Any intern/sho docs to help me out?

EngDoc

Hi Guys,

I'll keep it brief.
I've been offered a place on a grad med course, considering withdrawing though. I've just read so many negatives about life on the other side. And, I have to take into account the debt I'd be taking on. I've been bouncing against the walls trying to decide for the past few weeks.

I was hoping there would be an intern / sho who'd be willing to let me shadow them? I'd really like to have a glimpse at what it's like at its most demanding. Want to get an idea if all the sacrifices would be worth it for me. Should really have done this earlier.

If there are any docs out there who'd be willing to help, I'd really appreciate it!

Biologic

You night have more luck getting in contact with the course coordinator for whatever course you were offered. I did that just before I started and he said it wouldn't be an issue (I didn't end up doing it in the end as work got in the way).

EngDoc

Biologic wrote: »

You night have more luck getting in contact with the course coordinator for whatever course you were offered. I did that just before I started and he said it wouldn't be an issue (I didn't end up doing it in the end as work got in the way).

That's a good idea, I'll also give that a go.
Was hoping an intern / sho on boards would sort me out, a chance to show just how gritty the job can get at times. Would of course be willing to sort them out in some way for their time.

ThatDrGuy

Hi Engdoc - very sensible of you. Medical schools are fully of doe-eyed innocents who have no idea of the demands of the job and what a mess they are getting into. SHO / Reg would be better than intern. Id suggest somewhere down the countryside and a weekend call shift sat/sun/monday straight. I no longer work in medicine Ireland so cant help out there ( I have a real job - yay! ) I was trying to think of someone I know who could help you out, nearly everyone is gone, let me think on it.

bill buchanan

I think this is a good idea.

But the real horror is when people are asking you to make all kinds of decisions while you're exhausted. The pressure comes from having to make the key decisions and live with them, while knackered. I never even got a sense of this when I was a student because I was just watching. I did 24 hour calls as a student and thought they were awesome because I wasn't under pressure, I was just watching something new all the time and it was entertaining.

Doin the medical clinic after being on call for the past 24 hours is almost as soul destroying as the call itself, too.

EngDoc

ThatDrGuy wrote: »

Hi Engdoc - very sensible of you. Medical schools are fully of doe-eyed innocents who have no idea of the demands of the job and what a mess they are getting into. SHO / Reg would be better than intern. Id suggest somewhere down the countryside and a weekend call shift sat/sun/monday straight. I no longer work in medicine Ireland so cant help out there ( I have a real job - yay! ) I was trying to think of someone I know who could help you out, nearly everyone is gone, let me think on it.

Well, if you or anyone else has any contacts that could help me out it would really be appreciated.

2Scoops

I wouldn't make that decision based on a day on a service. Will be about as educational as walking into an AE and looking around all day. Also, there's a good likelihood you'll be working in another country entirely once you qualify.

drzhivago

EngDoc wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I'll keep it brief.
I've been offered a place on a grad med course, considering withdrawing though. I've just read so many negatives about life on the other side. And, I have to take into account the debt I'd be taking on. I've been bouncing against the walls trying to decide for the past few weeks.

I was hoping there would be an intern / sho who'd be willing to let me shadow them? I'd really like to have a glimpse at what it's like at its most demanding. Want to get an idea if all the sacrifices would be worth it for me. Should really have done this earlier.

If there are any docs out there who'd be willing to help, I'd really appreciate it!

I dont think such options are available much anymore

Difficult for local transition year students to get a few hours in hospital

Shadowing a junior doc not relevant really as in theory that should be the short part of your career

The majority of your career should be as a specialist (GP/Consultant/Public Health doc)

There is also the question of Surgery vs Medicine vs Obs vs Paeds vs Psych

Shadowing "a random junior doc" will give you a flavour of that one specialty during that one point of time

Medicine as a career is vast, so many options which is why I don't believe the HPAT is of any benefit sorting the surgeon from the radiologist as two different thought processes and skill sets

This is a huge choice for you
The costs will be big but the reward if it is what you want to do can be big also, and not just the money
You must have thought about this enough to apply for the course in the 1st place.
College will not give you much o a flavour or anything

EngDoc

drzhivago wrote: »

I dont think such options are available much anymore

Difficult for local transition year students to get a few hours in hospital

Shadowing a junior doc not relevant really as in theory that should be the short part of your career

The majority of your career should be as a specialist (GP/Consultant/Public Health doc)

There is also the question of Surgery vs Medicine vs Obs vs Paeds vs Psych

Shadowing "a random junior doc" will give you a flavour of that one specialty during that one point of time

Medicine as a career is vast, so many options which is why I don't believe the HPAT is of any benefit sorting the surgeon from the radiologist as two different thought processes and skill sets

This is a huge choice for you
The costs will be big but the reward if it is what you want to do can be big also, and not just the money
You must have thought about this enough to apply for the course in the 1st place.
College will not give you much o a flavour or anything

All good points, thanks for the feedback.
Eventually the aim would be to become a GP.
I guess it's a matter of risk and sacrifice at the end of the day.

Work / life balance is pretty important to me. I've read of the crazy hours being worked by docs doing hospital med. I understand how compeditive it is to get on the GP training programmes. Also, I did the math and by the time I'd pay back my loan (which would be much less than others taken out), the total cost would be ~70K. That's with it being paid off in monthly instalments over ten years.

Would I like a career where I can help people directly? Yes.
Would I like a career with the job security that comes with med? Yep.
Do I find med subjects interesting? Certainly.
Am I willing to go into huge debt for it, that's the though question.

I just don't want to become one of the docs on Boards in five years time, warning people of how hard the job is, the huge hours, not being paid for overtime etc etc. You hear the horror stories of people dropping out, defaulting on loans etc. If it was the cost of a standard degree I'd probably forge ahead with it.

But hey...I think if I'm worrying this much about all of these details, then maybe it's just not for me. Just hard letting go of such an opportunity.

Thanks for all the advice though...appreciated.

MrCreosote

Can you do some of the training overseas?

If you've got the flexibilty to travel, even to the UK, you'd be able to work in conditions that are far superior to anything in Ireland. Forget about Chris Luke and all the "vocation" bullsh*t- there's no way I'd stay in Ireland under the current conditions if I had a choice.

EngDoc

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the advice, decided to leave it for this year (probably for good).
Best of luck to everyone else...