What medical profession is right for you?

Quiz

Are you interested in a career in healthcare? Take this quiz to find out what kind of medical professional you should become.

Would you rather specialize in one thing or know more general information?

a. I’d like to be the person to call when someone needs immediate assistance.

b. I’d like to know a lot about general medicine and help people stay healthy.

c. I’d like to know a lot about one topic and be an expert in my field.

d. I’d like to know how to improve healthcare practices on a larger scale.

Do you get grossed out easily? (Would surgery, blood, vomit, etc. make you too uncomfortable to work?)

a. Not at all - I’m looking forward to saving people’s lives through surgery!

b. A little, but I’d get used to it.

c. Yes, I would not like to see bodily fluids regularly.

d. Absolutely! I don't ever want to see that at my job.

What type of work would you like to do?

a. I’d like to do fast-paced work, saving people’s lives on a regular basis.

b. I’d like to do a little bit of everything with everyone.

c. I’d like to examine patients in a clinical setting.

d. I’d like to work with others to improve healthcare overall, rather than medical procedures.

How much time would you be comfortable spending at your job?

a. 24 hr. shifts

b. Flexible hours

c. Mornings or afternoons only

d. Regular 40 hour workweek

Who would you most like to work with? Senior citizens, children, women, or everyone?

a. Whoever comes to the hospital is who I’ll treat!

b. I’d like to work with families and/or people of all ages.

c. I’d like to work with people with specific problems that I know how to fix.

d. I want to take care of everyone, but maybe not in a clinical setting.

Is money a big factor in what career you choose?

a. Maybe… it would be nice, but it’s not the most important thing.

b. I’m much more concerned about helping people than the money.

c. Absolutely! If I’m going to school for that long, I should be making bank.

d. I expect to make more money as my career opportunities grow.

Does the current COVID-19 pandemic have an impact on how you view medical professionals?

a. Yes, and I would be excited to work in a fast-paced setting, saving people’s lives!

b. Yes, and I appreciate all the doctors warning their patients how to stay safe.

c. Yes, but I would not want to work with really sick patients every day.

d. Yes. I appreciate all the medical professionals, but I especially appreciate those working behindthe-scenes in policy to help keep the virus under control. I would much rather work to control and spread awareness about a virus than combat it on the front lines.

Mostly A’s - You might like to work in a hospital setting You like a faster-paced environment and don’t mind long hours or a changing schedule, because it’s the important work you do that’s rewarding. Some paths you may be interested in include surgery, nursing, obstetrics, anesthesiology, or occupational therapy.

Mostly B’s - You might like to work in a general, clinical setting You want to know a bit about everyone and you really care about helping people. In this area, you will be able to see people of all ages, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds, and help them to get better over time. Possible careers include: family practitioner, medical assistant, pharmacist, or other general medical jobs. You may also consider teaching medicine to students or residents later in your career.

Mostly C’s - You might like specializing in a certain area of medicine You might feel more comfortable knowing all there is to know about a particular medical field. Doctors like otolaryngologists, psychiatrists, chiropractors, cardiologists, and gastroenterologists specialize in their chosen field and take care of patients struggling with very specific problems. If you are particularly fascinated with one specific branch of medicine, there are many more potential careers that you could check out!

Mostly D’s - You might like a career in public health If you got mostly D’s, maybe working in a hospital or clinic isn’t right for you! Many other fields require less hands-on work but are just as important, like a career in public health, biostatistics or epidemiology. If throughout the pandemic, you’ve been following Dr. Anthony Fauci and thinking about how you could improve Department of Health guidelines, this field could be your best way of making a difference.