Birdstrike... Congratulations. You've arrived.
In a short few days, I've been compared to a
Russian double-agent, had a numerical multiplier named after me, and called a "tour de force," of sorts. I don't know, maybe I am doing something right.
What they aren't factoring in is the Birdstrike multiplier...
Birdstrike is a tour de force on these forums ...
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In all seriousness, though, DreamingTheLive, if you're happy doing what you're doing, it doesn't matter a bit what anyone else says. At some point, we all have to decide what we think is best for us, dive in, and deal with whatever unexpected bumps in the road come along. Nothing is perfect. Honestly, I don't think I've ever told anyone not to go into EM. I've definitely cautioned people about some things I didn't expect I'd encounter, how things changed for me over the years, and done my share of ranting about things that could stand to change, but even in private messages to people, I don't think I've once told anyone not to choose EM as a career. I can't make career decisions for anyone. I'm happy with what I've done, the choices I've made, and changes I've made along the way. That includes my choice of EM as a career. I wouldn't change it if I had to do it over again. That doesn't necessarily mean I want to work night shifts in a tough community ED when I'm 60, or that there wasn't some stormy weather along the way, but life can be no other way.
I think EM as a specialty has improved in recent years in some ways, and that's primarily because of the fellowship options. You have several very diverse avenues you can go down now like Sports Med, Pain, Hospice/Palliative Care, ICU, hyperbarics, tox, EMS, admin, etc. The options are much greater. I don't think people give these enough consideration. Sometimes I'll half jokingly think to myself, I should have gone into Derm. I think I would appreciate Derm,
now. But I also know that at the age of 29, I would not have, and remember feeling that way at the time. It was a life's dream of mine to be an ER doctor and I did it. You make a decision, dive in and see what the ride has to offer. Things have worked out extremely well for me with that choice, though it's not been without some sleep deprivation and difficult and messy detours along the way.
I'm going to sign off for now, as there is a 14 oz bloody filet mignon waiting for me at my favorite steakhouse, and will be seared 60 seconds per side on a 2000 degree grill. I'll be having a romantic dinner with my opposite-sex life-partner (that means "wife" for those of you with cro-magon DNA). YOLO
"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."- John Lennon