What do you do for a living?

Started by Laurel123
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Laurel123

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So what do you guys say when people ask that question? Do you say 'doctor', 'anesthesiologist', 'physician', or something else? Just curious!

Probably because I am female when I say I am an anesthesiologist, people ask me if that is a type of nurse and are shocked when I explain I am an MD. People dont know anything.....
 
I try to not tell people i am a physician. Sometimes, it changes how they relate to you. THen, I also have to explain that I am a physician but I am still training.

Oh and then some say, oh, you are a nurse? (when i mention gas).


i find the whole conversation annoying. i usually say, "I work at the hospital" and hope they think i am janitor or something...

So what do you guys say when people ask that question? Do you say 'doctor', 'anesthesiologist', 'physician', or something else? Just curious!

Probably because I am female when I say I am an anesthesiologist, people ask me if that is a type of nurse and are shocked when I explain I am an MD. People dont know anything.....
 
it depends on who is asking --- for the most part i try to down-play it because the last thing you want are more crazy questions.

it is especially hard for women... if i were you Laurel i would just say you are a doctor.

unfortunately that may scare away a lot of dating material for you
 
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Depends on the circumstance and who's asking. Saying "I work at the hospital" may come off as condescending if the person perceives that you're trying to hide that you're educated and successful. I live in New York where being a doctor is nothing special, so I just say "I'm a doctor up at NY Presbyterian."

If it's some wacko on the street I'll say something random just for fun. And to minimize the chance of being robbed or murdered.
 
whatever you do - don't publicize that you are a doctor by having an expensive car with a personalized "MD" licence plate
 
I love it. I think I will start saying " I work at a hospital"... That is totally the way to go. Trying to explain it all makes me want to puke.
 
I put "health care worker" on my income tax form. Hell with it, let em use their imagination... Regards, ---Zip
 
so people here in the US do not feel comfortable saying that they are anesthesia doctors? I guess even anesthesiologists themselves do not feel too proud of their specialty. Sounds disappointing.
 
To each their own as a caveat I suppose, but really?

If they seem truly interested in knowing, I believe it's disrespectful to take the stance that describing one's profession can be tiring. "Work at the hospital" is entirely appropriate IMO but the implication that this question is an annoyance is laughable to me. If anything, take the ridiculous "well my Mom's friend has this thing on her..." questions as a priviledge or, at worse, a job risk.
 
unfortunately that may scare away a lot of dating material for you

Yeah, for women "M.D." stands for "my disease." It's amazing how many guys out there avoid dating females who are physicians. Talk about fragile egos.

-copro
 
so people here in the US do not feel comfortable saying that they are anesthesia doctors? I guess even anesthesiologists themselves do not feel too proud of their specialty. Sounds disappointing.

That wasn't the point at all. The point is not wanting to reveal too much about your personal life and background to strangers. This can put your safety at risk if people only hear $$. Also, socially, a lot of people are afraid to interact with physicians. They either think we belong to some elite group or that we "think we are elite." Either way they choose to avoid us.

Basically you are dumbing down a complicated issue.
 
whatever you do - don't publicize that you are a doctor by having an expensive car with a personalized "MD" licence plate


I can think of a lot worse for personalized plates

200px-Kramer%27s_ASSMAN_plates.jpg


I hope this is small enough not to get me in trouble
 
so people here in the US do not feel comfortable saying that they are anesthesia doctors? I guess even anesthesiologists themselves do not feel too proud of their specialty. Sounds disappointing.


Reason why I answer most of the time the way I do. No body gives a crap what you do for a living. Of course if it is relevent to the conversation I will say exactly what I do, but most of the time it is just chit chat and even (especially if) if I was chairman of the Living God's only Cardiothoracic Surgeon department I would answer "work at the hospital". If they ask more I tell them.

Pompous douche
 
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Also, socially, a lot of people are afraid to interact with physicians.

I've found quite the contrary to be true. Usually if it gets out that you're a doctor, then they want to tell you about and seek advice concerning the minutiae of their problematic bowel movements. Amazing how this can completely destroy light cocktail banter.

-copro
 
When I was buying my last house, I went to one particular realty office for one of our expensive neighborhoods.

I dressed in my usual uniform....t-shirt, comfortable Levi's, boots...accessoriesed with Ray-Bans and Rolex Sea-Dweller.

I walked in...and the guy got right up from his desk and came over to me with a smile on his face.

He said, "I'm glad you're finally here. I've been waiting for you ALL day. The photocopier is in the back room, and we need to get it working ASAP."

Since then, when people ask what I do...I just tell them that I repair photocopiers.









I spent my half million in a different neighborhood.
 
When I was buying my last house, I went to one particular realty office for one of our expensive neighborhoods.

I dressed in my usual uniform....t-shirt, comfortable Levi's, boots...accessoriesed with Ray-Bans and Rolex Sea-Dweller.

I walked in...and the guy got right up from his desk and came over to me with a smile on his face.

He said, "I'm glad you're finally here. I've been waiting for you ALL day. The photocopier is in the back room, and we need to get it working ASAP."

Since then, when people ask what I do...I just tell them that I repair photocopiers.









I spent my half million in a different neighborhood.

Hahahaha, my grandfather showed me this is the best way to do business. You can really tell if somebody gives a rats *** about helping you when you go in with a t shirt and jeans on. Long story short, the were snubbed by the first guy in the dealership, so he made sure that the jerk noticed he was buying a 50,000 dollar truck from the other salesman. 50k was a hell of a lot of money in '91 in middle of nowhere Nebraska.....
 
As a female, when I answer the question by saying, "I work at the hospital"...that statement is almost always followed by the other party saying, "Oh, so you're a nurse?"

I do find that I try to avoid letting people know I'm a doctor in any situation where they might charge me money. For example, the furnace repair guy. It's bad enough that he thinks I'm stupid becuase I'm female, but to think I'm very rich and stupid, well...

In general, the public perceives doctors as being riduclously wealthy, very privleged, as having had everything you want handed to you on a silver platter, and never ever having been sick a day in your life. For me, none of those things are true. I'd rather just avoid that perception by avoiding the issue. Why walk around with a target on your back in a culture where people are looking to get rich quick by filing stupid lawsuits?
 
I, too, go with "I work at a hospital" much the same as I said "grad student" for the majority of the time I was in med school.

The people who need to know know.
 
"Since then, when people ask what I do...I just tell them that I repair photocopiers."

Ha ha! That is hilarious! What sort of car did you pull up in?

When I was buying my last house last year, I asked the realtor what high school this neighborhood went to. She told me and then asked what grade I was in. What is a first year attending? 23rd grade?











I spent my half million in a different neighborhood.[/QUOTE]
 
As a female, when I answer the question by saying, "I work at the hospital"...that statement is almost always followed by the other party saying, "Oh, so you're a nurse?"

I do find that I try to avoid letting people know I'm a doctor in any situation where they might charge me money. For example, the furnace repair guy. It's bad enough that he thinks I'm stupid becuase I'm female, but to think I'm very rich and stupid, well...

In general, the public perceives doctors as being riduclously wealthy, very privleged, as having had everything you want handed to you on a silver platter, and never ever having been sick a day in your life. For me, none of those things are true. I'd rather just avoid that perception by avoiding the issue. Why walk around with a target on your back in a culture where people are looking to get rich quick by filing stupid lawsuits?


Isn't that the truth! I generally avoid the issue too. I try my best to avoid saying much about my profession in general because people do assume I am fabulously wealthy when I say I am a doctor. (after they grasp the fact that a female is a doctor.) But when I say I work at *** hospital, they always assume as a nurse. Then I find myself explaining that I am actually a doctor. Then sometimes people will ask 'Like an MD?' or 'did you go to medical school?' I should just say 'Accountant'. Then people will get instantly bored and not ask any follow up questions.
 
Interesting thread.

Very interesting to me since my S.O. is a general surgeon.

Thats five-foot-two and about a buck-five.

How she got through a general surgery I'll never know......yeah, I do know....she can be a bit feisty when she has to be.

But ya know how we get pis sed when people say "are you anesthesia?"

She hears the same thing....."Are you surgery?"

When operating, she'll ask for a retractor.....sometimes more than once. Then turns to her partner who she frequently operates with and asks him..."Dude, ask for a f ukking retractor."

She swears that having a penis, especially if youre a surgeon, makes a big difference.

And I believe her.

Funny thing is she and her partner are the best general surgeons at this facility.

She swears that one of the older general surgeons here still doesnt think she's a doctor, and that he thinks she comes into the doctor's lounge to bring cookies. :laugh:

Thank God she's got a great attitude about it....she does her 15 minute lap appys, 20 minute lap GBs, one hour colons, 10 minute breast biopsies, rounds like Flash Gordon, sees patients in her office cdazy fast, and all that combined with a great call schedule, is home by 3 most days. And has Wednesdays off.

Oh, she's a great cook. And looks hot in a bikini. 😀

Lucky me!
 
Interesting thread.

Very interesting to me since my S.O. is a general surgeon.

Thats five-foot-two and about a buck-five.

How she got through a general surgery I'll never know......yeah, I do know....she can be a bit feisty when she has to be.

But ya know how we get pis sed when people say "are you anesthesia?"

She hears the same thing....."Are you surgery?"

When operating, she'll ask for a retractor.....sometimes more than once. Then turns to her partner who she frequently operates with and asks him..."Dude, ask for a f ukking retractor."

She swears that having a penis, especially if youre a surgeon, makes a big difference.

And I believe her.

Funny thing is she and her partner are the best general surgeons at this facility.

She swears that one of the older general surgeons here still doesnt think she's a doctor, and that he thinks she comes into the doctor's lounge to bring cookies. :laugh:

Thank God she's got a great attitude about it....she does her 15 minute lap appys, 20 minute lap GBs, one hour colons, 10 minute breast biopsies, rounds like Flash Gordon, sees patients in her office cdazy fast, and all that combined with a great call schedule, is home by 3 most days. And has Wednesdays off.

Oh, she's a great cook. And looks hot in a bikini. 😀

Lucky me!


So who makes more money? Just curious cuz with the job I'm taking I think I will make more than my brother who is a general surgeon.
 
"Since then, when people ask what I do...I just tell them that I repair photocopiers."

Ha ha! That is hilarious! What sort of car did you pull up in?

When I was buying my last house last year, I asked the realtor what high school this neighborhood went to. She told me and then asked what grade I was in. What is a first year attending? 23rd grade?











I spent my half million in a different neighborhood.
[/quote]

A ford focus from the rental place
 
One day at church my mom did her typical "trophy" thing and introduced me to her friends:

"Oh, so you're the doctor!" one lady said, "What do you do?" "I'm an anesthesia resident", I told her. She then said, "Oh. That's okay. They are just as important as the doctor!"

I'm with you guys. Sometimes it's easier to avoid telling people you're a doctor.
 
So what do you guys say when people ask that question? Do you say 'doctor', 'anesthesiologist', 'physician', or something else? Just curious!

Probably because I am female when I say I am an anesthesiologist, people ask me if that is a type of nurse and are shocked when I explain I am an MD. People dont know anything.....

I just bumped a thread from a while ago entitled THE WHITE COAT.

I encourage all of you to read it.

You can apply my thoughts on that thread to how you introduce yourself.

If its in a non-threatening scenerio, I encourage you to say:

"I'm a doctor."

which will be no-doubt followed by

"Oh! What specialty?"

then chime in and give us all a shout out.
 
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One day at church my mom did her typical "trophy" thing and introduced me to her friends:

"Oh, so you're the doctor

Dude, that sucks!!!! Pretty much the only thing that bugs me about going back to visit home..."Oh, so you're the doctor in the family......" It's so frickin annoying, and I'm still just a frickin student!!!
 
When I was buying my last house last year, I asked the realtor what high school this neighborhood went to. She told me and then asked what grade I was in. What is a first year attending? 23rd grade?

High school: 9-12th grade
College: 13-16th grade
Med School: 17-20th grade
Internship: 21st grade
Anesthesiology residency: 22-24th grade

Don't sell yourself short, Laurel. You're in 25th grade. 😀

-copro
 
One day at church my mom did her typical "trophy" thing and introduced me to her friends:

"Oh, so you're the doctor!" one lady said, "What do you do?" "I'm an anesthesia resident", I told her. She then said, "Oh. That's okay. They are just as important as the doctor!"

I'm with you guys. Sometimes it's easier to avoid telling people you're a doctor.

Now me finding this really funny could be because I have been at work for the last 12 hours and its an ungodly hour in the morning but I will admit I just a good chuckle.

The photocopier comment was quite amusing as well.
 
I should be studying path right now (MS2), but I have to say... this is one of the most entertaining threads I have EVER read.

My buddy is in anesthesia (does all pain now), but people used to say to him "oh.. your the doctor that is going to wake me up?" and he would say No.. any monkey can put you to sleep... I am the doctor that is going to wake you up!

I always thought that was kind of funny.

It amazes me how people view medical specialties. I am leaning toward PMR, but gas interests me as well. Either way, you have to explain what you do, and everyone I tell that I am between the two, they ask, well why don't you just become a doctor. WTF?

It is true.. ignorance is bliss my friends..

But hey... I used to be a chiropractor.. so remember... it could be worse..HAHAH
 
whatever you do - don't publicize that you are a doctor by having an expensive car with a personalized "MD" licence plate

For practical reasons this is very true. I was warned during med school by an attending that if you have a license plate or identify yourself as a physician on your car in any way and then are involved in an accident you will get sued no matter what.


I try to keep my status as a med student/soon-to-be-intern to myself. I hate when my parents tell people and honestly I don't like discussing it even with friends, unless they are my close friends. I find it just brings up alot of stuff I don't want to talk about in social situations. I also find that it can change someones opinion of you and it isn't always for the better. I don't offer the information unless asked and even then I typically just say "student" and they assume I am some jack@sss college student who is on the 6 year plan.
 
I too have said 'worked at the hospital' for the past three years. Thinking about changing it since it is usually follewed by bullsht questions I don't feel like answering anyway (what do you do there?, etc.)

I've used 'I work at (insert name of your local retail drugstore) a few times. Works fairly well. Nobody wants to hear about my difficult job of fronting and facing the cough and cold isle!
 
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nothing beats a 7 hr pediatric dental extraction and cleaning. I never had 3 pages of train tracks before. Lots of rem induced drool mixed in with the ink

7 hours for dental extractions??? Say adios to those kinds of cases in private practice. We have ours scheduled for 1 hour apart - that means 1 hour includes induction, case, and turnover/preop visit for next kid. Preop po versed, inhalation induction, assistant for IV, propofol, minimal narcotics, nasal intubation, keep them breathing, 30-45 minutes for surgery, drapes come off as kid is bucking/opening eyes, on to the next case.
 
7 hours for dental extractions??? Say adios to those kinds of cases in private practice. We have ours scheduled for 1 hour apart - that means 1 hour includes induction, case, and turnover/preop visit for next kid. Preop po versed, inhalation induction, assistant for IV, propofol, minimal narcotics, nasal intubation, keep them breathing, 30-45 minutes for surgery, drapes come off as kid is bucking/opening eyes, on to the next case.

Sweet.

I read a bunch of anesthesia stuff. Talked to the dentists about where they go out to eat, what kind of music they like, why they feel fat, etc. Then I just started spacing out. I just tapped my right foot to the pulse ox as I took an inner journey.

As for pulling tubes deep in kids I'm not convinced its worth a damn. Sure you can flip your room over faster if you don't have to wait for a wake up but then you're futzing around in the PACU with obstruction. So I just time my stuff, use prop at the end, pull the tube as the drapes come down. Kids friggen buck unless they have a bunch of narcs on board.