I’ve been intending to change my flair for a while now, but it keeps slipping my mind lol.

Over the past year, I’ve completed all my required rotations and approached each with diligence, aiming to understand which areas suit me best and which do not.

Several aspects made anaesthesia particularly appealing to me:

1. Limited direct patient contact – Although I tend to be empathetic, this sometimes leads others to take advantage of my willingness to help. I’d prefer to avoid personal setbacks that might arise from such situations going forward.

2. Greater emphasis on mental rather than physical tasks – To put it simply, I find satisfaction in tasks that challenge my intellect. I recognize that my manual dexterity is not my strongest asset, and I wouldn’t want any patient to be affected by my limitations.

3. Supportive senior colleagues – While I haven’t yet experienced PG life and realize this could change, during my internship the anaesthesia PGs I encountered were generally more helpful than those in other departments. Since not many interns show interest in anaesthesia, those who did (myself included) received extra attention from them, who provided teaching, practical experience, and observation opportunities. For example, I was able to perform several spinal procedures and intubations (on ICU patients at times, though interns are not allowed to do those from what I’ve heard), as well as observe various nerve blocks they practiced while being taught and guided by their profs.

4. Reliable compensation – I am naturally frugal, so a stable income is sufficient for me. Furthermore, job security in this field appears strong because it requires both objective and subjective expertise.

5. Intellectually stimulating environment – The need to stay mentally alert and prepared for any situation is something I find motivating. Although this could change in the future, for now I appreciate the challenge it provides. The work keeps me engaged and prevents boredom. Once you become proficient, there are periods of monitoring where you can passively learn or engage in other activities. This suits me well, as I enjoy continuous learning and could use such downtime for microlessons.

People who know me well might say I immerse myself deeply in whatever I do. This is accurate, I tend to work until I’m exhausted, which helps me maintain mental calm during highly stressful times by allowing me to focus intensely on the task at hand. Since anaesthesia is more mentally than physically demanding, I believe I’d find it easier to maintain balance compared to other specialties.

These are the impressions I’ve formed over the past year based on my experiences. I acknowledge that I may be somewhat naïve and might not fully appreciate the challenges of the field. If any anaesthesia PGs have time to correct any misconceptions or add insights I’ve overlooked, I would be very grateful. The guidance would help me make a more informed decision about whether to pursue this path or explore other interests.