This specialty is extremely interesting and offers great
intellectual, technological and practical challenges. It can be a
difficult (and at times stressful) area in which to work but it is
extremely rewarding. Cases involve serious pathology and require
knowledge of a range of signs and symptoms and strong clinical
medicine skills. The surgery is technically demanding and has
potential to make a significant difference to a patient’s life.
You must be able to concentrate for extended periods of time and be
willing to work long hours. It is important to remain calm in
emergency situations. The specialty also involves dealing with and
treating patients who are seriously ill: good communication skills
are essential since breaking bad news is an integral component of
the job.
A hospital-based specialist would usually conduct ten-hour long
operating sessions twice a week and eight-hour long clinics twice a
week as well. Daily ward rounds that commence at 7.30am and CME and
administrative activities account for the rest of your time.
Computers are often employed in current surgical procedures and
advances in technology will continue to change the face of treatment
options in this specialty. Other challenges include achieving lower
morbidity rates, making improvements in cerebral protection and
developing new techniques for treating intrinsic tumours.
It would be advisable to spend some time in a neurosurgical unit if
you are interested in pursuing specialist training in this area.
Registrars recommend that you should talk to consultants (as they
tend to be very approachable) and try out the neurosurgery house
surgeon position.
Around the world there are significant opportunities for top
neurosurgeons. Opportunities within New Zealand are seen as being
relatively good. Entry into the Specialist Surgical Training
Program, which is an Australasian program, is competitive.
In common with all major surgical specialties, neurosurgery is said
to be very demanding on time. Contributors agreed that it would be
difficult to take time out to have children during training. After
completion of training arrangements are possible to allow for time
out and would need to be negotiated with the particular employer.
Neurosurgery does take up a significant proportion of your time and
you may need to sacrifice outside interests in order to maintain
your family life. Neurosurgeons need to be prepared to spend long
hours at work.
Neurosurgery is a physically demanding specialty. Procedures are
long and mentally tiring and there is a reasonable amount of
after-hours call work, especially for trauma cases. It can be
distressing when patients fare badly in spite of optimum treatment.
It is recommended that trainees gain plenty of experience in
ORL, plastic surgery and general surgery before embarking on the
specialist training program. At least some of the training program
must be completed in Australia.
