It’s been 2 years since I last posted on this blog, and I’m not surprised that it is still getting hits from NMAT takers. To whoever is reading, you who are our future doctors and physician leaders… I want to share what you can and should expect to happen once you go into medicine.
- That burning optimism and desire to make a difference in people’s lives? That will dampen significantly every year you stay in med, and for some it may taper off completely. After 36 hour duties and daily sleep deprivation, you will question why you are even doing what you do. Don’t ever lose sight of what makes you YOU and why you chose this in the first place. You will feel like breaking down many many times. Your foundation, whether God or family or your dreams, is what you will fall back to when you crumble. Make sure your foundation is solid.
- We want to be doctors because we envision compassionate and fulfilling relationships with patients. That’s almost the same as seeing someone super hot walk by and imagining how perfect they are and how amazing it would be to have a romantic, swoon-worthy relationship with them. What you don’t know is that person has a narcissistic personality, is prone to being emotionally abusive, and steals money from friends. What I’m trying to say is… It’s all an illusion. People who aren’t in medicine have beautiful illusions about what its like, and many of us become disappointed, disheartened, and disillusioned once we actually go into the health field. Many medical clerks and interns (as well as doctors and nurses too) become numb to patients’ pain and suffering. We listen to patients but actually stop hearing what they say. They just become another face, another case presentation, another chart that needs reviewing. At one point or another, we stop seeing them as humans and as ‘work’ we have to finish. And just like work, sometimes we end up cramming them, avoiding them, bashing them, and disparaging them. We dehumanize and disrespect the very people we had dreamed so long of helping. It’s a sad truth and I don’t know how to stop it. Many of us who treat the sick become sick in heart as well.
I’m sharing this to you because right now, I know you are capable of listening. To share this to my peers who are tired, busy, and have no time to even sleep… I might as well be looking for a fight.
But you are the future us and you will stand in our shoes someday. Choose to be different from us. Please become doctors who not just listen, but doctors who choose to hear your patients.
crazy understanding 