INFPs and medicine

[Lotr246]

Is the field of medicine suited for INFPs?

[locke]

Depends on what kind of medicine. Holism, naturopathic medicine and herbalism are a good bets. In fact, I'm learning some of those myself. Medical school would stress me out, and I certainly wouldn't be able to perform surgery.

[runvardh]

I thought about medicine, but I've had trouble watching ER showes so I took that as a sign to not go that direction.

[Udog]

There are so many different jobs in medicine that there isn't a simple answer. Some jobs aren't very suited to an INFP's natural abilities, but others are.

I wish I would have seen this site when I was still in school:
MBTI and Medical Students

Any idea what kind of job in medicine you are interested in?

[OneWithSoul]

My dad is borderline ENFP/INFP, more ENFP now, but was an INFP when he went into medicine..first anthropology, then into forensics, then into medicine.

My mother was an INFP and she worked as a family therapist, majoring in psych.

[Angry Ayrab]

I am an ENFP in med school right now, and I think an INFP would be more than perfect in medicine. We need more people with kind hearts and empathy in the field. What are you interested in?

[Anja]

I was in various forms of the wellness biz for a long time and loved it.

I didn't like all the rules and regulations, some of which actually got in the way of people getting well.

The documentation was a real pain and took more time sometimes than I spent with people.

Basically all the admin aspects were a hindrance for me, but necessary, and I learned shortcuts.

The emotional energy that was used every day was a drain and I always had to be watching for that.

[mlittrell]

I personally would steer clear. BUT if it intrests you, give it a shot.

[Babylon Candle]

1. Ne people prefer horizontal exploration usaully. connecting many seemingly unrelated things...learning a working knowledge of lots of things...global learning is good enough for Ne people.

2. job satisfaction (in the medical world) is highest in the specialties, where there is NO horizontal exploration. they wake up to talk about/learn super vertically explored subjects.

3. so maybe being a G.P. would make Ne happier...but then again G.P. has the lowest rates of being happy...is it because they have no vertical exploration at the benefit of horizontal? That would make sense if the typical doctor simply didnt like horizontal exploration.

BUT, maybe being a G.P. lacks not only in vertical, but ALSO lacks in horizontal exploration?

Big Question: is there enough horizontal exploration? or do you simply dig to a certain depth and then stay there (Are all doctors vertical learners and the specialists simply go deeper?)

Answer: ???

I like science, and even if I decide not to go for a Phd or MD (pretty much all you can do with a science degree), im still going to finish my undergrad science major... but becoming a doctor is sounding less and less appealing to me....and therefore i question why any INFP would think its a good fit.

i think i need to interview more doctors to be sure though....

[Udog]

Originally Posted by Babylon Candle

1. Ne people prefer horizontal exploration usaully. connecting many seemingly unrelated things...learning a working knowledge of lots of things...global learning is good enough for Ne people.

2. job satisfaction (in the medical world) is highest in the specialties, where there is NO horizontal exploration. they wake up to talk about/learn super vertically explored subjects.

3. so maybe being a G.P. would make Ne happier...but then again G.P. has the lowest rates of being happy...is it because they have no vertical exploration at the benefit of horizontal? That would make sense if the typical doctor simply didnt like horizontal exploration.

Specialists may be the happiest for many reasons. They usually get paid the most, and get to focus on the cases and subjects that interested them in med school. Also, different specialties require different skills, so people can pick the field for which they are best suited.

GPs have it tough. Most of the stuff they see is pretty routine (death to Ne), and the interesting cases usually get referred to a specialist. GPs often have to squeeze as many patients into the day as they can, which wears on ya after awhile. Let's not forget about all the charts these patients generate, as well, and the insurance claims they generate. Finally, to top it off, they don't get paid as well. (Most GPs will not recommend you getting into it for the money.)