doctorbetty Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 I'm just wondering what people think about the long hours doctors have. I am currently in a job where I work 50+ hours a week and don't want to work much more than that (however this is a job I don't really like...). If you become a doctor, do you have to be prepared for 80 hours a week and up? Is it really possible to have a balanced lifestyle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochi1543 Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 I think 80+ is more of an issue in residency, once you're practicing, the hours are more reasonable, and of course if you're on your own as opposed to employed by a hospital, you have control. There ARE doctors who only work part-time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satsuma Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 I think a balanced lifestyle means different things to different people. But your lifestyle in medicine with differ alot depending on your specialization and practice setting. I like to think it is possible to have a balanced lifestyle, but I know it will take some work, and some careful planning re: specialization etc. There is more control once residency is done...but even at that, there are doctors working longer hours than they would like, not by choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsteen Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 I'm just wondering what people think about the long hours doctors have. I am currently in a job where I work 50+ hours a week and don't want to work much more than that (however this is a job I don't really like...). If you become a doctor, do you have to be prepared for 80 hours a week and up? Is it really possible to have a balanced lifestyle? Hi there, You get a decent taste of what life can be like in the various specialties once you hit clerkship. This is one of the reasons for the perennial popularity of the "lifestyle" specialties, i.e., those which tend to pay well with reasonable hours. Cheers, Kirsteen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolvenstar Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 A gernal surgeon here in our town actually came and game the premed club a lecture. At the end of his lecture he started discussing his weekly schedules with us to give us an idea of what his life is like. He was on weekend call every third weekend (we have 3 general surgeons here in town or so he said each takes one weekend call shift). Otherwise he was on call 2 days during the week. I won't post his exact schedules but of the other 3 days that week where he wasnt on call. He spent two of the days doing surgeries (6-8hrs per day depending on what surgies people needed and the time it took to undergo them) and the third day he spent 5 hours meeting with patients. I know this isnt every doctors schedule but I found it useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyleh Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 A gernal surgeon here in our town actually came and game the premed club a lecture. At the end of his lecture he started discussing his weekly schedules with us to give us an idea of what his life is like. He was on weekend call every third weekend (we have 3 general surgeons here in town or so he said each takes one weekend call shift). Otherwise he was on call 2 days during the week. I won't post his exact schedules but of the other 3 days that week where he wasnt on call. He spent two of the days doing surgeries (6-8hrs per day depending on what surgies people needed and the time it took to undergo them) and the third day he spent 5 hours meeting with patients. I know this isnt every doctors schedule but I found it useful. Where do you live? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teendoc Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 My fathers an endocrinologist and he works 9:30am-12:00am, 3 days a week, and 9:30am-4:30pm 2 days a week. If your not employed by a hospital you set your own hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolvenstar Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 Where do you live? Lethbridge Alberta, why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asclepius Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 My fathers an endocrinologist and he works 9:30am-12:00am, 3 days a week, and 9:30am-4:30pm 2 days a week. If your not employed by a hospital you set your own hours. Do you mean 12pm? Otherwise he is setting some terrible hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.