[nelsonm360]

I'm planning on taking a medical root down the career path and becoming a doctor but I'm not sure if its the right career for me and if I'll enjoy it in the long run. I was wondering if INTJs make good doctors or weather it well suit me. any views on the subject will be much appreciated.

[Nonsuch]

I have a feeling that there are very few doctors in the house.

[Autumnleaf]

You will likely deal with many people unless you become a specialist. Pick your route wisely.

[Reddkatz]

I'm working on pre-med, and I actually am deciding on internal medicine. I was first majoring in nursing, and changed it because I knew it wouldn't fit me.

[eagleseven]

Not becoming a doctor, but work with them daily. If I became a doctor, I would become a Pathologist...lots of detective-work (figuring out the difficult cases), and the only patients you directly deal with are already dead.

I would imagine that most INTJs would become exhausted working with stressed, demanding patients all day...just venturing onto the floors for an hour or two does me in. I much prefer the company of the pathology lab.

[XFire35]

I'm a student in a healthcare profession with a high-patient turnover (~8hrs, new patient ~10-15mins). It's difficult at first, but then I found that I adapted to the situation and put the patients first. Once you find the balance of work/introvert time, it can be manageable - i.e. during lunch I sit by myself, the journey there and back I don't talk to anyone and when I get home I'm not too talkative.

[heaven]

Im a doctor in Italy,, im currently doing my residency in Emergency medicine.
I hat.e forensics, I hate being in an office, I hate pediatrics I love kids but i can't see a child suffering)
I could say that i like action and blood hahahaha

[Humanzee]

Mother wanted me to go into medicine but I did not see the point (all memorizing, and risking killing people -- why???)

Now I watch House and say, "HEY, that's awesome".... well until the past few seasons.

[alyCMK]

Hm, if you are not personable as a doctor people tend to feel uncomfortable. If you are not comfortable dealing with people at all, I really would not recommend it. Patients like to have someone they can talk to openly about their problems without feeling awkward or judged, and a good amount of INTJ's give that sort of awkward, judgemental air. You also have to take into consideration the amount of touching you will be doing when examining a person. If that touch feely stuff is not you...well, you have your answer right there.

[Monte314]

There are several doctors on the Forum, but they rarely identify themselves as such. They probably have plenty of other things to do.

[rahdam]

I'm gunning for Emergency Medicine.
And I've already decided that I shall not be a physician forever; I have other aspirations in other fields after I feel that I have accomplished what I want to accomplish in medicine.

[Aklis]

I've been a long time fan of House (ever since the show started, back in '04), and while I've found that it would be interesting to be a doctor (brain surgeon feels very interesting), I just wouldn't be able to handle dealing with patients.

[Reddkatz]

Originally Posted by alyCMK To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Hm, if you are not personable as a doctor people tend to feel uncomfortable. If you are not comfortable dealing with people at all, I really would not recommend it. Patients like to have someone they can talk to openly about their problems without feeling awkward or judged, and a good amount of INTJ's give that sort of awkward, judgemental air. You also have to take into consideration the amount of touching you will be doing when examining a person. If that touch feely stuff is not you...well, you have your answer right there.

There are actually quite a few doctors who don't have the greatest bedside manner, but yet they constantly get new patients because they are good doctors. Most patients will tolerate the lack of personality if you are good in the field you are in. I have noticed. There is one doctor that patients will wait 3-5 hours for because he is that good.

[antistu]

With my current taste for studies, I certainly think it is within my own capabilities to go the Med school route. In fact, I know I could succeed in medicine if I wanted to. I suppose most INTJs can confirm to that.

However, at this stage I wouldn’t see the point. I’m not sure what the worth would be – more money? Not to mention the beauracy? I much rather stay in scientific research. I would think doctors are not ideal professions for INTJs, it sounds as though others have more interest in medical research (which we are known better for).

[Reddkatz]

Originally Posted by XFire35 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I'm a student in a healthcare profession with a high-patient turnover (~8hrs, new patient ~10-15mins). It's difficult at first, but then I found that I adapted to the situation and put the patients first. Once you find the balance of work/introvert time, it can be manageable - i.e. during lunch I sit by myself, the journey there and back I don't talk to anyone and when I get home I'm not too talkative.

This is how I manage my work day. If people want to get in touch with me after work, they have to text or email because I don't feel like talking to people.

[XFire35]

	Originally Posted by Reddkatz To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	This is how I manage my work day. If people want to get in touch with me after work, they have to text or email because I don't feel like talking to people.

I get quite short with people too and usually end up venting on them. I'm thankful for a locking door and music.

	Originally Posted by rahdam To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I'm gunning for Emergency Medicine. And I've already decided that I shall not be a physician forever; I have other aspirations in other fields after I feel that I have accomplished what I want to accomplish in medicine.

I want to go into Medicine after I've finished this degree, EM is what interests me most.

[heaven]

	Originally Posted by rahdam To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I'm gunning for Emergency Medicine. And I've already decided that I shall not be a physician forever; I have other aspirations in other fields after I feel that I have accomplished what I want to accomplish in medicine.

	Originally Posted by XFire35 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I get quite short with people too and usually end up venting on them. I'm thankful for a locking door and music. I want to go into Medicine after I've finished this degree, EM is what interests me most.

Yes, Emergency Medicine is the best choice i love it, i think is because we are "perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving" and intuitive thinkers.

But we also could be excellent physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, researchers, etc.

But not so much psychiatrist, the theory is spectacular; but talk with patients for hours is a pain in the ass. Is a good choice if you are a researcher.

[SarcasticVlad]

I wanted to be a doctor but I've realized on time that medical education in my country sucks and I could never be the kind of doctor I want.

[peppersasen]

Gregory House is a fictional character. No real doctor could get away with his behavior.

	Originally Posted by nelsonm360 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I was wondering if INTJs make good doctors or weather it well suit me. any views on the subject will be much appreciated.

Being an I, you'd have to work on your people skills. The detective work can easily appeal the INTJ, but I imagine most INTJs would have to adjust their approach in dealing with other humans in order to become good health professionals.

As a doctor, you'll be required to deal with new patients (new strangers every single day) in addition to your regular patients and your patients' inner circle. You will also have to be good with gaining people's trust, especially if you're going to be a family doctor and you may have to convince one family member that you will be able to maintain confidentiality. If a patient doesn't tell you the truth in fear that you will be somehow judgmental or you can't convince your patient that you will treat her despite your difference of values, your work suffers. If a patient is left untreated because she was afraid to tell you all the gory details and she dies, it's [at least partially] your failure. Learn to read cues, because when patients get tired of inpatient treatment, they can be complete liars and feign health.

INTJs tend to lose patience when dealing with stupidity and thickness in people. The thing is, when people are ill, they can become very different people. The most educated, calm, and collected person can turn into a complete pain in the ass when they're in pain or under the influence. And then there are the delirious sickos. Oh boy. The patient's entourage can get hysterical and be very demanding, clingy, and drain your soul.

Communication is key. Learn how to be diplomatic (damn INTJs and their directness/bluntness). You can't shoot a "your girlfriend caught MRSA because her immune system sucks. Plus, we can't treat her for any of the symptoms because she's allergic to antibiotics, so she'll be in extreme pain and will die a painful death. So she's got about, uh... [looks at watch] 48 hours left to live." [shrugs, leaves inpatients' room, heads off to the WHO's little birthday party for the free booze].

I've read news reports about how some doctors in certain countries have to work on their people skills (there's supposedly a documentary film on the subject, but I'm asking around if the screenings are subtitled). Patients in those countries have begun to resort to medical tourism because the doctors in their home countries are simply bad communicators: they would not bother to get into detail in explaining a patient's condition despite their right to know what's wrong with their bodies and they also couldn't be bothered with explaining all the treatment alternatives, the pros and cons (side effects and such), and how much each treatment would cost. Instead, they administer whatever treatment they view is the best (often the most expensive option being presented as the "only" option). Doctors who play God like that are not good doctors. In the medical world, people shouldn't be taking such shortcuts just because they can't be bothered to communicate.

It'll never be just about how intelligent, analytical, or how well-equipped you are for health professionals. As INTJs, either we work on our people skills or the career path won't work out for us.

[elsdfr]

I know a guy who is becomming an anaesthetist and might also be an INTJ, I went to high school with him. He's 31 and has gray hair and spent a majority of his life working for this position. Sure he drives a nice car and has a nice house but for his age he has to be the most immature person I've met.

I don't wish I was a doctor.

[nazz]

Med student as well here. Almost done

I agree from what I saw of patients, they'll put up with bad attitudes if the doctor is known to be very good.

There's always Radiology too, rare patient contact, lots of interesting stuff to do.

[NixonKneivel]

I do some career coaching as a part of my business, so I can only use that as a reference point, as well as my experience as an INTJ worker/employer.

I hope you are watching HOUSE to help your research, because he is the ideal case for an INTJ in the medical profession. People are the containers of his medical mysteries, not human beings to be nurtured.

(1) He has a team of much more relational people to do his interpersonal interaction. He has 2 peers (sort of) and a team of doctors under him.
(2) He is the world's best at a very unusual occupation. According to the show's reality, he is the head of the world's only dept of diagnostic medicine... that means that even in TV Land, you have to be the Lance Armstrong our your field to get people to let you do the brain part and leave you alone with the interpersonal part.

I have tried to replicate this structure in my business, and it works pretty well, but clients who want facetime with the CEO (me) seem to have a hard time adjusting.

Good luck!

[John01]

	Originally Posted by elsdfr To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I know a guy who is becomming an anaesthetist and might also be an INTJ, I went to high school with him. He's 31 and has gray hair and spent a majority of his life working for this position. Sure he drives a nice car and has a nice house but for his age he has to be the most immature person I've met.

I certainly don't know all that the job of anesthesiologist entails, but having watched a number of them in surgeries just sitting in their chair, changing the radio station occasionally, taking naps and reading books, it looks like one of the most boring professions out there.

[elsdfr]

	Originally Posted by John01 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I certainly don't know all that the job of anesthesiologist entails, but having watched a number of them in surgeries just sitting in their chair, changing the radio station occasionally, taking naps and reading books, it looks like one of the most boring professions out there.

Well he didn't end up getting into Radiology which is what he wanted and it was the next pick apparently.

He's not much of a people person and I think he's a doctor because his father was.

I guess it could be boring, but I think it suits him, not sure what it would be like to do it for 30 years though. You have to sit and monitor everything and lets face it, it's a pretty critical thing keeping someone unconcious during an operation.

And after some more thought I couldn't quite put him as an INTJ, perhaps an INTP.

[nazz]

Anesthesiologists in the OR are responsible for putting the patient under during a surgery and keeping him alive during the procedure, maintaining the balance of heart/lung function and sedation.
They also need to know what type of anesthesia to use given what meds the patient is already on and his current general health.
Though I do agree they look bored in an OR.

Besides that they can go into ICU or Pain management as a sub, the latter of which is usually a highly competitive fellowship