If the sight of blood on your clothes is a nightmare scenario, chances are you’re hemophobic – meaning that you have an irrational fear of blood. The good news is that there is a medical field for everyone, even those who can’t tolerate coming into contact with bodily fluids. So let’s throw on a pair of clean Cherokee Scrubs and take a look at some medical fields that don’t have to deal with blood.
Will you ever be a surgeon? Not a chance. However, psychiatrists, pharmacists, physical therapists and their assistants are medical professionals who work directly with patients, but never have to worry about getting blood on them.
Mental Health
Defined at its simplest, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental conditions.
Psychiatrists are in demand at hospitals, medical clinics and in private practice for the purpose of treating the estimated 2.8 percent of the adult population who suffer from a mental health condition, such as addictions, schizoid or mood disorders. While full-fledged psychiatrists may only be forced to confront blood in an emergency room setting, like all medical doctors (M.D.) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.), psychiatrists are required to go through four years of medical school and four years of residency.
During medical school, every aspiring doctor can expect see blood, especially in anatomy and biology courses. And during residency, students cycle through several medical departments – including emergency medicine and surgery, both of which can be gory for a self-identified hemophobe.
Hemophobic scale: 4
While a psychiatrist sees very little blood in practice, before earning your prescription pad, you will see a fair amount in medical school. Consider becoming a psychologist or get your master’s degree in social work (LMSW) instead. Neither of these mental health providers carries a medical degree, and neither requires medical school training.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist treats patients with physical disorders caused by disease or injuries. A doctor of physical therapy (DPT) must be able to communicate well with patients and should be in good physical condition since they are often responsible for helping patients of all ages and sizes who are in varying states of mobility, ranging from paralyzed to debilitating ill and those with minor injuries.
Hemophobic scale: 3
Even though this position is identified as a doctor, DPTs do not go to medical school. However, some DPT programs require students to take biology and anatomy courses, which could involve dissecting animals or working on a cadaver (deceased human). By choosing a similar profession with a shorter degree, you can look for a physical therapy assistant or occupational therapy program that does not have biology or anatomy prerequisites.
Pharmacy
Pharmacists work in hospitals, veterinary offices, drug stores and laboratories. They are responsible for doling out medications for patients. A pharmacist can either work directly with the public or in a hospital setting where they measure out medications to be dispersed by medical staff.
Hemophobic scale: 1
Out of all of the medical fields, a pharmacist is the least likely to get blood on her scrubs. However, because a pharmacist is required to learn human anatomy, biology and chemistry, it is highly likely that you will see some bodily fluids while earning your degree. If filling prescriptions is still appealing to you, consider getting your pharmacist’s aid or technician license.
