Doctors And Nurses Revealed The Shocking “Realities” Of Their Jobs That Most People Don’t Know

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“I’m a doctor in the pediatric ICU. We don’t get scheduled breaks or protected meal time when we work. When we are there, we are on until the patients don’t need us anymore. I may not see your child until the afternoon because I’ve been coding another child all morning, pronouncing them dead, and helping that family through the worst possible moment. Even if I do see your child on time, I might have just come from telling a family their child has incurable cancer or a devastating brain injury — and I may have done all that without a sip of water, something to eat, or a bathroom break.”

“And this can be extended to all realms of medicine and all levels of medical providers. All we ask is that you have a little grace and understanding, and know that if it takes a while for us to get to you, it’s because there are much sicker people we need to see first. It’s a good thing if you’re lower on the priority list — it means you aren’t dying.

Also, doctors, especially younger ones, aren’t rich. We are usually half a million dollars in debt when we get out of medical training. So, while we get a big paycheck, we are playing catch-up on bills, car payments, student loans, etc. Many of us know what it’s like to struggle with poverty and live paycheck to paycheck. Please know we sympathize with you and will do what we can to minimize costs so that you don’t have any extra burden, because we’ve been there.”

—Anonymous, 33, West Virginia