Is A Career In Medicine For You?

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Have you always wanted to help people or dreamed about being a doctor or nurse? If so, you are not alone. It’s a popular aspiration, particularly in light of the high salaries and status that some medical professionals enjoy. But how do you know if this type of work is right for you? I have to admit, that even at 50, I’ve considered getting into functional medicine because of my passion for health. Although the rewards could be great, it takes years of hard work and a lot of money to achieve these goals. It’s something to consider carefully by weighing all of the pros and cons.

Are You Passionate About Helping Others?

To have a fulfilling and enjoyable career in medicine, you have to have a genuine passion and desire to help people who are sick. How do you feel around hospitals and clinics? Do you feel genuine compassion for those who are going through difficult times such as a chronic or terminal illness? Answering yes to these questions might be a clue that you have the right frame of mind to be successful in a medical career.

Additionally, you may have a huge passion for helping people but not the resources or time to go to medical school. In that case, research the many other jobs you could do in the health and wellness industry. You can read about other careers that allow you to help others in this article.

Should I Be A Doctor Or Not?

If you want to be a medical doctor, you’ll have to be committed to years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. So, if you don’t enjoy research, reading, and writing, there are plenty of other positions that require less education. For example, you might apply for a Medical Assistant EDU program to use as a stepping stone to achieving your loftier goals. No matter what you choose, be prepared to work at gaining experience along the way as a means of developing your skills.  

Do You Have Good Interpersonal Skills?

To be a good doctor or medical professional, you need to have great communication skills. The most important one of all is the ability to listen. I’ve had many doctors not listen to me, and it’s the most frustrating feeling I’ve ever had. You should also be able to speak to people in a way that demonstrates understanding and empathy.

You can develop these skills by doing some volunteer work with vulnerable people and by self-evaluating how you communicate. Think about what your needs are when you see a physician or medical professional. Let that be your guide to fine-tuning your communication skills.  This will help you to decide if a career in medicine is for you. 

Are You Competitive?

Because medicine is one of the hardest careers to get into, with top grades being required at every stage of the game, you need to have a competitive edge to succeed. Practice for the UCAT alone can be grueling if you live in areas of the world that give it as a pre-admission exam. This means that you need self-belief, and you need to be able to motivate yourself to keep going even when things are really difficult. Of course, you would have education counselors at your side along the way but count on many challenges and tough decisions to make regardless of that support.

A career in medicine could be a wonderful place for you if it’s suited to your passions and personality. You could get tremendous satisfaction from genuinely helping people and from making a measurable difference in people’s quality of life. Do your research and find out what opportunities are waiting for you! Good luck!