What if you don't want to be a doctor anymore? (Reasons I love being a paramedic)

Final year at medical school, yet SO not interested in leaving my current job as a paramedic and starting my medical career. SO NOT.

I've been toying with the idea that I don't want to be a doctor anymore. Well, at least, I'm not sure I want to ever practice clinical medicine.

Overall, I've really not been enjoying my placements. I find medicine "cool" and really interesting to learn about, but the reality of the "job" of being a doctor is much less desirable than my current role as a paramedic. Her are the reasons why I love being an ambo:

• you work autonomously (with your partner)
• you get "out" on the road
• you have the priveldge of coming into someone's home during a crisis
• you get to see someone in their natural habitat and how they live
• you get to drive fast with flashing lights
• you get fresh air
• you have a compltely new environment every shift/case you attend
• you have NO idea what your day is going to bring
• people trust and respect paramedics more than doctors (according to news polls)
• generally, it is one patient at a time and they get your full attention
• you only get "stuck" with patients for around an hour at a time or less (usually)
• I like wearing the uniform
• I feel more like myself at work
• other paramedics are generally really good people to be around
• the roster provides a better lifestyle for me (5 days on/5 days off)
• the annual leave is amazing (10 weeks per year, plus the ability to timebank)
• the wage is good compensation for the work we do and provides a level of living that I am happy with
• I'm happier at work than on placements (this may be due to being a student doctor)
• I'm good at my job
• I know my job so well now that it is easy, yet still stimulating
• I like having to use the level of inititive that can only be required in the pre-hospital environment
• pre-hospital medicine is an evolving field that has really exciting prospects for the future
• you get downtime
• I can get other personal errands done at work
• the work does not come home with me (although my pager sometimes does on-call)
• minimal paperwork
• recent pay increase
• you can go as deep into the clinical side of the job as you want (or not)
• I can work-out during work time

That is all for now.

Elective 1 done

Finished off Elective 1 a week ago. Phew!

I haven't recieved my supervisors report back as yet, but I've completed my log book.

I had been hoping to do another placement this "block" (my work roster is organised  but lack of in 4-week bloacks and that's how my mental calendar thinks) but I've been so mentally exhausted from my last placement, plus juggling work and mummy-duties, has made me just put that on the back-burner for now.

I paid another $2000 in tuition therefore leaving me only $1000 to go! Woohoo!