Incoming ms1 here. I've been working full time as a patient aid on a med surg floor and it has certainly been rewarding and a great learning experience, but it has also shown me a lot of negative aspects of medicine. I don't see much improvement in my patients from day to day. The majority of illnesses are suicidal ideations, uncontrolled diabetes, dementia, hypertension, etc. Many of them refuse to help themselves, are frequent patients, or are waiting months to be placed.
I'm just wondering if my perspective is incredibly skewed by being an aid as opposed to the physician. I get kicked, screamed at, pooped and peed on, and a bunch of other things daily.
Is all of IM like this? Is it any more exciting as a med student or physician? I've shadowed specialists in out patient settings and enjoyed it much more (more alert/healthier patients.) Does this mean that I shouldn't consider IM in the future?
Thanks everyone
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I'm sorry that you have had an unsavory or at least unrewarding experience this far.
Let me preface that my opinions are as an attending in emergency medicine at a very very large academic hospital. From this vantage point, I think there are very enjoyable aspects of internal medicine, and every specialty, to be honest. At least of the roles in medicine that I am aware of, there is not perfection to be found. Each role and each practice environment will have unsavory aspects and unrewarding aspects, but generally also have very rewarding ones.
Regarding internal medicine, the inpatient practice will be a concentration of people who are not well and generally not succeeding in their health. The outpatient setting will have the people who are following their doctors recommendations more often and are in decent if not good health.
Also, amidst the more common patient issues requiring hospitalization are occasionally very interesting conditions like typhlitis, and vertebral artery dissections etc. Furthermore and most importantly, I think as an outsider looking into another persons specialty, the stories of the people who are trusting you when they are at their weakest are a big part of what fuels us. It's about getting the mom back on her feet so that she can take care of her kids, or the guy back to college before he misses too much school etc. from asthma or diabetes or whatever ailment they have.
Most of the internists I know including my parents find joy in that.
First hand, I can tell you that if I found satisfaction only in the disease entities, I would become bored and ready to retire. I enjoy teaching students and residents and patients and families, I enjoy the stories, I enjoy te advancement of my science through research. I really love saving someone who is dying in front of me but thankfully this is not common occurrence.
Certainly these are just my thoughts and you may find different emotions and experiences on your pathway but I certainly want you to hear my perspective.
As for deciding upon a specialty or ruling one out already...keep an open mind and when the time comes you have to pick, make the best choice you can. If it doesn't work out the way you want for yourself try and make your situation better by switching practice environments or specialties etc.
Good luck, head up, smile and help how you can.
Cheers,
venko
