5 Good things about being a Doctor
So I’ve previously talked about the truth about being a doctor and the things I wish I knew before becoming a doctor.
In those videos I outlined some challenges and stresses that are involved in the job and a lot of the aspects were negative. With this in mind, is there actually anything good about being a doctor?..
Here's 5 reasons why it might be a worthwhile endeavour.
1. It's a meaningful job.
Doctors have the privilege of helping people every day.
It’s a fulfilling job because you get to connect with patients personally during a really difficult period in their lives.
You have the opportunity to relieve pain, improve the quality of life for patients and help them navigate the ordeal that they’re in side by side.
They’re often really grateful and gracious for your help and hard work, which is really nice.
The feeling of making a difference in someone's life can be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.
You’re making a direct impact on their life.
For example, working in neonatal medicine I’ve seen lots of newborns that require extra support. Being part of the team with the ability to provide proper care, can not only save the newborn’s life but can also have a massive impact on their family too.
Watching a baby recover from an illness can give you immense satisfaction knowing that you played a part in giving the child a healthy future.
It's hard to put a price on purpose.
2. You're not going to be comfortable
You’re constantly being put outside of your comfort zone.
Why is this a good thing?
Well for me, comfort is the worst drug - it leads to stagnation and regression.
The challenge of being in high stress and unpredictable situations can present you with an opportunity for growth.
I remember being part of the trauma team and we were called as a patient had been in a road traffic accident and they were on the way in an ambulance.
Emergency room doctors are brave because you have to be able to handle the unpredictable nature of the job and be ready to treat any medical emergency that comes your way.
The patient was in a really bad condition.
They had open fractures and pulseless limbs (this was actually one of my first trauma calls).
There were lots of us.
Emergency department consultants. Anaesthetists. Nurses. Ambulance crew who had just handed over the patient. And the orthopaedics team.
I was instructed by the consultant to gain access.
This means putting a cannula in one of the veins so that we can deliver things like fluids, medications or blood products.
There were so many people around the patient it was difficult to find space and because their blood pressure was so low, it was difficult to find a good palpable vein to put a cannula in.
Pressure was really on.
I missed on my first attempt and I was a bit frustrated.
I could hear team members shouting "do we have access yet?"
I was stressed.
If we couldn’t get a cannula in quickly another option would be to drill through the cortex of the bone into the medullary space with a hollow needle - also known as interosseous access.
So I got another cannula and tried again.
Thankfully, it went in. I was very relieved. The experience was quite thrilling and stressful at the same time. As a result I feel more confident now in trauma situations.
Putting yourself in those situations can lead to true growth.
3. It requires problem solving
Medicine requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
It’s intellectually very challenging.
Doctors must be able to diagnose and treat illnesses, often with limited information or resources. You also need to be able to make decisions quickly and under pressure.
This problem-solving aspect of the job makes the job difficult, but it also makes the work interesting and rewarding.
For instance, I was called to see a patient in the middle of the night who was deteriorating and as I was heading to assess the patient my crash bleep went off and I was needed elsewhere.
I just paused for a second before rushing to the cardiac arrest call as this took precedence.
As I was heading there I contacted the nurses on the ward and provided them with instructions to look after the first patient as I was attending the cardiac arrest and informed them that I will be with them afterwards. A lot of time the staff are really understanding which helps in these situations.
Regardless, you’ll constantly have problems to solve, you have to adapt and think on your feet.
4. Career versatility
Another good thing about medicine is that there is versatility in career options.
Not only are there dozens of clinical specialties that you can choose to pursue.
There are also different verticals that you can work in.
From clinical practice in hospitals to research, teaching, and administration.
There’s lots you can do.
Doctors can choose to specialise in a specific field or work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices and non-profit organisations.
For example, a doctor with a passion for humanitarian medicine can work for MSF - also known as Doctors Without Borders - an amaging company.
On the other hand, a doctor with an interest in research and pharmacology can work in pharmaceuticals developing new treatments or technologies.
You can also choose to work in a completely different field because it’s a respected discipline with lots transferrable skills.
I have friends that have gone into finance, venture capital and ones that have started their own businesses.
5. Opportunities to learn
The last thing on my list is that you’re always learning something new.
As a doctor you will be learning on the job all the time.
Medicine is a field that is constantly advancing, and doctors need to stay up-to-date with the latest research, treatments, and technologies.
There are always new clinical trials and research projects that alter clinical guidelines.
A lot of medicine is algorithmic.
This essentially means that you follow treatment guidelines and recommendations that are used based on clinical evidence.
Some guidelines I learned in medical school are obsolete and you have to learn new ones.
A lot of people say it’s a lifelong learning career path which can give you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and improve skills.
Also, because you’ll be working in a team-based environment, there’s opportunities to learn from so many different healthcare professionals including pharmacists, nurses, physios, lab scientists, physician assistants and theatre practitioners.
I ask them questions when there’s something I don’t understand or observe them when the opportunity presents.
All this benefits the patients as you can learn about treatments, techniques and protocols to better care for your patients.
A quote from a great
Have a sweet day,
Z
Surprising perks of being a doc
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