To feel such a strong calling to be a doctor even though it's not realistic?

[breathingatlast]

I feel such a strong, deep calling to be a doctor even though I don't think it's realistic nor would it suit me. I'm very squeamish and hate blood, spit, snot, vomit, etc. I'm also very reserved. Yet I just feel such a strong longing to be a doctor, I have a strong desire to have a job where I feel like I'm helping people and making a difference. Whenever I'm in a healthcare setting I just have this feeling like I belong there and it feels 'right'. I have so much respect for healthcare workers.

Ever since I was a student this longing to be a doctor would come up periodically. I tried to follow that desire in my own way by studying Biology and working in the pharmaceutical industry but it hasn't really fulfilled me. It's not about the money or the prestige. I have considered going into nursing or a physician's associate or a healthcare assistant role.

Do other people get this kind of longing about being a doctor/working in healthcare?

What's stopping you from following your dream?

Being squeamish and not liking bodily fluids including blood I would imagine!

To what level are you qualified? There is a massive difference between being a HCA and a doctor! However many medical students work as HCA's for experience. Maybe join the local hospital bank and see how you get on?

You can get used to that.

Anything non squeamish but related to health such as counselling?

There's nothing in her post to suggest that she has the academic qualifications needed either.

Great that you have a real longing to help others, but a bit concerning that you are so squeamish.
Have you thought about physio or OT or mental heath nursing as alternatives?

If you did biology maybe something in a hospital lab? Haematology?

If the longing is about helping others, there are lots of ways to do that. I wonder if there is something to unpick about the longing also about the status and respect doctors are perceived to have. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just that it is good to be honest with yourself about.

Assuming it isn't feasible to become a doctor for you, then I'd be looking for other opportunities to meet the need.

I know some seriously squeamish people (think can't even look at photos of bloody injuries, much less the real thing) who are senior medical consultants, but work in fields where they dont see much goo. Endocrinology and radiology seem to be less bloody then e.g. general surgery. The hours are evil, the pay is not consumate to the responsibility and the battles with hospital management are legendary but if you get past all that, it can be extremely fulfilling, apparently.

How old are you? That'll make a big difference.p

Ignore the random p

I think you should shadow some doctors and see if you think the reality is anything like yo imagine

What are your current qualifications? WHY do you want to be a doctor? What is the likely acadmic path you'd have to follow if you wanted to do this? These are the big questions you need to answer if you seriously want to do this I think. I'm saying this as a doctor who trained quite late in life x

I get this sometimes. It's basically related to the surfeit of Mills & Boon Medical books that I've read. As soon as I lay off them: BAM! The longing is gone.

On a more serious note: I have considered retraining in a health/allied field, but there are a lot of obstacles for me - I have no science A levels, and I have a young family and a husband who works 50+ hours per week. I also don't have the temperament for being spoken to like dirt, which seems quite common in the NHS, and, most importantly, I cannot have a job in which my mistakes could kill someone. Once I remember these important things, medicine/paramedicine/midwifery lose their shine somewhat.

I feel exactly like this! Except about being a singer! Whenever I’m doing karaoke I just feel lightly somehow. I love being looked at and everyone paying me attention. This comes up for me whenever I watch Britains Got Talant, I just know it’s what I’m meant do do.

I tried getting a job as a singing waitress, or a childrens entertainer, but I don’t like kids.

Am I the only person who fancies being a pop star?

My old hairdresser had always wanted to be a doctor but had never even done A levels. She had a long journey but is now a doctor.

What age did she qualify?

Agree you could look at something similar like radiography. Is it hospitals you like? You might find that admin / receptionist work would give you the buzz of being part of the team in the hospital, without the gore?

Ignore all the Debbie Downers. Anything is possible and if you don’t have any qualifications then go and get them!

first stop; believe in yourself!

I’ve proved negative opinionated people wrong. You can too!

What would you need to do to make it happen, and is it feasible? I don't mean dealing with the squeamishness, loads of medical students faint or vomit at first when faced with needles and knives and body fluids. I mean getting on the academic pathway to medical school and having the stamina to cope with years of gruelling and highly unglamorous training.

It might be worth looking at Physician Associate training. It seems like a relatively civilised way to become a clinical practitioner.

Come and be an ODP.

it’s an awesome career path!

operating department practitioner

With your background in biology and pharmaceuticals, how about training as a pharmacist? You can work in a hospital setting with direct patient contact but there’s no hands on interaction or nasty bodily fluids. It’s a very responsible job working in a team with doctors.

I get the same feeling about being a teacher. Never gona happen as I really cannot speak in front of people and the idea of standing in front of a class full of children makes me feel sick, but I absolutely get that longing feeling you talk about.
I went to a little parents morning thing at my daughter's school and I completely felt that the school environment was where I was meant to be.
If you are able to train and think you may be able to get over your feelings of squeamishness etc I would absolutely say go for it! I know I will regret not being a teacher!

Do you have kids ? I find this gets you over the squeamish thing. Actually it probably cures most people from the caring desires, as you feel burnt out from caring for them.