How difficult is it being a doctor/physician?

Question

I aspire to become one soon... is it a good job?

Answer 1

i'm not a physician but i know many.
some r unhappy...some don't regret it. i think it really depends on what was ur motivation to become a doctor.

-is it the money? average family physician does not make as much anymore...sure it's >$150,000 but many have a lot of school loans and in general have a higher cost of living...people expect u to spend ur money on having a nice house/car, be generous with gifts to family members...etc. one doctor was telling me how ob/gyn seems like a good high-paying job, but after figuring out the finances (based on babies u deliver/month)...it actually isn't that much. seems to me many doctors aren't making really big bucks like they did just a few decades ago. (especially if u consider all that time u would invest just to get started.) it's the super-star surgeons/specialist who still make some serious money. also one hospital nephrologist told me how he may make a lot of money...but he had to put in so many hours everyday (which he called "forced labor") that he was convinced that a pharmacist made more per hour. (although he would make more than the pharmacist at the end of the year.)

r u going in it to help people? sometimes it's frustrating dealing with patients...they don't always do what u say...they r picky and don't priortize their health as much as u would like them to, so it's difficult to treat them. when u consider the customer service part of dealing with patients...it's harder because they r sick (so less patient/understanding) and they can always pull that "i will die if u don't" kind of reasons that just wouldn't fly in a clothing store. also some simply won't take responsibility for their health...and when bad things happen, they blame others instead of themselves.

then there's the law & policies set by agencies/hospital/etc.
it makes simple things cumbersome sometimes (like paperwork to fill out...). also might mean u can't just prescribe whatever u want...sometimes u have to try the hospital's treatment of choice first (which is usually fine, but u might prefer something else that is just more expensive).

quality of life?
some doctors have really long shifts...like the er or surgeons. imagine if u have to do a liver transplant...that's at least a 9-hour surgery (there r others that r longer..i can't remember which one)...u have to be standing and cutting the entire time...because u can't just leave the patient all open and under anesthesia too long. there may be an opportunity for someone to sub for u for part of it, but many places don't always have that.
also many doctors have to carry a pager...that's almost like dealing with work all day long.

the above r probably the number one complaints i've heard.

also in general...when it comes to the level of difficulty...it can be challenging. u really have to be very responsible. treating a patient is very complex. u have to figure- diagnosis, optimal treatments (and the list of drugs keeps increasing all the time), which drug won't interfere with the other drugs/patient's lifestyle and is affordable for the patient, u have to remember the law (limitations to prescribing certain drugs, etc.), write/document properly, know what follow-up tests r needed and when...u have to be aware of other departments and how they function (for example, what time are the morning blood draws are done by the lab for a hospitalized patient and when u can expect the result.) also if the patient gets worse...u have to know how to investigate the problem and come up with solutions quickly.

Answer 2

ask 2 da 1 who's already a doctor...well...i hv no idea...

Answer 3

money wise yes....but the schooling is long and hard