Becoming a GP

Before you undertake your GP VTS/ST Stage 2 and GP Stage 3 examinations, you need to carefully assess whether a career in General Practice is suitable to your needs, lifestyle and ambitions.

Some of benefits of becoming a General Practitioner include:

Flexible hours
Diagnosing a variety of conditions
Working in different environments
High incomes

As rewarding as this career may be, it also has it downfalls. Here is quick quiz to determine whether you have the attributes and passion for pursuing a path in General Practice.

Are you a GP quiz:

Do you prefer dealing with patients:
1. who have various health problems?
2. who have one particular type of health problem?
Do you prefer:
1. providing your patients with a wide spectrum of care?
2. providing your patients with specialist care?
Do you prefer working in:
1. varied environments from the local clinic, primary care emergency centre, home visits, etc.?
2. A stable environment, primarily in one location?
Do you enjoy:
1. continuously educating yourself primary so you have extensive knowledge of many medical conditions?
2. place more emphasis on educating yourself on one or a few more particular specialties?
Do you enjoy:
1. helping patients and their families?
2. working with fewer people and not having to deal with patients irregularly?
Do you:
1. like being involved in teams?
2. prefer not to be involved in teams?
Do you:
1. enjoy educating the public and promoting good healthcare?
2. prefer to have minimal involvement with the public?

Answers:

If your answers were mostly "A"s then theoretically you have the passion and characteristics for pursuing a career in General Practice.

If your answers were mostly "B"s then you should carefully reassess why you are choosing this career and review the GP VTS person specification requirements.

If your answers were a mix of "A"s and "B"s you should put more thought into defining what your goals are and which medical career path will be most rewarding to you.