Anesthesia and psych; Decision time

[chocomorsel]

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Hey guys, I'm trying to decide what career path to choose. Obviosly the two have nothing in common except maybe some ICU psychosis. I loved my SICU rotation and the phys, path and pharm that I learned and the cool procedures we got to do. It's quite an intellectual challenge but I can see myself becoming an intensivist via anesthesia route. I don't like medicine, surgery, and haven't done ER. Anesthesia seems really cool I have my OR rotation coming up soon.

But I also love psych and working with the mentally ill. It's quite a mental challenge and it's really rewarding to see a severely decompensated psych pt get better, even though many times it's temporary plus there is such a need for psychiatrists.

I hear there's good lifestyle in both.

So give me your (of course biased) opinions. I posted a similar thread in the psych forum.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[dhb]

I hear there's good lifestyle in both.
Thanks a bunch.

Do I smell popcorn? 😀

Seriously though, there's nothing in common in these 2 fields so you're just going to have to look at what you want to be 15 years down the road and make up your mind

 

[DrDre']

I can appreciate enjoying two very disparate specialties but at the same time it is very difficult to take seriously. You have picked close to the most diametrically opposed fields. As someone who enjoys psych, use those skills to assess yourself. Make sure you are going into the right specialty for you, so you are not unhappy. All specialties work hard and sacrifice much, make sure it is the best one for you. GL dre'

(I hada dre day today!)

Hey guys, I'm trying to decide what career path to choose. Obviosly the two have nothing in common except maybe some ICU psychosis. I loved my SICU rotation and the phys, path and pharm that I learned and the cool procedures we got to do. It's quite an intellectual challenge but I can see myself becoming an intensivist via anesthesia route. I don't like medicine, surgery, and haven't done ER. Anesthesia seems really cool I have my OR rotation coming up soon.

But I also love psych and working with the mentally ill. It's quite a mental challenge and it's really rewarding to see a severely decompensated psych pt get better, even though many times it's temporary plus there is such a need for psychiatrists.

I hear there's good lifestyle in both.

So give me your (of course biased) opinions. I posted a similar thread in the psych forum.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[Gern Blansten]

But I also love psych and working with the mentally ill.

Trust me, you will get to work with the mentally ill in both fields; both your colleagues and your patients.

 

[zippy2u]

Wow dude, let me give ya a cup full of reality. Most people keep as much distance as possible between themselves and the crazies. We don't want to live near them or interact with them on a regular basis. Jails turf them quickly onto the steets where they cause general mayhem with the common folk. City govs. ain't got no time or money for these ubangees either. Insurance companies run the other way when they catch wind of a psyche history. That's why there is no coin in being a psychiatrist. Do anesthesia and if ya have a burning desire to interact with these people, volunteer in your city's soup line where a lot of the other liberals hang out when you're post call from anesthesia. It will stop being an intellectual challenge after several months. Don't worry, you won't see me around the soup line. Oh yeah, ubangee=squirrel. Warmest regards, ---Zippy

 

[Coastie]

Tons of cash in psych if you do it right. It does suck, for sure!

 

[m3unsure]

Psych
Pros:
1. If you like dealing with the working of someone's mind
2. Hours are generally easier than anesthesia. I have never come across hardworked psychiatrists.
3. High pay with child psych

Cons:
1. Crazies that may attack you
2. Pts are not compliant or verbally abusive
3. Higher pay generally available only to child psych; otherwise, go to the boonies (ex: Dayton, OH where a foreign grad did psych res and now is an attng making around 175K)
4. Might have to deal with a lot of emotional burdens (hearing pts talk about being repeatedly raped as a child, etc.)

Anesthesia
Pros:
1. NEVER deal with crazies cuz they're always out of it
2. Work more with your hands
3. Don't have to deal with frustrating pts
4. No clinic (I hate clinic)
5. Pay is still good

Cons:
1. People lack of appreciation for our role
2. CRNA political malignancy
3. See #2
4. Medicrap/CMS not giving good reimbursements to keep anesthesia programs strong vs. funding nurses
5. High pay, which some expect going into it, only exists in situations where you work like crazy (call is 1:3 or 4). I personally will take a paycut and enjoy more time off (some large groups offer Q14 call...insanely awesome).

 

[lord_jeebus]

Anesthesia and Psych were my two favorite rotations.

I'm going for Anesthesia - Pain Management. No shortage of crazies there 🙂

 

[Noyac]

Anesthesia and Psych were my two favorite rotations.

I'm going for Anesthesia - Pain Management. No shortage of crazies there 🙂

You beat me to it.

Pain Clinic is a psych clinic.

 

[chocomorsel]

Very good point about the pain fellowship. Except I have no experience there. I just have the ICU experience. But definetly something to think about. Thanks.

 

[chocomorsel]

Wow dude, let me give ya a cup full of reality. Most people keep as much distance as possible between themselves and the crazies. We don't want to live near them or interact with them on a regular basis. Jails turf them quickly onto the steets where they cause general mayhem with the common folk. City govs. ain't got no time or money for these ubangees either. Insurance companies run the other way when they catch wind of a psyche history. That's why there is no coin in being a psychiatrist. Do anesthesia and if ya have a burning desire to interact with these people, volunteer in your city's soup line where a lot of the other liberals hang out when you're post call from anesthesia. It will stop being an intellectual challenge after several months. Don't worry, you won't see me around the soup line. Oh yeah, ubangee=squirrel. Warmest regards, ---Zippy

Wow!!! I hope you never have a family member or friend who belong to the "crazies". I can see you just getting rid of them in a hurry. Really though, even the "crazies" are still human whose illness is unfortunately mental and not physical and obviously need good healthcare too.
And FYI they all don't hang out in the soup kitchens. There are some normalyl and even highly functioning individuals with psych issues who are under the right therapy be it drug or therapy. You'd be surprised.

Anyway, I asked the pros of your field, not for you to put down the other field. So unless you can give me that, please try to be a little more sensitive to those "crazies" and tell me the great things about gas.

 

[chocomorsel]

Psych
Pros:
1. If you like dealing with the working of someone's mind
2. Hours are generally easier than anesthesia. I have never come across hardworked psychiatrists.
3. High pay with child psych

Cons:
1. Crazies that may attack you
2. Pts are not compliant or verbally abusive
3. Higher pay generally available only to child psych; otherwise, go to the boonies (ex: Dayton, OH where a foreign grad did psych res and now is an attng making around 175K)
4. Might have to deal with a lot of emotional burdens (hearing pts talk about being repeatedly raped as a child, etc.)

Anesthesia
Pros:
1. NEVER deal with crazies cuz they're always out of it
2. Work more with your hands
3. Don't have to deal with frustrating pts
4. No clinic (I hate clinic)
5. Pay is still good

Cons:
1. People lack of appreciation for our role
2. CRNA political malignancy
3. See #2
4. Medicrap/CMS not giving good reimbursements to keep anesthesia programs strong vs. funding nurses
5. High pay, which some expect going into it, only exists in situations where you work like crazy (call is 1:3 or 4). I personally will take a paycut and enjoy more time off (some large groups offer Q14 call...insanely awesome).

Thanks, this is really helpful and the type of information I'm seeking.

 

[InductionAgent]

I feel no need to sell anyone on our specialty. There's no shortage of interest right now, and plenty of people getting into it because of the perception of great lifestyle. That translates into residents who try to shirk call and responsibility at every opportunity. They aren't motivated to study in their time off, thus shrinking the knowledge gap between anesthesiologists and CRNAs, and generally not helping the image of our specialty. If you think you might be interested in psych rather than anesthesiology, I say please go for psych.