I am a emergency medecine resident...I commit all kinds of atrocities. I manage
patients who present with the entire spectrum of acute illnesses from pediatrics to major
penetrating trauma....under the supervision of attending physicians. Before this, I was in
college.

I decided to be a doctor...I always wanted to be a doctor...I always found the
intellectual aspects of medecine interesting. I chose my field based on the fact that I
can go home after work....generally speaking, most fields (within medicine) mean that you
have to take call (work after hours...be on call) ...you're either in the hospital or your
beeper is on and people keep calling...you may have to come in in the middle of the night.
Your life isn't really your own. I've been doing this for 3 years and I keep doing it
because it's too late. I owe probably like 100,000 in loans and if I quit now, there's no
way to pay back these loans...I'd have to start a career right away and I couldn't have
much chance of paying them back.....

Happy? That's a relative comment...I like the intellectual aspects...I like knowing what I
know. But the way medecine is today, the rewards are few and far between. It's governed by
money and management...the physicians are in a position to make few
decisions....well...fewer decisions...it's difficult to make patients happy..generally
speaking.* The only good parts of my job are that sometimes there are good patient
interactions...the ability to make a difference in their lives which is the ideal that it
was originally supposed to be.....

I think of quiting every day, but right now I'm a resident, so the idea is that once I'm
done, my lifestyle will improve...I'll only work 40 hours a week as opposed to the 80-120
I work right now. I'm waiting for the pot of gold at the rainbow, but unfortunately from
talking to others who have completed their residency, it's not there...plus once I finish,
the liablity is all yours and you don't even have to make an error in judgement to be put
through the torture of a legal prosecution.

I think if I had to do it over again, I'd be a physical therapist...less loans...less
liability...less hours and you make a decent income. I wouldn't feel like the last 7 years
of my life have been taken from me.

I have several bosses that are just my attendings...who have their own agendas...I don't
really care about them either way...

In 5 years, hopefully, I'll be an attending...I'll have paid off my loans...I will have an
opportunity to do things I've always wanted to do...travel....engage in recreational
sports that I feel I've been missing out on...visit family/friends...renew interest in
hobbies...and READ A BOOK THAT IS NOT MEDICAL!!!

In 30 years, I guess you know...more of the same...except I'll have a family and
kids...and be happy....I'm not that ambitious.

I have been a nurse since 1975. I have no retirement since I have used the flexibility of working as a nurse. I am tired. I do not want the drama! I am in a nuring home now and I hate it. I hate seeing people of my age not knowing their children or other family. It really scares me. I am at a point in my life where I want not to take care of others but to have someone to take of me. But I am in Nursing. I don't know anything else. You are lucky you are young enough to start over. I wish you much success!

I have been a nurse since 1975. I have no retirement since I have used the flexibility of working as a nurse. I am tired. I do not want the drama! I am in a nuring home now and I hate it. I hate seeing people of my age not knowing their children or other family. It really scares me. I am at a point in my life where I want not to take care of others but to have someone to take of me. But I am in Nursing. I don't know anything else. You are lucky you are young enough to start over. I wish you much success!

You deserve your pot of gold now! I firmly believe that life is more than just being sucessful in your work. There's nothing wrong with not being ambitious. Everybody is trying to tell you that you shouldn't quit. What do they know? It's your life and sometimes quitting opens other doors that have been there all along. I am a teacher and I have quit. As a result, I have been traveling around the world and doing the things I've always wanted to do. I fit my job into my schedule. I broke the rules and I'm happy. Nobody said you have to be a mouse-on-a-wheel to find the road to success because-- surprize, when the wheel stops turning you'll be too old and buttoned down with responsibilites to enjoy what's left of your life. If you would like to contact me for more of my bold advice or just to blow off steam, feel free to email me. Good luck!

You deserve your pot of gold now! I firmly believe that life is more than just being successful in your work. There's nothing wrong with not being ambitious. Everybody is trying to tell you that you shouldn't quit. What do they know? It's your life and sometimes quitting opens other doors that have been there all along. I am a teacher and I have quit. As a result, I have been traveling around the world and doing the things I've always wanted to do. I fit my job into my schedule. I broke the rules and I'm happy. Nobody said you have to be a mouse-on-a-wheel to find the road to success because-- surprize, when the wheel stops turning you'll be too old and buttoned down with responsibilites to enjoy what's left of your life. If you would like to contact me for more of my bold advice or just to blow off steam, my email is: [email]garbo87@hotmail.com[/email] Good luck!

Wow... I've been thinking about entering premed and becoming a doctor a lot lately, been reading all over the internet. Your post really scares me...
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100 hour work week of course would be draining on anyone... but you are helping people right? doesn't that give you satisfaction? The job satisfaction is the main reason I've been thinking of going into premed. Things will be better when you finish your residency, the hours become less brutal, the money becomes a lot better, and you've had some time to unwind from the incredible stress 100 hour work weeks must generate.
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Whatever the case I wish you luck.

Hey i work at ingles right know and attened school, at Caertersville High School. I got my Job because my uncle is the manager. I really like my job for right know later on i want to become a pediateric nurse. I am very good with handleing people and babies. But from what you said i have to get up late, work late. That makes me think that you only care about yourself and not others . That is way you get in to nursing right to take care of people. Well i would love have your job . Anyways i just want to tell you how i felt. ashley

You are coming to terms with the medical profession. Remember that society doesn't really hold up as deities - the doctors and lawyers of this world, it just stuffs around with them. Six years uni? Two years internship? Some sort of crisis in government medicare? - COOL

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Hi I'm currently working at McDonalds and I want to be a doctor. I have a lot of experience with mince. Call me
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I'm korean doctor.. you are happy. we work 140 hours a weak and my pay is a tail of mouse. we more work (same practice, job..) america is paradise..<br />
I'll go to america.