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Is being a surgeon a hard job?

I am curious about becoming a surgeon and I want to learn more about it. How difficult is the job? What specifically is hard or not hard about the job? Knowing the answers to this question will help me prepare mentally and gather the knowledge I need to succeed. #medicine #healthcare #surgery

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Thank you comment icon I also want to be a surgeon also a model but I dont think I am pretty enough for that Marie
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Rachel’s Answer

Sometimes choosing a career is easier when you learn what is involved in getting to that career. General surgery is a great field requiring a medical doctorate. This means that you will have to complete college with a bachelor’s degree as well as all of the Pre-med requirements (1 year biology, 1 year inorganic chemistry, 1 year organic chemistry + labs, physics, calculus, and biochemistry). GPA should probably be 3.5 or better (preferably >3.8). You will also have to score well on the MCAT. Once accepted to medical school, as long as you pass your classes and perform reasonably well during your four years of medical training, you can apply for a general surgery 5 year residency. Following that, you will likely apply for a 1-3 year fellowship. This career path requires 14+ years of school after high school but is very fulfilling and challenging work.
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Estelle’s Answer

Yes, especially based on what field you go into.

Neurosurgery has a brutal residency, probably the most difficult. Afterward, the practice continues to be difficult.

Plastic surgery, on the other hand, tends to have a difficult training, but the practice can be very rewarding.
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Richard’s Answer

During medical school and residency, you won’t be in control of your own schedule . There will be many nights of call / night time work. You will constantly be learning new information and be expected to take on a growing amount of responsiblity throughout your training.

However, after training, you can be in more control and can choose what practice to join based on your needs. You can work less and have more spare time at the cost of making less money and possibly consulting on less interesting cases.
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Martha Cecile’s Answer

Being a surgeon is hard. People do not get sick at convenient times, and if you are on call, you will be called to help them at all hours - EVEN IF you have little children to dress, feed, deliver to the babysitter; even IF it is your birthday; even IF you are sick yourself; even IF you are already tired because you operated all day. You must make your best decision even IF you would rather be sleeping, recovering, are wounded by insensitive comments. You must do your best even IF you do not like the patient or the patient is a criminal who just killed a police officer. Can you do this? Can you set yourself and your needs aside, even IF you don't feel good or think the patient needs to live? You are NOT GOD and you do not get to decide who lives or would be saved by emergency surgery or who is better off dead. As a physician, especially surgeon who has some very unique skills, can you really set your values aside and do your best for every patient who needs you? Being a surgeon is hard; you must believe that every human is made in the image of God, and you must do what you can to help people survive otherwise. And if they refuse your help, you cannot take it personally. Remember, there is a doctor for every patient and a patient for every doctor.
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