What it takes to be a surgeon When people think about making big bucks and having all the prestige that comes with it they often throw out a few career paths and one of these is often becoming a surgeon. Finding a career path in the Medical Specialties field may not be as easy as most people think though. Here are some things to consider.
Dealing with pressure If you don’t deal with pressure very well then this is definitely not the path for you. Surgery is more stressful than most careers because people’s lives depend on your hands and knowledge.
Do you really want that kind of pressure? Not only is it about the people but there is often the pressure of getting things done quickly and perfectly. If you are somewhat absent minded and forgetful this may not be for you either. There have been too many lawsuits for surgeons making forgetful mistakes like leaving tools inside a patient or cutting the wrong place. There are plenty of lawyers to ruin you if this sounds like something you might do.
Steady hands This may not be football or tennis but you do need to have perfectly steady hands. You also need to have a control over all of your fine motor skills. There will be plenty of times where you will be holding tiny instruments while under a lot of pressure. Most people shake and can’t handle all of the blood. If this sounds like you then this is probably the last job you should think about.
Commitment Surgeons have to be competitive and are constantly on call. It takes a lot of commitment in going down the career path of a surgeon. Patients may call at the most inconvenient times such as vacation, family outings, or during church. Surgeons are very specialized and are therefore in high demand at times.
Constant Learning Beyond the 20 years of schooling that all surgeons have to do there are thousands of unaccounted hours of study and research with their work. Studying is a life pursuit for these people and they have to love it or they will not love work. With all of the cases and the diversity of patients that come into their hospital, surgeons have to be willing to learn about each individual case. Analyzing data is a daily experience and is how they diagnose patients.
Social Skills Surgeons should be good with people as they work with and inside people every day! That being said they should be valuable team leaders and players because it requires amazing coordination when undergoing surgery. Going back to competition, social skills are a major contributor to a surgeon’s success as more and more patients are looking for someone they trust. A Medical Specialist should be able to instill confidence and peace to their patients. That being said some of the hardest parts of the job are losing the people you work on. This requires an ability to stay diligent even when you can’t save everyone. Overall finding a career path as a surgeon can be a very rewarding pursuit.
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