Anna Maria Richards
Medicine is an exciting field filled with ample opportunities to create a rewarding career, but it is also extremely demanding. You may have high ambitions and dream of becoming a doctor or surgeon, but the stressful work, long hours and years of education can cause anyone to hesitate. Is this field really the right choice for you? If you’re thinking about a career in healthcare, below are a few things to consider.
Think About How Much Time You’re Willing to Commit
Your commitment is certainly going to go beyond skimming books every premed student should read before they get started. At a minimum, you’ll need two years to enter the field. You can become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in three to six months, but many employers require at least an associate’s degree. For anything else, like becoming a registered nurse, you’ll have to commit at least four years to earn your undergraduate degree.If you aspire to become a physician or surgeon, then you’ll have to spend four to eight years after that to earn their medical degree. Even after school, medical professionals have to undergo continued training to ensure they’re always delivering the highest quality of care. School requirements for physical therapists also take about three years of additional schooling after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Physical therapists must also continue education and training like other medical professionals to maintain their licensure and expertise. You have to be a lifelong learner with a passion for always expanding your knowledge.
Evaluate Your Financial Status
Doctors may be high earners, but their education doesn’t come cheap. Medical school results in six-figures of student debt, which you should plan out well before you decide to commit. What impact will that debt have on your future plans? If you’re earning $100,000 to over $150,000 a year, you will take home significantly less after taxes and student loan payments.This can delay certain life aspirations like having children and buying a house, but you needn’t pick one over the other. Taking out medical school loans from a private lender can make it easier to finance your education. Becoming a doctor is a lifelong investment, but you shouldn’t let student debt stop you from following your heart. Do what you love, and start saving now. The more money you can put toward loans after you graduate, the easier it will be to balance your debt with your life goals.
Consider Your Ideal Work Environment
There are many reasons to consider a career in healthcare or the practice of medicine. Do you thrive off the energy of a fast-paced work environment, or do you prefer something slower and calmer? Being a nurse or doctor at a hospital can throw your life off the traditional 9-to-5 path. This means you’ll be working for longer hours, having some days off throughout the week and likely socializing with other medical professionals more than anyone else. Enjoying teamwork is another essential component to most healthcare jobs. You will need to collaborate with others to improve patient care and increase recovery outcomes. You have to be able to clearly express your own needs as well as those of your patients, be willing to listen and not take things personally. At the end of the day, you’re in the field to better other people’s lives, not for your own glory.
Make Sure You Can Handle the Stress
Nurses and doctors have some of the highest stress levels among working professionals. Are you prepared to handle the potential burnout it can cause? Do you have a support system or coping mechanisms for the inevitable rough patches? Building a resilient spirit and having the ability to persevere through hardship is critical to success in the field. More than that, it’s vital to providing the best possible care to patients, who need you regardless of how you’re feeling. If you consider how often is the NCLEX offered, you will realise how tough a nursing career is.
Not to mention, the level of tension and work stress is even higher in some specialties, for instance, individuals working as critical care nurses or intensivists, whose responsibilities include looking after and treating critically ill patients and making life-saving decisions. If you are interested in taking your nursing career down the critical care lane, you not only need to think and act not only quickly but accurately. Nevertheless, the impact a critical care nurse has on a patient and their family is life-changing which is just what makes this profession very unique in the nursing career path. If you’re interested in nursing, but aren’t quite sure if it’s the right path for you, you can always consider something similar and get your BS in public health. The degree will open up many career options such as occupational health and safety specialist, community health educator, dietician, and much more.
