Do you regret becoming an ER physician? Is it really a depressing job?

[JoeShmoe44]

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Many doctors are telling me to not go into medicine because it's stressful and makes you depressed. Do you think this is true?

 

[gutonc]

Many doctors are telling me to not go into medicine because it's stressful and makes you depressed. Do you think this is true?

What does this question have to do with the thread title?

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Are you asking about becoming an ER physician or a doctor in general?

For me, I have not regretted a single moment and I love every single day. But if you are going into medicine for the money, then you won't be happy and it will probably make you stressed and depressed. And if you have convinced yourself that you aren't doing it for the money, spend some time and reevaluate to make sure. All too often I see people finally admit to the themselves that they went into it for money and are miserable.

 

[LebronManning]

Are you asking about becoming an ER physician or a doctor in general?

For me, I have not regretted a single moment and I love every single day. But if you are going into medicine for the money, then you won't be happy and it will probably make you stressed and depressed. And if you have convinced yourself that you aren't doing it for the money, spend some time and reevaluate to make sure. All too often I see people finally admit to the themselves that they went into it for money and are miserable.

I think this is very misleading; I'm getting tired of physicians telling people this career cannot be for those seeking money. At the end of the day, medicine is just another career, especially in non surgical, non specialist fields. There are PLENTY of ways to become rich in medicine. My father is a hospitalist in a large metro and works at his PP during the two weeks off, nets about 500k/yr. Family friend is a neurologist in NYC in PP combined with a PT facility, nets about 800k-1MM/yr. Medicine financially is what you make it. If you are not making money, then that is on your lack of business acumen. You would not have made more money in any other field. Sure we all go into this career to help people, but that does not have to be exclusive from becoming rich. Medicine still remains the field with highest job security combined with an opportunity to establish a business that can be highly profitable. What other career GUARANTEES that you will never ever ever make less than 200k/yr if you want it while also having the door open to do much better?

 

[PDTY]

The same career that increases your risk of suicide compared to the general public, places psychological stress upon you that isn't commonly seen outside of the military and first response civil servants, sets you back 5-10 years minimum from financial freedom/retirement, etc?

 

[dpmd]

I think this is very misleading; I'm getting tired of physicians telling people this career cannot be for those seeking money. At the end of the day, medicine is just another career, especially in non surgical, non specialist fields. There are PLENTY of ways to become rich in medicine. My father is a hospitalist in a large metro and works at his PP during the two weeks off, nets about 500k/yr. Family friend is a neurologist in NYC in PP combined with a PT facility, nets about 800k-1MM/yr. Medicine financially is what you make it. If you are not making money, then that is on your lack of business acumen. You would not have made more money in any other field. Sure we all go into this career to help people, but that does not have to be exclusive from becoming rich. Medicine still remains the field with highest job security combined with an opportunity to establish a business that can be highly profitable. What other career GUARANTEES that you will never ever ever make less than 200k/yr if you want it while also having the door open to do much better?

You will notice the other poster didn't say you wouldn't make money, but that those in it just for money will not be happy (even if they are raking it in). Nothing wrong with making money doing something you enjoy and that helps people, but if you hate what you do no amount of money will make you truly happy.

 

[LebronManning]

You will notice the other poster didn't say you wouldn't make money, but that those in it just for money will not be happy (even if they are raking it in). Nothing wrong with making money doing something you enjoy and that helps people, but if you hate what you do no amount of money will make you truly happy.

True but I think when you compare medicine to most other fields where you make good money, none have any good job satisfaction. Other than Entertainment/Sports, where you need luck, other financially well or secure fields are pretty much all entail worse work than medicine. Think Investment banking, Corporate Law, C level in a corporation which only care about money.

 

[Gastrapathy]

If daddy is really working 1.5 FTE, he might be making what you claim. Must not like his family very much though.

 

[LebronManning]

If daddy is really working 1.5 FTE, he might be making what you claim. Must not like his family very much though.

1.5FTE is like 60 hours/week

 

[PlutoBoy]

1.5FTE is like 60 hours/week

Correct. He is working over 2.0 FTE. A hospitalist job is not a cushy job. They work in a week what most people work in two weeks (12 hrs a day for seven days straight = 84 hrs).

Then on top of that he works an extra 50 hours a week when he should be recovering from that misery.

He is working way more than average for $500,000 (related to our previous convo, see how hard it is to make $600,000?).

From my POV, it is easier to simply marry another physician, which is what I did 😉

 

[LebronManning]

Correct. He is working over 2.0 FTE. A hospitalist job is not a cushy job. They work in a week what most people work in two weeks (12 hrs a day for seven days straight = 84 hrs).

Then on top of that he works an extra 50 hours a week when he should be recovering from that misery.

He is working way more than average for $500,000 (related to our previous convo, see how hard it is to make $600,000?).

From my POV, it is easier to simply marry another physician, which is what I did 😉

Totally agreed lol, I definitely want to marry another physician though I'd settle for a CRNA 😉. For my dad, he came from a poverty stricken family in India so money was very important to him, never having had it before. My mom has never worked either since she had to raise the family. He says he's able to do it because he's a very very efficient hospitalist. He actually only works 10 hours a day but then has to commute one hour each way. He works an hour away to make 300+ as a hospitalist since we live in a desirable city.

Don't a lot of surgery attendings continue working 70+ hr weeks for 500k or less?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Totally agreed lol, I definitely want to marry another physician though I'd settle for a CRNA 😉. For my dad, he came from a poverty stricken family in India so money was very important to him, never having had it before. My mom has never worked either since she had to raise the family. He says he's able to do it because he's a very very efficient hospitalist. He actually only works 10 hours a day but then has to commute one hour each way. He works an hour away to make 300+ as a hospitalist since we live in a desirable city.

Don't a lot of surgery attendings continue working 70+ hr weeks for 500k or less?

Maybe in academics or those just starting out.

 

[dpmd]

Don't a lot of surgery attendings continue working 70+ hr weeks for 500k or less?

The suckers maybe.

 

[PlutoBoy]

Totally agreed lol, I definitely want to marry another physician though I'd settle for a CRNA 😉. For my dad, he came from a poverty stricken family in India so money was very important to him, never having had it before. My mom has never worked either since she had to raise the family. He says he's able to do it because he's a very very efficient hospitalist. He actually only works 10 hours a day but then has to commute one hour each way. He works an hour away to make 300+ as a hospitalist since we live in a desirable city.

Don't a lot of surgery attendings continue working 70+ hr weeks for 500k or less?

Agree with the above posters.