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Considering changing careers from medicine

  • 15-08-2015 5:19pm
    #1
    Irritated Customer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭


    Hi everyone,

    I am a 24 year old surgical intern working in a Dublin hospital, currently finding the job to be very stressful and to involve long hours (Eg. working around 60 rostered and unrostered hours in my first week with 24 hour call on top of that on that Saturday). In general I can expect to working 6 month contracts and moving from place to place until I reach consultant level or settle into a GP practice. Overall I am not particularly happy in my job and don't see myself wanting to continue in this sort of work for the next X number of years. One of the aspects of the medicine as a whole that maybe doesn't fit my personality is that role of doctor tends to be very focused on treating the patient in front of you and leaves very little room for pursuing innovations until one is highly established in practice after many years of further training.

    I am currently reconsidering my career choice and weighing up whether to consider doing another taught degree, to apply for a training scheme or take a year or several working in medicine in service jobs. I have always held an interest in science, engineering, economics and computing. I studied medicine as it held promise as a career that would interest me through the application of science to the benefit of others while challenging me to become better in my social skills.

    I am currently on track to have reasonable savings by the end of the end of the intern year and hold a 2:1 in medicine and 585 points (excluding bonus points), in my leaving certificate.

    While the subject still interests me, I am concerned that realities of actually working in the field do not match my personality and would like advice on where to go from here.


Comments

  • #2
    boombang
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,108 ✭✭✭boombang


    What about medical research? Researchers with an MD always get attention and are paid respect. If you're interested in innovations that might be one way to go.

    Otherwise I would say stick with what you're doing for 12 months. It probably feels very hard as you're new to it, but like most things you'll adjust.


  • #3
    Suaimhneach
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 4,436 Mod ✭✭✭✭Suaimhneach


    Hey!
    I doubt this is something you're alone in feeling, so try not to panic. Maybe ask some more senior doctors or past academic lecturers for advice?
    I would also not recommend a 2nd degree, but you could do a post-grad conversion programme maybe?
    You have choices, finances and time on your side so I hope you'll be ok :)


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