2 answers
celeste
Student
Visalia, California
2
Questions
Asked
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if you are grossed out by blood is being a doctor a good idea?
I was planning on being an internal medicine doctor so I would have to deal with blood or needles, I would just be diagnosing people, but will I still be coming in contact with blood or not? #doctor #premed
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2 answers
Allen Botnick DC CNIM
Chiropractor (disabled)
17
Answers
Alexandria, Virginia
Updated
Allen’s Answer
Going into medicine is learning to take care of physical bodies. You have to develop a tolerance to gore.
Being able to control your emotions is also an important skill for a doctor, especially in life and death situations where you have to act fast and skillfully to save someone's life. Don't go into medicine if you can't handle this and the academic demands.
But blood is blood. People get over all sorts of things, such as the fear of heights. A good way to start getting some exposure would be to start cooking meats from raw ingredients. Meat has blood and organs. Cook a chicken from scratch, then cook chicken livers, beef heart. These are actually superfoods that will make you healthier but people are squeamish about due to lack of exposure. Fillet up some fresh fish. Once you become used to blood it won't be such a problem. Watch some really gory movies (ie. Faces of death series) and get yourself immune to it. Watch surgery videos and gore websites. You'll build up a tolerance. Then you can work up to volunteering to help at a phlebotomy clinic. I'm sure they would appreciate the help and wouldn't mind you watching. Then volunteer to watch surgery. Explain to them you are working to get over your fear of needles and blood.
If you succeed you can use this as an inspirational little story to wow the medical admissions officers. If not then find another field where you can use your talents and aptitudes that is in demand and won't be replaced by artificial intelligence.
Good luck!
Learn how to filet a fish. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+fillet+a+fish&&view=detail&mid=F3211EAF3A347B603AB5F3211EAF3A347B603AB5&&FORM=VRDGAR
.
Learn how to cook organs like beef heart and chicken liver.
Foot surgery video, excision of a neuroma https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=foot+surgery+videos&qpvt=foot+surgery+videos&view=detail&mid=B00AA55B39D1E360503BB00AA55B39D1E360503B&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dfoot%2Bsurgery%2Bvideos%26qpvt%3Dfoot%2Bsurgery%2Bvideos%26FORM%3DVDRE
Being able to control your emotions is also an important skill for a doctor, especially in life and death situations where you have to act fast and skillfully to save someone's life. Don't go into medicine if you can't handle this and the academic demands.
But blood is blood. People get over all sorts of things, such as the fear of heights. A good way to start getting some exposure would be to start cooking meats from raw ingredients. Meat has blood and organs. Cook a chicken from scratch, then cook chicken livers, beef heart. These are actually superfoods that will make you healthier but people are squeamish about due to lack of exposure. Fillet up some fresh fish. Once you become used to blood it won't be such a problem. Watch some really gory movies (ie. Faces of death series) and get yourself immune to it. Watch surgery videos and gore websites. You'll build up a tolerance. Then you can work up to volunteering to help at a phlebotomy clinic. I'm sure they would appreciate the help and wouldn't mind you watching. Then volunteer to watch surgery. Explain to them you are working to get over your fear of needles and blood.
If you succeed you can use this as an inspirational little story to wow the medical admissions officers. If not then find another field where you can use your talents and aptitudes that is in demand and won't be replaced by artificial intelligence.
Good luck!
Allen recommends the following next steps:
Cecily Schwimmer MS,CNM,NP
Advanced Practice Clinician. Clinical trainer and consultant
11
Answers
Updated
Cecily’s Answer
You might be surprised. Once you understand the science behind it, it might not gross you out as much. Personally, I don't like it when people puke. But I have coworkers that don't mind. But I also deliver babies and don't mind when blood and other bodily fluids go flying, My classmate could not handle phlegm (the stuff people cough up) so she just discussed it with our instructor, and they took some quiet time to practice breathing before having to suction a patient's lungs. I would continue on with your studies, and you can worry about the blood part later. If you really really have a hard time, you can still be a doctor, but you might focus on research or administrative work! Good Luck!!!