Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Why doctors need life skills

Stephanie Wellington, MD
Physician
February 11, 2020
224 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Medical school prepares doctors for patient care: perform a history and physical, and based on the findings, consider the next diagnostic tests to order, review all data, and develop a treatment plan. By graduation from medical school, you are skilled to perform those duties with a certain level of competency and confidence.

Success in the next phase of this journey and the rest of your life depends on honing those skills and acquiring new ones. This is where the gap exists for many doctors. Many doctors continue to rely on the skills and strategies learned in medical school and the ones they picked up in training, and fail to develop a plan for life long learning where they purposefully master proven skills and strategies to create predictable success for their life and career.

Doctors are struggling, getting discouraged, and feeling like they’re not cut out for this because of not fully understanding that the skills acquired in medical school, such as solid study habits, commitment to the tasks, and strong work ethic, are the foundation.   They are the skills upon which to build. It is not where they are meant to stay. Physicians are struggling because they’re not honing their current skills nor developing new skills to complement their new level of achievement.

Doctors are struggling, getting discouraged, and feeling overwhelmed because they haven’t tapped into life skills to support them as they meet with the challenges in medicine. Sure they have baseline coping skills. But they experience life in ways that other people just don’t. As doctors they are asked to confront poor prognosis and even life and death in one exam room with all the emotional triggers that accompany that, then move on to the next exam room to give another patient better news with a smile.   And they are expected to do it in less than 15 minutes with little time to recalibrate their own emotions and energy.  Effectively navigating this means having daily practices in place that support their emotional and spiritual well-being.  Most doctors either don’t know the importance or haven’t invested the time to develop this area.

Doctors are struggling, getting discouraged, and have low self-confidence because they haven’t nurtured their people skills so that they can effectively interact with the team. Communication skills, setting clear boundaries, delegating appropriate tasks to the right team member, and giving praise so team members feel heard and valued are all skills that must be nurtured throughout their career. As a result of not taking the time to hone and master these skills, doctors experience breakdowns in communication, frustration when expectations are not met, decreased effectiveness and productivity, and even delays in patient care.

The great news is that these are all skills that can be learned and mastered, and it doesn’t require a lot of additional time.  It requires the willingness to acknowledge your strengths and use your strengths as the foundation for further growth and development. It requires the willingness to suspend judgment when challenges arise.

When doctors and other medical professionals master these skills, the team functions like a well-rehearsed orchestra. Each member of the team feels valued. There is nothing that feels as great as when the team is in sync, and patient care is well executed. It is truly something to aspire to achieve.

Stephanie Wellington is a physician and can be reached at Nurturing MDs.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

3 reasons why some physicians aren't burned out

February 10, 2020 Kevin 5
…
Next

Cervical cancer guidelines leaves women confused about annual pelvic exams

February 11, 2020 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: Practice Management

Post navigation

< Previous Post
3 reasons why some physicians aren't burned out
Next Post >
Cervical cancer guidelines leaves women confused about annual pelvic exams

More by Stephanie Wellington, MD

  • Unlocking the power of morning intentions: a physician’s self-care practice for finding ease and flow in life

    Stephanie Wellington, MD
  • Physician success is a team sport, so why are you on the field alone?

    Stephanie Wellington, MD
  • Unlock the power of comparison for more clarity in your career

    Stephanie Wellington, MD

Related Posts

  • End-of-life care talks begin at home: even for doctors

    Abdel Albakri
  • Ethical humanism: life after #medbikini and an approach to reimagining professionalism

    Jay Wong
  • The life cycle of medication consumption

    Fery Pashang, PharmD
  • Why do doctors who hate being doctors still practice?

    Kristin Puhl, MD
  • Doctors: It’s time to unionize

    Thomas D. Guastavino, MD
  • Doctors die. But the good ones leave a legacy.

    Jaime B. Gerber, MD

More in Physician

  • Practicing medicine with conviction

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • The power of memory in shaping human identity

    Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD
  • Physicians have no autonomy. Here’s how to change that.

    Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH
  • The erosion of patient care

    Laura de la Torre, MD
  • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

    Eleanor Menzin, MD
  • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

      Angel Garcia Otano, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions
    • Practicing medicine with conviction

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The power of memory in shaping human identity

      Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD | Physician
    • How Tratak yoga reshaped my USMLE Step 2 prep

      Dr. Nikita Mehdiratta | Education
    • Transforming primary care for physician well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • FDA Relents, Approves Novel Antidepressant After Many Rejections
  • OSHA Comes in for Both Praise and Harsh Criticism at House Hearing
  • New Insight Into Hyperglycemia Risk With PI3K Inhibitor for Breast Cancer
  • Oktoberfest Doctor: Not the Wurst Job You Could Have
  • Blue Shield of California Has Fix for MA Enrollees Worried About Co-Pays

Meeting Coverage

  • New Schizophrenia Treatments Are Coming: Don't Panic
  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

      Angel Garcia Otano, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions
    • Practicing medicine with conviction

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The power of memory in shaping human identity

      Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD | Physician
    • How Tratak yoga reshaped my USMLE Step 2 prep

      Dr. Nikita Mehdiratta | Education
    • Transforming primary care for physician well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...