EM, anesthesia residency better for a mother?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

jjy2103

Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
97
Reaction score
1
for someone who has kids, which residency would afford more time at home with the kids between EM and anesthesia?

i understand once you are an attending you can make your own hours but the residency is a whole another issue...
 
Last edited:
I would think (please note the flame ******ant tone there) that EM would be better. I base that on the fact that you can do a 3 year EM residency rather than the 4 year gas and the transitional/prelim options for gas can be pretty grueling.

Note that EM has its tough rotations as well but I would guess they are not as bad now under the hour restrictions.

Now which specialty's lifestyle will fit you better is a different issue. Not to mention what you would like doing better for you career.
 
for someone who has kids, which residency would afford more time at home with the kids between EM and anesthesia?

i understand once you are an attending you can make your own hours but the residency is a whole another issue...

EM. Anesthesia has some of the most call of any specialty during residency. I average q3-q4 x 3 years of anesthesia, and the prelims can be horrible.

After residency, EM has many more options, flexibility, and a brighter future than Anesthesia.
 
I would say ER, because they are generally limited to 60 hrs/week. Some off service rotations like ortho or trauma surgery could be grueling, though. Also, as mentioned above, you have to do a separate intern year for gas, and neither IM nor surgery prelim years are usually that cush. Having said that, I think it is important to look long term...what will you want to be doing for 20-35years AFTER residency? Also, even within the same specialty, there is quite a bit of variation in the "cushiness" among different residencies, in terms of work hours and stress level/demands on residents. That can be hard to determine at interviews, but easier if you know someone @ the residency or can find someone who is there/has been there through your med school's alumi network or through friends.
 
for someone who has kids, which residency would afford more time at home with the kids between EM and anesthesia?

i understand once you are an attending you can make your own hours but the residency is a whole another issue...

I'm a single mom and currently a IM Prelim intern -Anesthesia. Both offer shift work and will be more "cush" than most other specialties when you're an ATTENDING. Both residencies are pretty grueling. I can honestly say that I barely see my daughter right now with early mornings and late nights. My family has had to step in and be extra supportive offering childcare and so fourth. I advise you to be realistic about your expectations during residency. You can certainly make time for your family but it will be rotation/service dependent. Overall do what will make you happy! Have you had a chance to speak with the residents or attendings at your institution? That certainly helped me. I have friends that just became Attendings and have pretty cush hours - no call, or wkends. Ahh......i cant wait!!!

Have you thought about Derm? :idea:
 
The number of hours and days worked by the EM residents at my institution are less than anesthesiology and probably more conducive to someone with children.
 
Top