way, or make a point of telling everyone you would be applying to med school?) or it was very obvious that you were not comfortable working there, so she decided you should do something else. Shots in the dark, obviously, but those are the two most likely things I can think of.

If they were simply not looking for new volunteers, you would not have been placed there in the first place. Either there is something wrong with her, or you did something she didn't like. Good luck at your next volunteer gig.

 

[Ranniks]

Obviously I have no clue what actually happened or what is going on, but it sounds like she either decided she didn't like you for some reason (did you possibly act arrogant in some way, or make a point of telling everyone you would be applying to med school?) or it was very obvious that you were not comfortable working there, so she decided you should do something else. Shots in the dark, obviously, but those are the two most likely things I can think of.

If they were simply not looking for new volunteers, you would not have been placed there in the first place. Either there is something wrong with her, or you did something she didn't like. Good luck at your next volunteer gig.

I was afraid of that. I've only told her once that I want to study medical school, but I was not arrogant at all. She needed to know my reasons for being there and so I told her that I could experience what it would be like in the future and get a feel for it. Not exactly formulated like that, but something like that. And that I wanted to mean something for people.

It's really awfull because I was bonding with some of them......The other coordinator called me and said 'bonding' comes later on, well bs, this old lady liked classical music and so do I....And thus we bonded somehow in the span of a few hours.

The only thing I can think of is this: last week I put my hand on her shoulder for milisecond and told her it's really respectfull what she does and that she stands ready for the patients and that I really respected that. She responded that it was her job, but thanked me. We never even had a bad argument, always nice talk.

But how is that a negative thing? I was being nice and sincere...

Thanks for your reply btw!

 

[Gfliptastic]

Similar experience. It IS scary. However, you should always understand, the sicker a person is, the more you are going to see them.

I volunteered at the VA pre med school. I remember having to go into rooms w/ patients who had SARS. And now as an MS3, it's a weekly experience to have to be up close and personal w/ patients w/ HIV. Hep B. Name a communicable disease, you will be in spitting distance.

Which reminds me. I've had a schizophrenic patient spit on me. Cursed me out. Spit on me. (Because he had been off his lithium).

They say soldiers run towards danger. Firefighters are the only people who run INTO a fire. Well, a physician goes TO sick people. Brain damaged people. Maimed people. People w/ the flu who don't cover their mouths when they talk. People w/ HIV.

You can't cringe. You can't turn your face away when the HIV guy talks or cover your mouth. You have to shake hands w/ the war vet w/ 2 fingers on his right hand like it's no thing. THIS IS MEDICINE

It's along the lines of something my sister sez about our great soldiers. As much as we worry about the men & women in the armed forces, we do understand they don't fly overseas to test pillows. Some of them will be maimed or killed. It's part of being a soldier.

Being a physician? Probably the least likely person you'll see is a healthy person. You need to be ready for the full spectrum from mostly healthy to at death's door.

Good luck trying to understand this. At your next volunteer opportunity. If you can't understand this, medicine is NOT for you.

 

[rguil15]

Wow this thread has everything, halarious, sad, ironic, pathetic, encouraging. Good work everyone.

I volunteer in the cancer ward. That means I bring ice to people who sometimes have about a week left to live, and sometimes everyone knows it except them. Sometimes they are 18 year old kids, sometimes 85 year old grand mothers and fathers, withering away in front of my eyes. Sometimes they want to talk, I listen. Sometimes they want to talk but can't. Sometimes they just babble nonsense in my general direction. Sometimes they are just confussed and look scared to death to see all these strangers coming in and out of their rooms.

It's like stepping into bizarro world for 4 hrs every saturday. It's a pretty legit dose of reality. Just makes me want to be a doctor all the more. Life is real, but so is death and decay.

 

[rguil15]

I was afraid of that. I've only told her once that I want to study medical school, but I was not arrogant at all. She needed to know my reasons for being there and so I told her that I could experience what it would be like in the future and get a feel for it. Not exactly formulated like that, but something like that. And that I wanted to mean something for people.

It's really awfull because I was bonding with some of them......The other coordinator called me and said 'bonding' comes later on, well bs, this old lady liked classical music and so do I....And thus we bonded somehow in the span of a few hours.

The only thing I can think of is this: last week I put my hand on her shoulder for milisecond and told her it's really respectfull what she does and that she stands ready for the patients and that I really respected that. She responded that it was her job, but thanked me. We never even had a bad argument, always nice talk.

But how is that a negative thing? I was being nice and sincere...

Thanks for your reply btw!

Sounds like you got a little dose of rejection either way. You'll be alright, head down and power through.

 

[rguil15]

I am only doing this to impress the medical board

They've probably seen everything under the sun, you will not impress them. After sitting down with the Dean of Admissions at one of my institutes of interest for over an hour it became clear to me, this man will never think I'm "special" or "impressive" if I'm lucky he'll consider me "just good enough to give a spot to". Life is better when you're over trying to impress people. Unless you have a spouse, then it's just a fun game to have your ego take a small step closer to oblivion everytime you try to impress them.

but also to enlighten my spirit and get a feel of meaning something for people.

Your spirit? Have you thought about religion? Jesus was an interesting figure, might check into it. Muhammad was as well. Lots of interesting ideas out there for ones spirit.

You want to feel like you mean something for someone? Have you thought about a dog? A girlfriend?

 

[Ranniks]

They've probably seen everything under the sun, you will not impress them. After sitting down with the Dean of Admissions at one of my institutes of interest for over an hour it became clear to me, this man will never think I'm "special" or "impressive" if I'm lucky he'll consider me "just good enough to give a spot to". Life is better when you're over trying to impress people. Unless you have a spouse, then it's just a fun game to have your ego take a small step closer to oblivion everytime you try to impress them.

Your spirit? Have you thought about religion? Jesus was an interesting figure, might check into it. Muhammad was as well. Lots of interesting ideas out there for ones spirit.

You want to feel like you mean something for someone? Have you thought about a dog? A girlfriend?

That was not needed at all. A doctor without compassion is no good doctor at all.

And you know what I meant with meaning something for someone else. I have zero experience with patients and this is a way toe nlighten my spirit. And spirit can mean several different things. Maybe my spirit is a bit young right now and needs some growing up to do, to see how the real world is. This way I'll get that picture early on.

And meaning something for someone, YES! If I solely did it to impress the board it would mean I would go there with dread everytime and be like 'hi,here is your tea, bye'. Sorry, but just no.

I am sorry that your interpretation from my story is wrongfully painted, but that is not my faulth.

The next gig will be somewhere in a hospital I hope. Learn learn, move on, learn, learn and learn even more! 🙂

 

[Ranniks]

Similar experience. It IS scary. However, you should always understand, the sicker a person is, the more you are going to see them.

I volunteered at the VA pre med school. I remember having to go into rooms w/ patients who had SARS. And now as an MS3, it's a weekly experience to have to be up close and personal w/ patients w/ HIV. Hep B. Name a communicable disease, you will be in spitting distance.

Which reminds me. I've had a schizophrenic patient spit on me. Cursed me out. Spit on me. (Because he had been off his lithium).

They say soldiers run towards danger. Firefighters are the only people who run INTO a fire. Well, a physician goes TO sick people. Brain damaged people. Maimed people. People w/ the flu who don't cover their mouths when they talk. People w/ HIV.

You can't cringe. You can't turn your face away when the HIV guy talks or cover your mouth. You have to shake hands w/ the war vet w/ 2 fingers on his right hand like it's no thing. THIS IS MEDICINE

It's along the lines of something my sister sez about our great soldiers. As much as we worry about the men & women in the armed forces, we do understand they don't fly overseas to test pillows. Some of them will be maimed or killed. It's part of being a soldier.

Being a physician? Probably the least likely person you'll see is a healthy person. You need to be ready for the full spectrum from mostly healthy to at death's door.

Good luck trying to understand this. At your next volunteer opportunity. If you can't understand this, medicine is NOT for you.

Exactly.

And medicine is for me, definitely. I would have given up my dream 3 years ago if it wasn't for me. It takes courage, persistance, a burning desire and a never ending will to get where I want to be. Not to mention the intelligence some people like to talk about. So far hard work has made me pass every stepping stone on my way, let's see where my belief in God and my belief in hard work gets me.

 

[Sandstorm]

Am I the only person who lol'd after reading this?

OP it's kind of the name of the game for being a physician. It's sad and a lot to take in at times but being a physician is about helping people at their worst. Dealing with people who have brain damage/mental ******ation/enuresis/abuse/a metal pipe jammed through their hand is part of the job.

No, I as well laughed my behind off after reading this. Something along the lines of dealing with brain dead people is a nurses job (not pulling direct quote here but you can obviously look at OP and see what I'm referencing).

You shouldn't just leave your volunteer post, you should consider leaving medicine because you clearly have no idea what you have coming

 

[Sandstorm]

Exactly.

And medicine is for me, definitely. I would have given up my dream 3 years ago if it wasn't for me. It takes courage, persistance, a burning desire and a never ending will to get where I want to be. Not to mention the intelligence some people like to talk about. So far hard work has made me pass every stepping stone on my way, let's see where my belief in God and my belief in hard work gets me.

Maybe God can implant in your brain that the very crux of being a physician includes dealing with people who are "damaged"?

Imjustsayinnn

 

[Ranniks]

For the sake of my own sanity and to not give in to trolls I shall hence forth only reply to comments that are not in a way trying to make me choose another profession, it is utterly pathetic and principially wrong.

For the record: I was doubting it, but made my decision the second time I visited them that I wanted to contineu it. Sorry that I'm human and reacted weird the first time I saw real handicapped/injured people, sorry I'm not a robot.

Well, I hope that made things clear. 🙂 Sad considering most of you are my elders and I have to post this. Oh well....

 

[Ranniks]

Thanks to the people who answered sincerely and were helpfull! I hope your quest to becoming a physician goes well and you become the best doctors you can be!

 

[n3xa]

For the sake of my own sanity and to not give in to trolls I shall hence forth only reply to comments that are not in a way trying to make me choose another profession, it is utterly pathetic and principially wrong.

Keep in mind how you phrase things in the future. The people here were being pretty nice.

 

[rguil15]

That was not needed at all. A doctor without compassion is no good doctor at all.

And you know what I meant with meaning something for someone else. I have zero experience with patients and this is a way toe nlighten my spirit. And spirit can mean several different things. Maybe my spirit is a bit young right now and needs some growing up to do, to see how the real world is. This way I'll get that picture early on.

And meaning something for someone, YES! If I solely did it to impress the board it would mean I would go there with dread everytime and be like 'hi,here is your tea, bye'. Sorry, but just no.

I am sorry that your interpretation from my story is wrongfully painted, but that is not my faulth.

The next gig will be somewhere in a hospital I hope. Learn learn, move on, learn, learn and learn even more! 🙂

I'm not sure I did misunderstand you. What you seem to be implying is that you need to feel needed. So you are looking for emotional fulfillment and you are trying to get that from the needy. That's a receipt for disaster, and has nothing whatsoever to do with being compassionate, in fact it might be the opposite of compassion, dare I say.
I wasn't trying to make a joke, I think you should seriously consider getting a dog or a girlfriend until you can sort that out.

 

[Freesia88]

For the sake of my own sanity and to not give in to trolls I shall hence forth only reply to comments that are not in a way trying to make me choose another profession, it is utterly pathetic and principially wrong.

For the record: I was doubting it, but made my decision the second time I visited them that I wanted to contineu it. Sorry that I'm human and reacted weird the first time I saw real handicapped/injured people, sorry I'm not a robot.

Well, I hope that made things clear. 🙂 Sad considering most of you are my elders and I have to post this. Oh well....

I think that is precisely why med schools encourage such activities; so you see and know early enough what you are getting into. Let this be a learning experience for you. Better you face this now and learn to deal with it (or decide medicine is not for you) rather than have some cushy 'volunteer' work which gives you no real exposure and then become one of those doctors we know all too well... And with regards to the bit abut feeling "needed"...don't get too carried away by the 'doctor-savior" thing. From the reading I have done in the residents forum, you're likely to meet patients who don't give a rats ass about themselves and who will not listen to anything you say even if they are dying. Some one needing to feel validated by his patients is not going to fare well in such an environment.

The world is not easy to live in and moreso for some people than others. By deciding to pursue medicine, you are committing to dealing with people at times when they are most vulnerable, physically and emotionaly. Your head has to be in the right place and you have to develop coping mechsnisms which enable to you deal with your own fears and aversions while providing these people the best care you can, in as compassionate a manner as possible.

 

[QofQuimica]

Similarly someone who executes perfected applications most successfully has reptilian instincts. There's no way to quantify sincerity, and to crosshatch that with a sense of humor, and then do an pcr amplification on their humility sequence. So by process of competition and quantitative selection we create the medical students we seek.

And then when we have them...the real mindsex begins.

I hope present company not included.

OP, I have to agree with Freesia and Gflip. Take their posts to heart.

 

[Ranniks]

I hope present company not included.

OP, I have to agree with Freesia and Gflip. Take their posts to heart.

I'll try....Some people are just so bitter......What's wrong with wanting to learn to grow up a little bit by helping others? I see voluntary work as being able to:

- Help others <--- This is what I meant with meaning something for people
- Learn so I can later cope better with people who are sick
- For the Medical Board in Holland
- So I can become a better doctor later in life
- Resume

 

[Sandstorm]

I'll try....Some people are just so bitter......What's wrong with wanting to learn to grow up a little bit by helping others? I see voluntary work as being able to:

- Help others <--- This is what I meant with meaning something for people
- Learn so I can later cope better with people who are sick
- For the Medical Board in Holland
- So I can become a better doctor later in life
- Resume

Part of growing up is considering your own faults, ie the poor phrasing of your original post and considering why people may react poorly. Definitely not bitter, but thank you!

 

[n3xa]

Part of growing up is considering your own faults, ie the poor phrasing of your original post and considering why people may react poorly. Definitely not bitter, but thank you!

Pretty much this 👍

 

[Leonid Rogozov]

I think that is precisely why med schools encourage such activities; so you see and know early enough what you are getting into. Let this be a learning experience for you.

^^^

This, this, a thousand times this.

Get your feet wet OP, learn a few things. I really hope you understand that being a physician is messy and can't be approached as 'just a job'.

 

[Leonid Rogozov]

Something along the lines of dealing with brain dead people is a nurses job (not pulling direct quote here but you can obviously look at OP and see what I'm referencing).

Yeah, that's what I inferred too.

 

[whythis]

Can anyone advise me if medical translation over the phone or face-to-face between patient and doctor is considered accepted experience? thanks.

 

[rguil15]

Can anyone advise me if medical translation over the phone or face-to-face between patient and doctor is considered accepted experience? thanks.

The Dean at the med school I hope to attend told us they are looking for things that would allow us to "smell the smells" so to speak. YMMV.

 

[Freesia88]

As LizzyM says... "If you can smell the patients..."

 

[jl lin]

You have to be a lady. Who talks to their dad about this crap. And why would that occur to you? Doesn't anybody have proper awkward silences with dad anymore. Young people....

Man....the setting of anything is irrelevant. People get f'd up. Bright-eyed youth. Crotchety old bastards that everyone hates. They're going to get and be f'd up with or without you. You might get f'd up. And this conversation would be ironic. The cyber relic of irony lost in time. Forgotten cyberspace. Is anyone going to remember any of this. What is this anyway?

Take care of whoever is there. I think I need that to not forget to put my pants on in the morning. But whatever it is to you....it is to you. For the premed to med circus....it's own lunacy, irrelevant except as crosstown transportation. The specifics of which are no more important than bus or car or train.

Dude, I may not always 100% agree with you, but you got one heck of a style, and you always somehow make me smile.🙂