Yes, my patients on the eating disorder unit like to give me career advice. Which they are really not supposed to do, as it crosses professional/patient boundaries. It's pretty challenging to maintain those boundaries, actually, as the women are of similar age to me and have had many similar experiences. Anyway...my favorite advice was:
"Skip the crazies, go with the babies. I should know."
I just might take that advice...I'm really leaning toward pediatrics right now. I love helping patients with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders, but the rest of psych just isn't that interesting to me. However, the idea of someday getting a degree in Christian counseling after my pediatrics certification is quite appealing. Something to think about. My attending, who is absolutely wonderful, has given me quite a bit of autonomy on my rotation--I'm actually sort of giving therapy! A student version of it, of course. My attending also wants me to still consider psychiatry and told me that I have a rare ability to understand people's motivations and also that I have a natural rapport with patients. Which is very kind...I'm not sure if that's true or not.
Oh, another great story. Every week, the patients have a spirituality class. Today they talked about how their eating disorders become their gods and starve their souls, preventing them from relating to their higher power. (This is a secular program.) Then, one of my patients, the same one who gave me the wise career advice, said, "I wanna binge on Jesus!" Brilliant.
I love this rotation. But I'm still going to be a pediatrician. I think. If I could only make up my mind for sure.
1 comment:
Your attending is right. You have a gift!
Leslie
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