7 answers
Madison
Student
Rochester, Minnesota
1
Question
Updated
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What are some difficult tasks that come with being in the medical field, specifically a doctor? ??
What are some difficult tasks that come with being a doctor?
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7 answers
Bhavna Sheth
107
Answers
Collinsville, Virginia
Updated
Bhavna’s Answer
Hello Madison,
1. Long hours: Many doctors work long shifts and are often required to work for over 10 hours at a time, often including overnight shifts.
2. Stressful decisions: Doctors must make ethical and difficult decisions when treating their patients.
3. High-stakes environment: Doctors must be very precise in their decisions and have a deep understanding of health conditions and treatments.
4. Time constraints: Doctors must balance their time between administrative duties and actually performing medical care.
5. Documentation: Doctors must spend a great deal of time documenting patient care, both in digital and paper forms.
6. Emotional burden: Doctors regularly come into contact with people in pain or with serious illnesses and must remain empathetic and compassionate.
I hope this helps, Good luck.
1. Long hours: Many doctors work long shifts and are often required to work for over 10 hours at a time, often including overnight shifts.
2. Stressful decisions: Doctors must make ethical and difficult decisions when treating their patients.
3. High-stakes environment: Doctors must be very precise in their decisions and have a deep understanding of health conditions and treatments.
4. Time constraints: Doctors must balance their time between administrative duties and actually performing medical care.
5. Documentation: Doctors must spend a great deal of time documenting patient care, both in digital and paper forms.
6. Emotional burden: Doctors regularly come into contact with people in pain or with serious illnesses and must remain empathetic and compassionate.
I hope this helps, Good luck.
Kirk Anthony Stewart, M.D., CD.
Family Medicine physician
2
Answers
Oregon, Illinois
Updated
Kirk Anthony’s Answer
1. Sharing/relaying bad news. Physicians have awesome and exciting on a daily basis where we help people get well. However, some days bring with them the burden of letting a patient know they have cancer or a terminal illness. This burden also extends to the patient's family.
2. Lots of exams. I think this is something we forgot to mention to those interested in the field (I know my mentors told me before I started but they didn't quantify their experience). Anticipate doing many exams for med school. These add stress but feels rewarding once you get pass them.
3. Keeping our biases checked. This becomes difficult especially in situations that go against our own beliefs. This is also difficult since it is an intangible metric in how we provide care but is an integral part of providing good Healthcare
4. Loneliness. There are many moments where we are alone in how we feel and see things. Physicians are peculiar in how we process our surroundings and it can be hard sometimes to find like-minded people to share thoughts with... at least people that are outside the field of medicine.
Although these are difficult, having the right support group can help with coping effectively.
2. Lots of exams. I think this is something we forgot to mention to those interested in the field (I know my mentors told me before I started but they didn't quantify their experience). Anticipate doing many exams for med school. These add stress but feels rewarding once you get pass them.
3. Keeping our biases checked. This becomes difficult especially in situations that go against our own beliefs. This is also difficult since it is an intangible metric in how we provide care but is an integral part of providing good Healthcare
4. Loneliness. There are many moments where we are alone in how we feel and see things. Physicians are peculiar in how we process our surroundings and it can be hard sometimes to find like-minded people to share thoughts with... at least people that are outside the field of medicine.
Although these are difficult, having the right support group can help with coping effectively.
Michel Davis
Medical student
171
Answers
Cranston, Rhode Island
Updated
Michel’s Answer
Still a student, but from what I see some of the really difficult things include making hard decisions. Sometimes when you are working as a doctor you are expected to make life changing decisions. There is a lot of stress involved with making decisions for people when it can impact someone for the rest of their life. Getting to the point of being a doctor is a very difficult goal, but absolutely possible for a lot of people. It requires a bachelors, getting a good score on the MCAT, going through four years of medical school, then picking a specialty that you will be the expert in. There are a lot of difficult components, but there are also a lot of great components involved in becoming a doctor. You get to make decisions that can save a life. You get to help people in their time of need. You get to work with such a diverse group of people and you get to collaborate with peers. You are all working towards a similar goal and its a really cool aspect of the field.
Pamela Neff
Gynecologist
38
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Pamela’s Answer
Being a doctor can be physically and emotionally challenging - working long hours and not being able to think of your own needs. It’s a long path and you must remain compassionate at all times. It can be hard to maintain this energy but the reward of relieving a persons suffering makes it very worth the effort.
George Ducach
Podiatry
32
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
George’s Answer
My son is an ER Physician, my youngest daughter is a Physician Assistant working with Transplant patients, some who are very sick, and I just retired as a Podiatrist with a busy surgical schedule. Our dinner conversations throughout the years have been quite interesting (at least to the three of us). Although we are at different stages of our careers, we actually share many of the same concerns in how the Medical World is today:
1. Extensive schooling, quite expensive, and with many stressful exams (which never seem to end including Residency and staying Board-Certified).
2. Long hours with time away from the family.
3. Dealing with having to give people very sad news ( even in my field deciding when there is no choice but an amputation). Worrying for days about those patients....
4. Exhausting and demanding documentation.
5. So many rules to abide by with billing, insurance companies, the government programs, etc.
I could go on but we also share one other important thing: all three of us do not have a single regret to have chosen what we do. In fact, I would do it again without a second thought after practicing for 40 years. Madison, do not worry, we all learn to do the "difficult" tasks. In the end, you will be grateful and very proud that your patients trusted you with their care. It is a life "lived well."
1. Extensive schooling, quite expensive, and with many stressful exams (which never seem to end including Residency and staying Board-Certified).
2. Long hours with time away from the family.
3. Dealing with having to give people very sad news ( even in my field deciding when there is no choice but an amputation). Worrying for days about those patients....
4. Exhausting and demanding documentation.
5. So many rules to abide by with billing, insurance companies, the government programs, etc.
I could go on but we also share one other important thing: all three of us do not have a single regret to have chosen what we do. In fact, I would do it again without a second thought after practicing for 40 years. Madison, do not worry, we all learn to do the "difficult" tasks. In the end, you will be grateful and very proud that your patients trusted you with their care. It is a life "lived well."
Rachel Kibby
Physician
1
Answer
Matteson, Illinois
Updated
Rachel’s Answer
It really depends on what you personally find difficult. Do you mean difficult as in technically difficult to execute (rare surgeries that require a lot of specialized training). Do you mean difficult as in working really long hours? Do you have difficulty concentrating on one thing for extended periods of time or do you find it hard to multitask? There are so many specialties and so many way this career is difficult (but rewarding). So it really comes down to you and your strengths.
Shadow as much as possible to know what is out there.
Analyze your own areas for improvement with honesty.
Rachel recommends the following next steps:
Madison Buchman
doctor
112
Answers
West Hartford
Updated
Madison’s Answer
Work and life balance, work hours, stressful situations, life and death situations, giving patients and or family bad news. There are many but you balance these with the more many highs and wins of the career which is so different for everyone.