Every person wants to live a happy and healthy life. But if a person can make himself and his loved ones happy on his own, then to maintain health it is sometimes necessary to consult a doctor. For example, you can treat a small scratch at home yourself, and tea with lemon and honey will help with a minor cold. But if trouble happens - injury, severe pain or fever - then you cannot hesitate, because only a doctor can prescribe the correct treatment and speed up recovery.
A doctor is a very important and honorable profession. Since ancient times, doctors have been respected and valued for their ability to relieve illness and pain. Moreover, in the old days, a doctor was usually one of the most educated people in the area.
What types of doctors are there?
Doctors are very different and, as a rule, a doctor specializes in one area of medicine. For example, an ophthalmologist monitors the health of the eyes, an otolaryngologist is responsible for treating the patient’s throat, nose and ears, an orthopedist cures bone diseases, and a dentist, as we know, prevents caries from ruining our teeth. And even dentists are different! For example, a dental therapist puts fillings, and a dental surgeon deals with those teeth that can no longer be saved and need to be removed.
Surgeons perform important work. They are the ones who fight for a person’s life and health when the disease cannot be cured with pills and injections or when the person has been seriously injured.
Special doctors working in the maternity hospital help babies be born. They make sure that the birth of a new baby goes well and that mother and baby are healthy, feel well and return home to their family and friends sooner.
Who is a doctor: profession or vocation
Medicine is the science of the structure of the human body, which is studied by all future doctors. It is divided into specializations for a more detailed study of each individual area.
The story about the doctor’s profession should begin with a description of his activities. The daily responsibilities of a specialist in this profile is making decisions on which the lives and health of people depend. Therefore, he must have deep theoretical and practical knowledge in medicine in order to make a correct diagnosis.
What is a doctor? This is a general professional who examines the patient, determines the symptoms of the disease and prescribes treatment based on this. The doctor's specialty is in demand: he is engaged in saving the most precious thing a person has - life.
Mastering medicine requires patience, diligence, and a desire to help people. Learning science begins from the bench of an educational institution and ends when a person stops practicing medicine.
The great philosopher of Ancient Greece, Socrates, said: “All professions are from people, and only three are from God: teacher, judge and doctor.” Not everyone can become a valuable and good doctor. Being a doctor is a calling.
Where are doctors needed?
The profession of a doctor is in great demand. Doctors of various specialties work in clinics and hospitals, private and public medical centers. As a rule, medical workers are present in kindergartens, schools and health institutions to provide timely assistance in case it is suddenly needed.
Ambulance workers and so-called “disaster medicine” deserve special mention. These are doctors who immediately arrive on the first call in particularly severe cases when there is a threat to human life and health. Sometimes these doctors themselves find themselves in life-threatening situations, as they are called to fires, accidents and other dangerous incidents. A special unit of very experienced and qualified doctors, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, can even urgently fly to other cities and countries when their help is needed.
Advantages and disadvantages
The description of the medical profession indicates what pros and cons this specialty has. The positive aspects include:
- demand (regardless of the situation in the world, place of residence, number of residents, etc.);
- career growth;
- the ability to save human lives;
- the opportunity to explore the unexplored and make discoveries.
Among the disadvantages of the profession are the following:
- high responsibility for people's lives;
- working with different types of patients who are not always grateful for the help provided;
- long period of training and internship;
- strict work schedule in some institutions (few days off, night shifts, emergency calls, etc.).
Thus, this specialty has both positive and negative sides. Future medical professionals must be aware of the challenges they may face in meeting professional obligations.
Contraindications
Any profession places demands on the employee’s health. When applying for a job and during medical practice, all medical workers undergo a medical commission. General health requirements:
- motor: coordination of movements, muscle activity, endurance;
- analyzer: vision, hearing, smell, touch, taste;
- neuropsychic: proper functioning of the nervous system;
- intellectual: analysis of thinking, memory, attention.
There are the following diseases, the presence of which is not recommended to choose a medical profession:
- neuropsychic;
- cardiovascular;
- musculoskeletal system;
- chronic infectious;
- upper respiratory tract;
- allergic;
- visual and auditory analyzers;
- speech-voice apparatus.
It is advisable for applicants to undergo a medical examination in advance to be sure that they will be able to work in their specialty.
Requirements for the profession
A physician must have characteristic personal qualities in order to become a professional in his field. These include:
- flexible, inquisitive mind;
- analytical thinking;
- excellent memory;
- desire for self-development;
- high stress resistance and self-organization;
- patience, love for people.
In stressful situations, the doctor must be able to quickly find the right solution, be restrained, and control the course of events.
Job responsibilities
Regardless of specialization, all doctors do the following:
- examine patients and find out their complaints (necessary in order to determine the symptoms of the disease);
- laboratory tests are prescribed (analyze abnormalities occurring in the body: the presence of bacteria, inflammatory processes, etc.);
- based on the information received, a diagnosis is made (the doctor must be able to distinguish between diseases with similar symptoms);
- prescribe treatment (taking medications, performing surgery, etc.).
The doctor’s responsibilities include providing timely emergency medical care, treating patients and prescribing rehabilitation and preventive measures for recovery. The specialist maintains the necessary documentation (filling out cards, drawing up reports, etc.), improves his own qualifications and exchanges experience with colleagues.
Doctors who are engaged in research activities, test and introduce new drugs and medicines, develop methods for diagnosing and treating various diseases. The duties of doctors include carrying out sanitary educational activities among the population.
Doctor's responsibility
Before performing professional duties, medical students take the Hippocratic oath. It represents the moral and ethical principles that a doctor must observe. According to the medical oath, the doctor must not cause harm to the patient’s health, is obliged to take care of the patient, help his health, and keep his medical history secret.
A doctor must be responsible and patient, sincerely help people, be honest with patients and with himself.
The doctor is responsible for the life and health of the patient and is responsible for the prescribed treatment.
Doctor's powers
The attending physician provides medical care to the patient from the moment of the first appointment until complete recovery. When asked how a doctor works, it is worth saying that he has the right:
- prescribe any medications and prescribe any treatment that is adequate from the doctor’s point of view and does not contradict medical standards;
- has the right to ensure the necessary conditions for normal activities;
- refuse treatment to a patient if the patient does not comply with the doctor’s orders.
Doctors in private and public practices are equal in their rights (they have the right to treat patients, improve their qualifications, etc.).
In addition, the doctor does not have the right to hide information about his illness from the patient (if the patient is infected with HIV, etc.).
The doctor has the right to delegate part of the powers to the nurse (work that is within her competence).
There are several ambiguous situations in which the actions of a doctor are not regulated by law: performing an operation with or without the consent of the patient, intervening in a suicide, the death of a patient during an operation, etc. The concept of medical error is ambiguous: the law provides for insurance for professional errors that result in harm to the patient’s health (not related to the negligent performance of professional duties).
Thus, the rights of doctors in some situations are not regulated.
Does a healthy person need a doctor?
Sometimes it wouldn’t hurt even a healthy person to consult a doctor. A good doctor will always be able to give practical advice on how to eat properly and what exercises to do in order to maintain health for many years. Your doctor may recommend other methods to keep you in good physical shape.
A healthy person can treat himself to wellness treatments in a sanatorium, clinic or at home. For example, therapeutic baths, massage, and physiotherapy have a good effect.
How much does a doctor earn?
A doctor’s salary directly depends on his specialization, place of work (private or public institution) and region.
On average, the salary of an experienced specialist can vary from 30 to 60 thousand rubles. and higher.
The highest paying medical professions
The highest paying medical professions include:
- cosmetologist, plastic surgeon, general surgeon (salary 50-180 thousand rubles and above);
- obstetrician-gynecologist (45-130 thousand rubles);
- anesthesiologist-resuscitator (40-60 thousand rubles);
- ultrasound diagnostic specialist (RUB 50-120 thousand);
- pediatrician (30-40 thousand rubles);
- therapist (40-50 thousand rubles).
How to become a doctor?
In order to become a doctor you need to receive special education. Doctors are trained in medical schools and medical institutes.
Schoolchildren who are determined to study medicine can begin to prepare for the profession of a doctor while still at school, because in order to enter a medical school, the future doctor must have a good knowledge of biology, physics and chemistry. There are a lot of people who want to become a doctor, and the teachers at the institute will teach only the smartest and most diligent students who received the highest marks in the entrance exams.
Immediately after entering the institute, medical students begin to study general information about human health, diseases and methods of treating them. Over time, students make a decision about what kind of doctor they should become, because doctors are very different and it is impossible to be a good specialist in all areas at once. From this time on, they begin to study in depth the area of medicine that interests them and eventually receive professions: pediatrician, ophthalmologist, dentist.
However, after graduating from college, young specialists are not yet able to treat people on their own. In order to become a full-fledged experienced doctor, they will have to work for several more years in a hospital or clinic under the guidance of other experienced doctors.
The path to becoming a doctor is long and difficult, and not everyone reaches the end of this path, but young men and women who have successfully completed their training will henceforth be able to save people, heal the sick, and help people stay healthy.
Medical career
This profession involves several areas:
- pediatrics, therapeutic activity (a specialist who examines a patient and prescribes treatment himself or refers him to another doctor);
- surgical activity (a specialist whose duties include performing operations);
- pathoanatomical activity (task of a pathologist: autopsy of a corpse to determine the cause of death);
- psychological activities (work with mental disorders, etc.).
Good doctors are always in demand. Career growth is tantamount to increasing professional competence.
Specialists with extensive experience are striving to open their own clinical centers to provide medical services to citizens.
Places of work
A doctor can find work in a government medical institution or in a private clinic. Research specialists are in demand in research centers and institutes.
History of the doctor profession
People have been practicing healing for a long time. In primitive communities, each resident knew how to stop bleeding, apply stitches, prevent infection, and there were even attempts at dental treatment. They were treated with the help of herbs and other useful plants. Prehistoric excavations say that primitive people could not only cure a fracture, but also perform craniotomy. The healers asked the spirits for help, cast spells that promoted recovery and even supported sacrifice.
Later, healers and shamans appeared. These people were very observant and knew the secrets of healing and the healing properties of plants.
Medicine made a rapid leap forward when the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates was able to combine into one whole all the knowledge acquired throughout the history of mankind. He was interested not only in how to treat the disease, but in the causes of its occurrence. To this day, every doctor takes the famous Hippocratic oath, which is the main purpose of medical practice.
Much effort has been made to improve knowledge regarding the structure of human organs. These studies were performed by dissecting corpses.
In the Middle Ages, the Inquisition tried in every possible way to stop the development of medicine, but medical institutions continued to open in eastern countries, good doctors wrote books and passed on their knowledge to young specialists.
The discovery of penicillin is a very important moment in the history of medicine. The antibiotic helped cope with many diseases that were previously considered deadly.
Today, doctors have modern diagnostic equipment at their disposal, which allows them to determine the correct diagnosis and defeat the disease. However, many ailments mutate and take on new forms, which does not allow doctors to stop there and forces them to look for ways to solve new problems.
Doctor is one of the oldest professions. Primitive people did not yet know how to build houses, but they already knew what to do if their comrade fell ill or was injured. At first it was simply knowledge about medicinal herbs and special helping techniques, passed on from mouth to mouth. Generation after generation, they acquired more and more new information and gradually turned into the science that is now called medicine.
To become a doctor, you need to study a lot. How much depends on what exactly he will treat. In addition to general practitioners, there are specialists who deal with the problems of only one organ or system. For example, an ophthalmologist treats the eyes, an otolaryngologist treats the ears, nose and throat, a nephrologist treats the kidneys, and so on. Regardless of the chosen direction, the future doctor must know everything about the structure of the body, the processes that occur inside the body, the changes that are observed in various diseases (they are also called symptoms). Thanks to this knowledge, he will be able to make the correct diagnosis (that is, identify the disease) and prescribe the necessary treatment.
A doctor can work in different conditions. There are 3 main types of their activities. Some doctors see their patients in clinics. Their offices have tools for simple inspection. They can also give directions for tests, the results of which will help determine what is happening in the body. These doctors are contacted if the disease can be treated at home. Everyone who has caught a cold at least once in their life has met them.
Some doctors work in hospitals and large medical centers. As a rule, they are specialists. They are contacted if the disease requires more serious intervention - for example, surgery.
The third group is emergency doctors. They go to the patient in a specially equipped car along with a supply of necessary medications and instruments. Their field of activity includes injuries, heart attacks and other serious conditions. In addition to cars, they even have helicopters at their disposal - air ambulances. They are used if the patient is too far from the nearest hospital but needs emergency treatment. Such means are used, for example, in the Far North.
Scientists are developing new diagnostic devices and new drugs - so a doctor must study throughout his life. Thanks to the development of medicine, those diseases that were previously considered serious and dangerous can now be cured.
Features of the profession
If you have firmly decided to become a doctor, but do not yet know what specialization to choose, you can analyze your physical data.
Surgeons tend to have thin and long fingers. This will make it easier to carry out operations.
Orthopedists need strength. After all, realigning joints and vertebrae is not an easy task.
The main feature of the profession is that a doctor should not “harm the patient.”
Etiquette of a medical practitioner
- Medical ethics begins with the Hippocratic Oath. After all, it contains the basic principles of behavior.
- Appearance should inspire confidence in the patient.
- Well delivered speech. The specialist cannot complain to the patient about personal problems, lack of money or poor working conditions.
- Gestures should help position the patient for open communication.
- The doctor is prohibited from showing the patient that you are hesitating in making a decision.
- Respect for colleagues
- The doctor is prohibited from disclosing personal information about the person who sought help to third parties.
Required professional skills and knowledge
Every doctor must have a good understanding of the structure of the human body, and highly specialized doctors must have a thorough understanding of the issues they deal with.
He needs to know everything about the organs that he is entrusted with treating and that are nearby.
The doctor is required to have excellent knowledge about basic medications: what they are for, how to use them, contraindications. You need to be aware of a huge number of new products.
In order to establish contact with the patient, you need to know psychology. The ability to create a trusting atmosphere is highly valued in medical practice. Such knowledge especially helps dentists, gynecologists, and proctologists. With the help of simple methods, an appointment with a doctor will not turn into hard labor for the patient, and will have a beneficial effect on health.
Personal qualities of a doctor
It is recommended for people who have developed the following qualities to devote their lives to medical practice:
- intelligence;
- intuition;
- observation;
- patience;
- sociability;
- self confidence;
- determination;
- emotional resistance to stressful situations.
It is important that doctors become those who care about the people around them; those who are merciful to the grief of others and want to change the world for the better.
