Is being a GP right for you?

Is being a GP right for you?

Prior to undertaking GP Specialty Training Program, a careful assessment whether being a General Practitioner is suitable to your career aspirations, needs and lifestyle. There are many benefits associated with having a GP such as:

• Flexible working weeks and times
• Independenceworking out of hours
• Working in different environments
• High income which can increase working as a locum or out of hours GP.
• Exposure to a variety of conditions
• Becoming part of a community

Here is a quick survey to see if you have the attributes and desire to pursue a career in General Practice.

Do you prefer dealing with patients:

1. Who have various health problems? Or
2. Who have one particular type of health problem?

Do you prefer:

1. Providing your patients with a wide spectrum of care? Or
2. Providing your patients with specialist care?

Do you prefer working in:

1. Different environments from PCT Clinics, primary care emergency centre to patients houses? Or
2. A stable environment, primarily in one location?

Do you:

1. Empathise with patients? Or
2. Provide direct expert advice to them?

Do you:

1. Enjoy acting on and diagnosing quickly? Or
2. Taking a longer term view of recovery and diagnosis?

Do you enjoy:

1. Researching many different illnesses and treatments? Or
2. Placing more emphasis on becoming an expert in a chose field?

Do you enjoy:

1. Helping patients within a community? Or
2. Working with patients with specific conditions

Do you:

1. Enjoy educating the public and promoting good healthcare?
2. Prefer to have minimal involvement with the public?

Answering mostly ones, you appear to have the passion and characteristics for pursuing a career in General Practice. Answering mostly twos then you may prefer the Specialty Registrar to consultant career path. Otherwise if your answers were a mix of ones and twos, putting more thought into your future medical career direction is essential.

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