blind_synergy Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 I just finished an 80 work week to get an important project finished and I'm bloody exhausted (although I admit the project was very dull and a chore to get through). Everyone at work's apologizing to me and offering me time off, OT pay, etc... So how exactly is it that some specialties manage to work 100-110 hours a week (which barely leaves enough time for adequate sleep and we all know the importance of sleep for maintaining peak functionality)? I can only assume this means the docs in those specialties have very little going on outside of their professional lives. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goleafsgochris Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 I dont think any specialty actually gets to the point of 100+ hours a week ON AVERAGE. Maybe sometimes you get weeks with extreme worklaods like that, but it isnt the average. I have heard of people in neurosurg working 85hrs on average, which is still crazy though. That is just in residency though, so I doubt that would continue permanently into their lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest copacetic Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 workin 80-100 hours is common during residency. after you finish and become an attending most average 60-80 hours. some individual specialists may get up to 100 on average but not many. maybe intervential cards, or neurosurg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind_synergy Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 workin 80-100 hours is common during residency. after you finish and become an attending most average 60-80 hours. some individual specialists may get up to 100 on average but not many. maybe intervential cards, or neurosurg. So, with internventional cards or neurosurg, why the long hours? They're both very competitive so it can't be a lack of qualified candidates. Expensive to train? Expensive to keep on staff? Why is it that the most inherently "stressful" specialties seem to have the longest hours as well? Let's face it, it's a lot easier for a surgeon to kill someone than an FP. I've often wondered what would happen if you had say a neurosurgeon that simply refused to work more than 70 hours a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lactic Folly Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 You would reach those hours if you were on call 1 in 2 that week, and you're right, there would be very little time for anything else outside the hospital other than sleep. That being said, there are different types of exhaustion (mental and physical). On something like low risk OB, you may be constantly running around, but it isn't especially mentally taxing, and the time passes very quickly (arrive at 7 am - before I know it, I look at the clock and it's midnight). Plus, you have the benefit of adrenaline (constant pages, patients to see) to keep you going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karma Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 What about delegation? Don't attendings have dozens of clerks and residents helping them? I would think that the 80h per week thing happens in some specialties only and you have the paycheck that comes with it. And seeing that almost every doctor I meet has at least 3-4 kids, it's hard for me to believe that they don't have lives outside of their work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind_synergy Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 What about delegation? Don't attendings have dozens of clerks and residents helping them? I would think that the 80h per week thing happens in some specialties only and you have the paycheck that comes with it. And seeing that almost every doctor I meet has at least 3-4 kids, it's hard for me to believe that they don't have lives outside of their work. Have you met a lot of docs in surgical specialties? I haven't met many myself but I've read and watched a number of profiles which makes the workload look UNREAL (plus the divorce rates are ridiculous). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lactic Folly Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 The bottom line is that if you enjoy what you are doing, it is not going to be as onerous as the term "workload" suggests - evidenced by the numerous medical students who still choose surgery as a career. Obviously this is a personal decision regarding work-life balance, but given that you are awake for 112 hours per week (assuming 8 hours of sleep/day), why not spend most of it doing something you find meaningful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheech10 Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 What about delegation? Don't attendings have dozens of clerks and residents helping them? I would think that the 80h per week thing happens in some specialties only and you have the paycheck that comes with it. And seeing that almost every doctor I meet has at least 3-4 kids, it's hard for me to believe that they don't have lives outside of their work. The majority of physicians (80%) work in community settings, and don't have housestaff around. 60 hours is more common than 80, except for weeks that have heavy call responsibilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corie Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 I've often wondered what would happen if you had say a neurosurgeon that simply refused to work more than 70 hours a week. I've wondered about this too. Can anyone answer this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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