Medical Practitioner - Career Advice - Community and Health

Resident Medical Officer

General Medical Practitioners [GP] diagnose physical and mental illnesses, disorders and injuries, and prescribe medications and treatment to promote or restore good health. Future Growth Strong

They tend to see patients on a one-to-one, non-emergency basis regarding temporary or chronic illness, general health check-ups and preventative health tests. They are usually the first point of call regarding non-emergency illness or injury, and often refer patients on to specialists once they have made their diagnosis.

ANZSCO ID & description: 253111: Diagnoses, treats and prevents human physical and mental disorders and injuries. Registration or licensing is required.

Alternative names: GP, General Practitioner,

Examining Ear
Knowledge, skills and attributes

A general practitioner needs:

an interest in the well-being of others
good communication and people skills
compassionate towards others
self-confidence
to work well under pressure, and in emergency situations
to be reliable and responsible
stamina to work long hours
a high degree of motivation and self-discipline

Duties and Tasks

Medical practitioners may perform the following tasks:

examine the patient to determine the nature of the disorder or illness and record the patient's medical information
order, perform and analyse laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic images and procedures
provide overall care for patients and prescribe and administer treatments, medications and other remedial measures
aid in the prevention of diseases and disorders by advising patients on diet, exercise, hygiene and general health
prescribe and administer medication and inoculate patients to prevent infectious or contagious diseases
provide pre-natal and post-natal care
report births, deaths and notifiable diseases to government authorities
arrange for patients to be admitted to hospital
refer patients to other medical specialists and exchange relevant medical details.

Working conditions

General practitioners work in health clinics and practices in both the government and private sectors. They normally work with a small group of practitioners in a general practice, but do most of their work individually in private rooms with limited medical equipment. They may also work in a large community health centres with other health professionals and see patients in group settings. General practitioners are required all over Australia. In small rural communities, they may be required to conduct house visits if clinic facilitates are limited or unavailable, or if their patients live in isolated locations. All general practitioners, regardless of their location or workplace, come in contact with infectious diseases and bodily fluids. Medical practitioners sometimes have to deal with unpleasant conditions due to a patient's illness or injury. Adopting strict hygiene practices is important. They need to wear protective gear such as gloves.

Medical practitioners are involved in a wide range of activities, including consultations, attending emergencies, performing operations and arranging medical investigations. When caring for patients, medical practitioners work with many other health professionals. They may also participate in and undertake research.

Depending on their area of specialisation, medical practitioners may have to work long, demanding and irregular hours. This may include working on weekends and at night or being on call 24 hours a day.

Tools and technologies

General practitioners use instruments such as stethoscopes, thermometers, sphygmomanometers (blood pressure monitors) and reflex hammer. They also administer medicines, such as vaccinations. They regularly use computers to maintain client records and consult pharmaceutical manuals.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a general medical practitioner you must first become a qualified medical doctor and then specialise in general practice.

These degrees usually take four years to complete. Entry requirements include completion of a bachelor degree in any discipline. You must also sit the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT) and attend an interview at your chosen institution.

On completion of the postgraduate medical degree, you must work in the public hospital system for one year (internship) to gain general registration as a medical doctor. To then specialise in general practice, doctors can apply to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and/or the Australian College of Rural Remote Medicine (ACRRM) to undertake further training and ultimately receive fellowship.

A resident medical officer is a medical practitioner who works for public hospitals to gain clinical experience after their first year internship. They work under the supervision of medical professionals to Future Growth Strong diagnose, treat and prevent chronic and life-threatening diseases and injuries.

Most doctors spend two to three years working as a resident in different hospital departments, before beginning specialist training.

ANZSCO I & description: 253112: Diagnoses, treats and prevents human physical and mental disorders and injuries under the supervision of medical specialists or senior general practitioners. Registration or licensing is required.

Alternative names: Doctor, Medical Practitioner, Resident, RMO

Resident with patient
(Source: Madacs)

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A resident medical officer needs:

the ability to cope with the physical and psychological demands of the job
to work well under pressure, and in emergency situations
to be able to exercise high ethical standards
excellent communication and people skills
the ability to make quick decisions and to multitask
a high degree of motivation and self-discipline.

Working conditions

Resident medical officers work in hospital departments where they may give patients intravenous fluids, request diagnostic investigations, and prescribe and monitor medications for patients on their ward. They may be required to wear safety clothing and must ensure that their instruments are kept sterile.

Resident medical officers usually work long shifts, odd hours and weekends. They work in various departments in hospitals around the State, usually on a rotation basis.

Tools and technologies

Resident medical officers may use instruments such as stethoscopes, thermometers, defibrillators and electrocardiogram machines. They also administer injections, perform catheter insertions and apply plaster casts. They wear sterile gloves, masks, caps and gowns when performing procedures. They regularly use computers to maintain client records and consult pharmaceutical manuals, and use pagers when on duty.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a resident medical officer, you must first become a qualified medical doctor.

Postgraduate courses in medicine usually take four years to complete. Entry requirements include completion of a bachelor degree in any discipline. You must also sit the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT) and attend an interview at your chosen institution.

On completion of the postgraduate medical degree, you must work in the public hospital system for one year (internship) to gain general registration as a medical doctor with the Medical Board of Australia.

As a resident medical officer, you may choose to train in a field that is related to a specialisation in which you wish to work, for example, emergency medicine or paediatrics, or you may choose to rotate through several fields of medicine before you decide on a specialist field.