Being at the top of your game in the medical field is the ambition of many. Top doctors seem to have it all — a fulfilling job, commendable intelligence and a good salary, but all of this comes at a cost. Being a top doctor comes with a whole lot of stress, simply due to the nature of the environment and the fact that when people rely on you for their lives, it adds more pressure. Here are some of the most stressful components of a top doctor’s job that you need to know if you’re aiming high.
Pressure from Patient’s Families
Top doctors often have the burden of the lives of their patients. What they also have is a high demand from the patient’s families. This is enhanced by potential for lawsuits if they slip up in any way. Malpractice lawsuits are commonly aimed at specific doctors, as well as hospitals, and the quantity of these lawsuits has soared in recent years. The last thing a doctor would want is a lawsuit, and stressful life events like being sued can even increase the chance of a breakdown at some point in the future. There is also the guilt involved in decisions that go against the family’s gut instinct, and when these go wrong there is often no time to adjust.
Technical Difficulties
Technical difficulties can be a pain in any job, but when you’re working long hours and desperately need something to go your way, any problems can be very tough. One of the worst stories you hear from doctors is when they need client information from their work computer to perform a specific treatment and their hard drive breaks. This means they have to go through the arduous task of trying to fix it or rushing to a Secure Data Recovery near them. The most annoying bit about computer failure is that so often it isn’t your fault; but, if you’re a doctor, something that is not your fault can cost you a patient’s life.
Tricky Patients
Some patients are a blessing — some even end up developing a friendly relationship with their doctors, but others refuse to ever trust the doctor’s advice. This can be really stressful for any doctor, especially after years of education and experience, not to mention the certifications they need by law to make health recommendations. The most stress can come from a patient refusing to trust the doctor and then holding them accountable. This can be particularly difficult as the doctor tries to do everything they can in accordance with the Hippocratic Oath.
Stress is when you are put under pressures that are tied to events you cannot control. That is something commonly shared in the three above situations. If it was simply a test of the doctor’s abilities, they may be more likely to feel pressured to perform instead of having to undergo stress. It’s worth noting that stress isn’t good for anybody’s health, and can negatively impact the immune system, mental health and even weight.
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