diagnostic radiology typical daily schedule

[yeet]

Can anyone in DR share what their day-to-day looks like?

Lows and highs of each day? Does reading the nth study that day ever get boring?

ty and stay safe all <3

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[SirGecko]

Depends somewhat on your rotation and volume. A generic schedule when not on call for me would be: drop kids off at daycare at 6:45 or 7. Be at the workstation by 730. (Earlier on a higher volume rotation) Take a look at CT protocols. Read studies from 0730 to 1200. Noon conference/ lunch from 1200 to 1300. Back to the workstation from 1300 to 1600. (Or occasionally later if readouts are taking longer) Back to my desk to check email/ study/ complain about stuff to other residents or go work out for a variable amount of time. Go pick my kids up at 1700. Then do home stuff. (Dinner, put the kids to bed, study etc)

 

[recycledpaper]

Depends on your program and rotation. Some programs are more rigorous, but may still have more laid-back rotations.

My average day is 7:30-4:30 pm, plus or minus 30 minutes for starting and ending. Rarely there past 5 pm, and if I am, it is because I want to stay a little bit later to study in the comfort of the reading room or read some additional studies for my own learning.

Noon conference is almost everyday, although I choose which ones I go to if I feel like it contributes to my learning. Otherwise, I enjoy my lunch outside or with some co-residents. We do have noon conference attendance requirements, so I keep that in mind when choosing which conferences to attend.

I am a first year, so no weekend shifts yet. I spend that time studying in the morning as I am the most awake and attentive. If my wife is off, I try to spend some time with her outside of the house, share a meal, talk about our past week, etc.

 

[Dro133]

Depends on your program and rotation. Some programs are more rigorous, but may still have more laid-back rotations.

My average day is 7:30-4:30 pm, plus or minus 30 minutes for starting and ending. Rarely there past 5 pm, and if I am, it is because I want to stay a little bit later to study in the comfort of the reading room or read some additional studies for my own learning.

Noon conference is almost everyday, although I choose which ones I go to if I feel like it contributes to my learning. Otherwise, I enjoy my lunch outside or with some co-residents. We do have noon conference attendance requirements, so I keep that in mind when choosing which conferences to attend.

I am a first year, so no weekend shifts yet. I spend that time studying in the morning as I am the most awake and attentive. If my wife is off, I try to spend some time with her outside of the house, share a meal, talk about our past week, etc.

Sounds amazing. Is this at an academic program? What are the call requirements?

 

[yeet]

@recycledpaper is R1 typically more chill than R2/R3?

 

[clutch21]

@recycledpaper is R1 typically more chill than R2/R3?

Yes, for sure. Call responsibilities for most programs begin towards the end of R1 year or the start of R2 year. At our program, we split the ED weekend shifts among the PGY3 class and the IR backup call shifts are split among the PGY4/5 classes. You also start the night float rotations R2 year which are a little longer and busier than a typical day rotation. With that said, my program’s R2-4 work schedule is still far cushier than intern year was. This will obviously vary based on program though, since some can take quite a bit of call.

 

[recycledpaper]

Sounds amazing. Is this at an academic program? What are the call requirements?

Don't get me wrong, the day can be busy. We have some rotations where the # of studies are definitely 95th-percentile in terms of volume and complexity. However, while I used to complain of those features, I have learned that I come out the other end better and stronger than before. You need a little bit of pain to grow. But you want to make sure it is balanced with more reasonable rotations so you can balance both learning and your life outside of medicine.

My program is fairly academic, although there is a private practice aspect to it. However, I rarely engage with the PP side, and it is only a select group.

Call picks up 2nd year, where you do about 10-14 weekend day shifts. They can be brutal or generous, just depends on multiple variables. We also have IR, with their own call schedule, as well as the business of the service. However, I look forward to that because while it is busy, the grind is significantly different from grinding through plain films or disaster pan CTs. All in all, the lifestyle of radiology is better than other specialties because you have more free time. However, without a doubt, when you are working, you are the busiest resident in the hospital. If you're on a busy service, there is literally zero down time besides your didactics. I have gone whole shifts without looking away from my screen - it is that busy. The people who say that radiology is not a busy service, or think all we do is sit around and hang out, do not know **** about the specialty. I have done my fair share of quelling any sort of nonsense about that part of residency.

@recycledpaper is R1 typically more chill than R2/R3?

See above.

 

[yeet]

very much appreciate the replies!

May I ask what the avg daily hours are from R2 - R5?

Mainly wondering what time normal start times and end times are? And do you leave at X:00 PM or do you leave when you've finished reading your share of studies?

 

[recycledpaper]

Hours are almost always the same. The only time is it more variable is IR because it is case based. But I don't hear of people staying past 6-7 pm, even on neuroIR.

You can stay later if you want to read outpatient films. Most inpatients are handled by the residents and attendings on the service. If you find yourself with a team of slow readers, maybe you stay a bit later. But most attendings will help finish the list because they don't want to stay later editing your reports.

 

[yeet]

What is the typical routine for R2-4 after getting off? Is there a heavy at-home study component to residency?

 

[recycledpaper]

Btw, there is no R5. It's R1-4 after you complete your PGY-1 intern year.

Yes, lots of reading. But you go at your own pace. You can honestly not study much and be okay. You'll be an average radiologist. It is up to you how you want your reputation and skills to be. No one will force you to study, you have to want to on your own. But there is a lot of material to cover. Radiology is one of the hardest specialties.

 

[Timtom98]

Depends on your program and rotation. Some programs are more rigorous, but may still have more laid-back rotations.

My average day is 7:30-4:30 pm, plus or minus 30 minutes for starting and ending. Rarely there past 5 pm, and if I am, it is because I want to stay a little bit later to study in the comfort of the reading room or read some additional studies for my own learning.

Noon conference is almost everyday, although I choose which ones I go to if I feel like it contributes to my learning. Otherwise, I enjoy my lunch outside or with some co-residents. We do have noon conference attendance requirements, so I keep that in mind when choosing which conferences to attend.

I am a first year, so no weekend shifts yet. I spend that time studying in the morning as I am the most awake and attentive. If my wife is off, I try to spend some time with her outside of the house, share a meal, talk about our past week, etc.

is there a specific amount of studies you have to read? or can u go at your own pace?

 

[Cognovi]

is there a specific amount of studies you have to read? or can u go at your own pace?

Depends on your program and rotation. Sometimes you feel obligated to clear the list. Usually you go at your own pace.

 

[GoPelicans]

I don't know how you people with kids do it.

 

[recycledpaper]

I like to challenge myself to build up both speed and accuracy. But in the beginning I try to value accuracy over speed. I have never felt pressured to clear the list.