What You Need To Know About Successful Surgeons And The Challenges Of Their Profession
Surgery is an intellectually challenging, physically draining, emotionally exhausting but rewarding career choice. Each year more people become surgeons than there are availabilities for. Those who are successful have a difficult task of not just learning and developing their skills, they also have developed their personalities and be able to work with a team of people as well as their patients. The state of healthcare is becoming more and more tedious and surgeons along with other medical professionals have to adjust themselves to an ever-changing system.
This may all seem a bit daunting but there is a satisfaction that comes with providing quality healthcare for the betterment of the community. Surgeons not only need to operate on their patients, they also have the duty to help reform the healthcare system and make it better for future medical workers and for the overall well being of the community. More and more people are diagnosed with chronic and severe illnesses. Being a part of the changes and advancements to health care is a rewarding career path.
What Makes A Successful Surgeon And What Are The Challenges
Becoming a surgeon is a dream for many. However, there may be things that you didn’t know. You may not be aware of the traits or skill needed nor the challenges that goes into the profession. There is a lot that goes into performing surgery from the surgical tables to the tools and equipment. It all has to be of the best quality possible and surgeons have to know how to work with and use all of these things effectively and efficiently. If you’re considering becoming a surgeon then hopefully these bits of insight will be helpful to you.
Traits Of A Successful Surgeon
Be Able To Accurately Diagnosis A Patients Condition – Before surgeons even attempt surgery it is important for them to accurately diagnose the patient’s condition. Some things may seem straightforward forward and sometimes they are. A good surgery will do all of the necessary tests and evaluations to be sure of a patient’s condition before performing surgery. A good surgeon will do their due diligence and keep a tightly operated medical practice. They will also examine whether a patient is fit to handle a particular procedure. This vital to making sure that whatever surgery is performed is the right fit for the patient as well as ensures that they are treated properly.
Ability To Adapt In Any Situation And Environment – The medical field is one that is constantly changing and as such surgeons need to be able to adapt and move with these changes. They also find a way to work in any environment. Sometimes conditions aren’t the most favorable but a good surgeon will remain calm and make the best of their situation and environment to get the job done. A moment’s hesitancy can be the difference between life and death. There are also times that surgery doesn’t go to plan and unexpected complications arise a skilled surgeon will mobilize the team and bring the situation make under control.
Emotional And Mental Fortitude – To be a great surgeon you have to have emotional and mental fortitude. It is by no means an easy career and it can take a lot out of the best of them. A good surgeon will learn and adapt ways to keep themselves emotionally and mentally healthy. They will also be able to help their team members through tough situations. More importantly, they are able to handle the emotional and mental influx that is brought on by their patients.
Challenges Surgeons Face
Ability To Handle The Loss Of A Patient – One of the challenges all surgeons at one point or another is the potential to lose a patient. Despite all of the care, preparation, and precautions taken some patients simply don’t make it. It can be hard to not blame yourself as a surgeon. This has caused many to walk away from the medical field and others to develop different forms of mental and emotional afflictions. There is a lot of pressure to be successful 100% of the time. Unfortunately, this is not a part of reality and it can be a hard pill to swallow. This is one of the main reasons that deciding on the path to be a surgeon shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Surgery That Doesn’t Work – Another challenge is accepting surgery that wasn’t successful. Unsuccessful surgery doesn’t necessarily mean that the patient didn’t make it. They can mean that although there was a lot of research done beforehand the patient’s body doesn’t respond favorably to having whatever procedure done. Sometimes this is none right away, other times it has the patient heals from the operation. Other times still it can be a few weeks or months afterward. Again this isn’t something the surgeon can blame themselves for as some patient’s bodies aren’t receptive to treatments and operations. That is of course easier said than done.
Keeping Up With Technology – Another challenge is the need to keep up with technology in the medical field. There is always a new procedure or piece of equipment out there and it can get overwhelming knowing which ones to go after. Some things are groundbreaking and can really change the course of an operation and others are more about the name and profits than being beneficial. Surgeons have the challenge of sifting through these options and finding what’s best for them and their patients.
If becoming a surgeon no matter the type of surgery is your goal then you’ll want to know everything that goes into it. Read, study, prepare and then do it all again. You have to develop your people skills and you have to have a desire to help others. It’s not something that you can go into lightly as it will eventually take a toll on you. However, there is a lot of satisfaction to be gained from knowing that you’ve helped other people and in doing so given back to your community at large. Good luck on your journey.
