Vietnamese Doctor Treats Mental Illness in the US: Working 3 days/week, Salary 4 billion VND/year

The responsibility of "reviving" "dead" souls

Early morning, in the cold of 7 degrees Celsius in Houston (Texas, USA), Dr. Kendra Nguyen (real name Nguyen Bao Tram, born in 1995) was present at the office as usual, preparing for a new working day.

Dr. Kendra Nguyen at her office in the US (Photo cut from clip: Provided by the character).

Dr. Kendra Nguyen is currently a Doctor of Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatric Mental Health (DNP - PMHNP) in the United States. In this job, she acts as a mental health diagnostician and recommends appropriate treatment methods and pathways.

One of the cases that moved and troubled Dr. Kendra the most was a female patient suffering from long-term depression. The patient did not know English and had to ask for an interpreter when she came to Kendra for a medical examination.

"In front of me was a shy, frightened woman who could barely speak. She looked very sick, mentally exhausted and physically exhausted. She said she had suffered from depression for a long time, but her husband did not believe her and often scolded her. Her memory was often confused, she ate poorly, slept poorly and had frequent nightmares. She also thought about suicide many times," said Dr. Kendra.

Because she did not know English, this female patient only stayed at home as a housewife. Every time her husband got drunk or could not satisfy her needs, she was beaten and scolded.

"At first, she was very shy because she was afraid that others would not believe her and judge her. However, after a period of convincing her with my professional skills, I helped the patient relax and share more. I also diagnosed the illness, prescribed medication and scheduled a follow-up appointment after 2-4 weeks, and asked the manager to provide the patient with information about support groups for people in similar situations," Dr. Kendra shared.

However, Kendra had no idea that was the last time the two would see each other.

"When the staff called to check, they were told that the patient had passed away a few days ago, but the cause was unknown. I wondered for a long time whether I had done something wrong or if I had not done enough to help her.

This makes me feel even more clearly the great responsibility of the work I am doing. I am not only providing treatment but also being a companion, helping patients regain faith in life and their own ability to recover," the female doctor emphasized.

Psychiatry requires a high level of expertise, which Dr. Kendra must be extremely careful about. For example, her desk must be free of any communication devices other than a laptop, to avoid disrupting patients during their visits. All calls must be handled at a designated center outside her office.

Patients who seek out specialists like Kendra often suffer from disorders such as chronic depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)… They are between the ages of 18-65.

"There are patients who have had the disease for a long time but do not know and think that these symptoms are normal. But there are also people who come to the doctor and find out that they are not sick at all, but just mistaken after reading some symptoms online," Dr. Kendra said with a laugh.

Cry and laugh with the profession

"Many people joke that experts like me can cure others, but cannot cure ourselves. This statement is partly true, because being exposed to too many tragic and negative stories continuously will inevitably affect us.

Sometimes, I cry and laugh with the patients. Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable, but I have learned to control myself so that it does not affect my work," she confided.

Kendra Nguyen graduated from high school in Vietnam and received a scholarship to study in the United States. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Houston State University and spent time working in various intensive care units before attending and receiving her doctorate from the University of Texas Health Science.

To become a doctor of psychiatric nurse practitioner, Kendra had to go through an extremely stressful period of research and skill training. Her biggest challenge was the "huge" amount of knowledge and constant updating. The doctoral program also requires students to complete a certain amount of clinical practice time, usually around 1,000 hours.

Kendra admitted that she had struggled to balance her studies, work and personal life. However, she affirmed that she only considered work as a part of life and spent time traveling, eating scientifically, exercising... to balance her life.

To improve her professional skills, Kendra also regularly interacts with experts and attends industry forums and clubs.

Every week, the female doctor only works 3 days, 12 hours a day to create conditions for patients to visit without having to take time off work. Each patient will have 60 minutes for examination, and those who come for follow-up examination will be interviewed for 20 minutes. Many patients have to wait 2-3 months to make an appointment.

"My schedule is almost always full. This profession is very necessary in the US and has great potential. Some of my colleagues, although they are new graduates and do not have much experience, find jobs very quickly," said Dr. Kendra.

Kendra Nguyen shared that her salary ranges from 130,000-165,000 USD/year (equivalent to about 3.3-4.2 billion VND), not including quarterly bonuses. She also enjoys welfare benefits and opportunities to study and train domestically and internationally.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the global average of psychiatrists is 1.7 per 100,000 people. However, this figure varies widely between countries. In high-income countries, the ratio is significantly higher than in low-income countries.

The United States is reported to have the highest ratio of psychiatrists in the world, with 16 physicians per 100,000 people.

Despite the high rate of psychiatrists, the United States still faces a shortage of psychiatrists. According to a recent HRSA survey, more than 60% of therapists are unable to accept new patients due to high demand and busy schedules. As a result, 1 in 3 people are waiting months to see a psychiatrist.