Background and motivation Flashcards
(35 cards)
Tell me about yourself
- Biomedical science - neurodegeneration - problem solving
- HCA - 8 months - teamwork - communication - Makaton
- YSA - team to educate public
- Charity officer - fundraising aware - organisation, time, leadership
- ID/GP placement
- Swimming - pressure, stress, resilience
- Volunteering - dignity and respect, leadership, treat as individual
Why do you want to study medicine
• I always enjoyed science at school - dissections and anatomy during degree
• I’ve also always enjoyed interacting with people e.g. volunteering - teaching
• Organised placement with the GP for a week
o Loved seeing how the doctor communicated with the patients to determine the best care for the patient
o Problem solving aspect really appealed too and seeing how the doctor had to take into account social and biological factors to make a decision on end of life care
• Being a health care assistant for 8 months over 442 hours cemented this desire
o Enjoyed: MDT, difference at most vulnerable -hoist/teddy, communicating/interacting with patients e.g. MS/cuppa – medicine similar…
• Although aspects were clearly challenging e.g…. – work/life balance, enjoy challenge
• I feel like medicine will allow for life-long learning and combine my love for science and also communication with patients
If not offered a place what would you do
• I was originally offered a place at Sheffield after my A-levels. I reflected on where I went wrong
• Gained more experience as a HCA for 8 months developing my communication skills, teamwork skills and gave me a better insight into medicine, ensuring this was still something I want to do
• If again
o Masters/HCA
o Why gone wrong
o More experience/voluntary work to gain more insight
• Also continue with swimming, volunteering
What excites you about a career in medicine
- Highly sociable career and allows for a lot of communication with patients
- Teamwork
- Make a difference to people’s lives in their most vulnerable state
- Opportunities to teach within the profession
- So much variety/ so diverse
- Ability for life-long learning
• Problem solving
o End of life care plan – biological and social factors
• Aware extremely challenging – death, emotionally and physically draining, paperwork – yet work life balance etc. from swimming
What aspects of being a doctor are you not attracted to
- physically demanding
- emotionally demanding
- paper work takes time away from interacting with patients
- complaints due to increased demand and expectations due to better technologies
How have non-scientific hobbies aided you in becoming a doctor
• Swimming
o WJ record/Commonwealth games
o Time management, determination, motivation, commitment, resilience
• Charity work/inclusion officer
o £8000 for charity
o Deal with conflict within the team every other week
o Teamwork, resolve conflict, planning/organisation
• Volunteering
o Empathy, compassion, leadership skills
What do you wish to achieve from your medical career
Would be open to different aspects
GP - continuity of care so can build relationships, 2 FY, 3 GP
Variety of people, ages, prevention and treatment
Holistic and problem solving
Teaching
Work-life balance
Why a doctor and not a nurse
Very similar - same goal to deliver best patient care, work in MDT, care compassion communication, administer meds
Yet higher degree of clinical responsibility
o Although nurses are still vital in the decision making process and are getting increased responsibility, the doctor ultimately decides on the course of treatment plan or the patient
o I would enjoy exercising this level of responsibility
Increased problem solving
o observed in the GP practice
o e.g. uni degree
Interested in the science behind the medicine
not same as 3 year nursing course e.g. anatomy
Why a doctor and not other profession
- In comparison to a research scientist, you cannot follow the patient over time
- In comparison to working in labs, it is a highly social profession.
What are your strengths
• Adapt communication skills
o HCA – Makaton
o Volunteering – mention respect and dignity
• Motivation and determination
o Swimming
• Empathy
o Alzheimer’s patient – bear
• Resilient
o Swimming
• Organisation/time management skills etc.
o Charity
Will you stay motivated
- Swimming demonstrates my motivation/determination
- As a swimming teacher – require motivation to persist with those struggling to master a skill – takes perseverance
- Already been through a uni degree
• Work experience
o I was able to take the time to reflect on if this is something I still want
o E.g. communication with patients
What steps have you taken to see if medicine is right
8 months HCA 1 week GP - problem solving 1 week ID - work in partnership, listen talking to med students Immortal life of HeLa
Where do you see yourself in 10 years
5 years med school F1/F2 years GP - 3 years o Love the variety in patients o Allow to work part time to fulfil other roles e.g. medical teaching o Problem-solving aspect o Continuity of care
• I believe I have the skills to achieve this as:
o Dedication/motivation
o Adapt communication skills
o Empathy
• I would join societies linked to this career pathway if I was successful to maximise my chances, however I would not close off any doors
How do you handle professional failures and setbacks
Why went wrong, rectify it, prevent, ask for help
e. g. DQ at race - coach, watch race, sports psychologist, silver in same event, 15 mins on turns
e. g. not getting into medicine - cut down on swimming, more confidence and work experience and voluntary work
e. g. HCA - little things wrong for the patient
What have you learnt from your setbacks
Open and honest
When to ask for help
Own limitations
How to prevent
GP, surgeon or physician
All common goal etc.
Yet:
continuity of care as GP
variety
holistic approach
What is it like being a medical student
stressful independent work placements - death teamwork leadership EC activities
What are extended roles of nurses
- European working directive led to a reduction in number of working hours for doctors. They realised a lot of the jobs could be carried out by others if adequately trained
- Speciality nurse e.g. HIV. Able to prescribe, take histories, examine patients etc.
- Research nurse
- Nurse managers
How important is IT in medicine
- Store patient data – easy to retrieve
- Easier to transfer over information between departments e.g. x-rays
- Used for referral letters etc
- More environmentally friendly – prevent printing
- COVID – GP consultations over the phone, saves time
- Patient – repeat prescriptions, book appointments
- Confidentiality
Where does most treatment occur
• Community
o Many self-medicate
o GP is first port of call
o Some GPs specialise to run clinics at GP to reduce burden on hospitals
How important is teaching in the medical profession
- Keeps yourself up to date with latest medical advances – EBM
- Pass on knowledge to next generation - junior doctors to learn
- Important for doctors to progress through their career and gain more knowledge
- Promotes better knowledge, treatment and so better patient care
- Promotes teamwork
What is holistic medicine
- Patients are at the centre of care
- Doctors must address their needs from various angles
• E.g. rash – easy option is to give ointment
o Holistic approach is to see if it has psychological origin due to stress
o So assist patient in treating the other aspects of their life
• E.g. chronic illness – MS o Help physical aspects o Help psychological aspects o Help family aspects o Consider social life, financial implications etc.
Why is research important in medicine
• Can take many forms – clinical, preclinical or literature based
• Advancement of medicine for better techniques that are
o Less intrusive
o Cheaper for NHS
o Less time consuming
• E.g. PD – probiotics – research at uni/ COVID – vaccine
If you had a lot of money to research, what would you choose and why
- Currently looking at gut-brain axis in ND
- 7-10million worldwide, annually – massive amount of people
- Such a devastating illness affecting patient and family e.g. symptoms
- Personal experience
- Treatment for reversing illness e.g. c.elegans
