how hard is being a doctor really?

[spaktu]

I am not talking about the medical school and residencies. We all know these two are extremely physically and mentally demanding. Plus money consuming.
But once you actually become a doctor, how hard is it? For instance, internal medicine doctor.
Is it really that hard-core as some people make it out to be? Do you really get stressed everyday and have no time to spend with your family (as in medicine consumes your whole life)?

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[SnakeOilForSale]

Pretty hard.

 

[sakabato93]

I am not talking about the medical school and residencies. We all know these two are extremely physically and mentally demanding. Plus money consuming.
But once you actually become a doctor, how hard is it? For instance, internal medicine doctor.
Is it really that hard-core as some people make it out to be? Do you really get stressed everyday and have no time to spend with your family (as in medicine consumes your whole life)?

Well my dad is has his own practice, acts as an attending for two hospitals, and moonlights in the hospital clinics. He works crazy schedules - but he has a lot of control over when he leaves and comes home, other than when he's on call. He easily works 40-50 hours a week, but he seems like he's not super stressed and does spend a pretty good amount of time with me (when I'm at home, that is) and my family.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

It's wicked easy.

 

[NontradCA]

It's just like Scrubs.

 

[Oso]

But once you actually become a doctor, how hard is it? For instance, internal medicine doctor.
Is it really that hard-core as some people make it out to be? Do you really get stressed everyday and have no time to spend with your family (as in medicine consumes your whole life)?

It can certainly be time consuming and stressful, but that doesn't mean you can't have a family or a happy family life. Will you be home everyday by dinner time? Probably not. Will you go to all your child's soccer games? Probably not. But you can still spend a lot of time with them, as well as have time for yourself to exercise, relax, etc. It's definitely more demanding than most jobs though, so lifestyle is a good thing to consider. Also note that lifestyles differ between many of the specialties.

TLDR: yeah it can be stressful, and you'll have to make some sacrifices, but you can definitely have a happy and meaningful family life.

 

[Venko]

The answer depends greatly on the specialty you choose and the manner in which you choose to practice. Private solo practice internal medicine vs private group practice vs hospitalist etc all will be quite different. In locations and environments where there is great competition for patients then you'll have to work harder and longer so that your patients have more consistency from you or your group partners whereas in an environment with less competition you may be able to defer care to others in some situations more readily. I only know this from my friends and parents who are internists.

As for myself, I am an attending in emergency medicine and I can say that when I'm home life is great but when I'm at work, life is quite stressful. Part of this is the nature of my specialty, part of it is the demands of working at a very large academic institution. When I'm at home, I occasionally will get stressed by the research or education demands that I have to prepare for, but most often I enjoy my time at home.

I hope this is helpful. If you have specific questions please PM me and I would be happy to answer them.

 

[Life Sucks]

A surgeon told me it's so easy, a monkey can do it.

 

[Bacchus]

I am not talking about the medical school and residencies. We all know these two are extremely physically and mentally demanding. Plus money consuming.
But once you actually become a doctor, how hard is it? For instance, internal medicine doctor.
Is it really that hard-core as some people make it out to be? Do you really get stressed everyday and have no time to spend with your family (as in medicine consumes your whole life)?

If you wouldn't mind going to our MICU, that'd be great. Get the patients who are infected with influenza (half the beds) back to tip top shape so we can extubate them and take them off ECMO.

Oh, is that too hard?

Of course it's hard: time wise, mentality wise, technical wise, etc etc.

 

[Venko]

If you wouldn't mind going to our MICU, that'd be great. Get the patients who are infected with influenza (half the beds) back to tip top shape so we can extubate them and take them off ECMO.

Oh, is that too hard?

Of course it's hard: time wise, mentality wise, technical wise, etc etc.

I appreciate the intent to emphasize the medicine is not a pursuit of easiness, but the question is really an interesting one. The practice of medicine is easier the further you go…its never, "easy," but its not necessarily, "hard," for everyone all the time. Im not sure how far into residency you are but think about something you found exceptionally hard when you were learning it like sutures, or line placement, or giving a presentation etc and how easy it must be now…soon more and more becomes that way. Every now and again you get things you're not sure about or unique situations that arise that challenge you but the practice of medicine becomes easier everyday you do it.

 

[Bacchus]

I appreciate the intent to emphasize the medicine is not a pursuit of easiness, but the question is really an interesting one. The practice of medicine is easier the further you go…its never, "easy," but its not necessarily, "hard," for everyone all the time. Im not sure how far into residency you are but think about something you found exceptionally hard when you were learning it like sutures, or line placement, or giving a presentation etc and how easy it must be now…soon more and more becomes that way. Every now and again you get things you're not sure about or unique situations that arise that challenge you but the practice of medicine becomes easier everyday you do it.

I do realize the reply was a bit blunt. There's so many difficulties with medicine, it's not just the education, medicine or cost. Its the interactions, social work and wanting to do right by your patients. It does get easier. Looking at myself now, compared to July 1, I can say that things have become easier. I think I was irked by the insinuation of "I mean, c'mon, how hard can it really be?" It seems a little aloof for anyone to ask that's at any point in the process.

 

[spaktu]

I do realize the reply was a bit blunt. There's so many difficulties with medicine, it's not just the education, medicine or cost. Its the interactions, social work and wanting to do right by your patients. It does get easier. Looking at myself now, compared to July 1, I can say that things have become easier. I think I was irked by the insinuation of "I mean, c'mon, how hard can it really be?" It seems a little aloof for anyone to ask that's at any point in the process.

I never meant to belittle the physician's effort/workhour. I apologize if it sounded that way

 

[Bacchus]

I never meant to belittle the physician's effort/workhour. I apologize if it sounded that way

I apologize as well 🙂

 

[sbEMT33]

It's just like Scrubs.

and Grey's Anatomy

 

[spaktu]

and Grey's Anatomy

thank you for your reply. But a more constructive answer could help

 

[sbEMT33]

thank you for your reply. But a more constructive answer could help

We'll from the doctors I have been around they say it is what you make it. It's up to you haw involved you want to be.

 

[chasm-e-baddoor]

One thing I like about my job is that except that once a month I have to do my monthly report once my shift ends I can forget about my job and do whatever I feel like. Go figure ice skating and view clothing in a mall? Okay, Sleep in? Sure, Play on the internet watching anime? I don't miss one single weekly episode of Hunter x Hunter! Been watching the new Naruto Shippuden episodes out of boredom as well. On my weekends I do a lot of mundane things, wash clothes, mop the floor, buy groceries, etc.. Next Sunday I'm going to the movies to see a 6 hour Evangelion 1.0, 2.0 and finally 3.0 marathon in a long haul of 6 hours of otaku greatness, which is cool because I haven't seen the new reboot Eva movies yet.

If I have the free time I sometimes go to Cancun for a few days (and like a curse I usually show up when it's raining cats and dogs and end up never going to the beach, ouch!), budget airlines is sure nice though prices have been higher this year for certain destinations. When I'm on vacations it's a personal policy not to even know what I do for a living, just have lot's of fun. My job luckily isn't that stressful most of the time, some days are, but most days I can slip a while to drink a cup of coffee. 😉

Berserk/Monster master race checking in

you like all the animes i dont like lol

 

[DermViser]

I am not talking about the medical school and residencies. We all know these two are extremely physically and mentally demanding. Plus money consuming.
But once you actually become a doctor, how hard is it? For instance, internal medicine doctor.
Is it really that hard-core as some people make it out to be? Do you really get stressed everyday and have no time to spend with your family (as in medicine consumes your whole life)?

Yes, if you're in internal medicine (no specializing), it's going to be rough, both financially and lifestyle. Depending on the specialty, some fields continue the grueling residency lifestyle. That's why everyone wants to specialize (even though that's not possible).

 

[DermViser]

If you wouldn't mind going to our MICU, that'd be great. Get the patients who are infected with influenza (half the beds) back to tip top shape so we can extubate them and take them off ECMO.

Oh, is that too hard?

Of course it's hard: time wise, mentality wise, technical wise, etc etc.

Better for a premed to ask now, then to have major, huge regrets later as a medical student/resident, when he/she doesn't get a lifestyle specialty. If it's not right for her to inquire any time in the process, when is the right time?

 

[FlatFour]

My reasoning was always that I would rather work in a challenging environment that I enjoy as opposed to an easier one which I find dreadful. With that being said, I hope that there comes a point in my career during which I can find time to relax and enjoy life (work to live, don't live to work type of deal); but at the same time I understand that reaching that point is a stressful and time consuming process. I'm glad that some of the physicians here confirmed that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[NickNaylor]

Someone is putting some of aspect of their health and life in your hands, and you have no one looking over you once you become an attending. You and you alone are responsible for their care, no matter how routine it may be. I guess it depends on how seriously you take that mission with respect to whether being a doctor is "hard" or not.

 

[MedWonk]

 

[KindofBlue]

Reading some books will give you a pretty good idea.
"House of God" is probably the most popular one out there, although I here it is not as bad as it was back then. It was written in the 70s I believe.
"Intern Blues" is also pretty popular.

 

[bc65]

Being an attending is definitely much easier than being a med student, a resident, or a fellow. How easy will vary enormously depending on your specialty, the nature of your practice, and your personality. But it will definitely be easier without worrying about presenting at rounds, taking tests passing boards, getting into residencies and fellowships, getting a job, and having to answer to the interns, residents, fellows, and attendings up the chain of command. Of course, you will still have to answer to your patients, to your staff, to other attendings, and to hospital administration. Sometimes you will miss the protection that you had, but didn't appreciate, as a student and a resident .

It seems to take several years post training to fully adjust to practice. Once you have finished residency, and passed your boards, and adjust to being an attending, and set up your practice, your anxiety level will reach steady state. You will eventually learn to be comfortable with what you normally treat, and you will learn how to refer out what is outside your comfort zone.

However, the stress level and work load will vary greatly from specialty to specialty, and even within the same specialty, depending on the type of patients you deal with. I'm not in IM, so I can't comment on that field. Some people work 9-5, others 6 am to 10 pm plus weekends. Choose your specialty carefully!

Of course, all jobs have stress, and many have long and unpredictable hours, so it's not just doctors who work hard. I have no idea if we have it worse than certain other professions.

 

[spaktu]

Being an attending is definitely much easier than being a med student, a resident, or a fellow. How easy will vary enormously depending on your specialty, the nature of your practice, and your personality. But it will definitely be easier without worrying about presenting at rounds, taking tests passing boards, getting into residencies and fellowships, getting a job, and having to answer to the interns, residents, fellows, and attendings up the chain of command. Of course, you will still have to answer to your patients, to your staff, to other attendings, and to hospital administration. Sometimes you will miss the protection that you had, but didn't appreciate, as a student and a resident .

It seems to take several years post training to fully adjust to practice. Once you have finished residency, and passed your boards, and adjust to being an attending, and set up your practice, your anxiety level will reach steady state. You will eventually learn to be comfortable with what you normally treat, and you will learn how to refer out what is outside your comfort zone.

However, the stress level and work load will vary greatly from specialty to specialty, and even within the same specialty, depending on the type of patients you deal with. I'm not in IM, so I can't comment on that field. Some people work 9-5, others 6 am to 10 pm plus weekends. Choose your specialty carefully!

Of course, all jobs have stress, and many have long and unpredictable hours, so it's not just doctors who work hard. I have no idea if we have it worse than certain other professions.

So, working as a average physician isn't as grueling as some people say?

 

[bc65]

So, working as a average physician isn't as grueling as some people say?

Of course, I can't quantify what "some people say".

It is pretty grueling, and I'm not sure I would do it again. But it's much easier than med school and residency, at least for me. On the other hand, you have more economic stress, because while you are now earning money, instead of borrowing it, you are now faced with paying off your loans and supporting yourself for real.

If you have your own practice, you will have new stresses: earning enough to pay the bills, pay your staff, the rent, insurance, etc. Getting insurance reimbursement. If you work for a large group, hospital, university, you have to meet all sorts of metrics to make the administrators happy ( see enough patients, utilization, quality, both real and perceived, etc )

Here's the real problem, as I see it, and the reason I think many doctors are disappointed with their careers, although I'm speaking just for myself here:

On some level, I probably thought that once I took the MCAT, did well in Organic, got into med school, passed Step 1-3, got into the residency, got the fellowship, passed my boards, and got the job, that then life would be easy, and I would get my reward. But there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, no prize, no reward. When you're all done with all the training, you will just have a job. Or maybe a small business. It's a great job ( for some people ) it's a rewarding job ( for some people ) and it generally pays quite well. It might be the best job/career/profession there is. But it's still a job, with lots of obligations and stress. Again, keep in mind that many ( most? all? ) jobs and professions have similar issues. Life is hard, and making a living is hard, regardless of what you do.

You can mitigate some of the stress by choosing a specialty that you will be happy with and comfortable with, but it's still going to be a job, and there will probably be aspects of that job that you will dislike. All you can do to mitigate that is to choose your specialty and practice environment carefully.

 

[spaktu]

Of course, I can't quantify what "some people say".

It is pretty grueling, and I'm not sure I would do it again. But it's much easier than med school and residency, at least for me. On the other hand, you have more economic stress, because while you are now earning money, instead of borrowing it, you are now faced with paying off your loans and supporting yourself for real.

If you have your own practice, you will have new stresses: earning enough to pay the bills, pay your staff, the rent, insurance, etc. Getting insurance reimbursement. If you work for a large group, hospital, university, you have to meet all sorts of metrics to make the administrators happy ( see enough patients, utilization, quality, both real and perceived, etc )

Here's the real problem, as I see it, and the reason I think many doctors are disappointed with their careers, although I'm speaking just for myself here:

On some level, I probably thought that once I took the MCAT, did well in Organic, got into med school, passed Step 1-3, got into the residency, got the fellowship, passed my boards, and got the job, that then life would be easy, and I would get my reward. But there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, no prize, no reward. When you're all done with all the training, you will just have a job. Or maybe a small business. It's a great job ( for some people ) it's a rewarding job ( for some people ) and it generally pays quite well. It might be the best job/career/profession there is. But it's still a job, with lots of obligations and stress. Again, keep in mind that many ( most? all? ) jobs and professions have similar issues. Life is hard, and making a living is hard, regardless of what you do.

You can mitigate some of the stress by choosing a specialty that you will be happy with and comfortable with, but it's still going to be a job, and there will probably be aspects of that job that you will dislike. All you can do to mitigate that is to choose your specialty and practice environment carefully.

This is one of the best replies I have seen. Thank you so much for your insight

 

[Jabawocky]

All of my doctor friends tell me its super fun and a lot like Grey's Anatomy in that the hardest part is deciding which super sexy, foreign doctor you are going to hook up with this week.

 

[gregoryhouse]

Probably pretty hard.

What I've found though is a lot of medical students have never worked a real job before so they don't understand that pretty much every job out there has its bs you have to deal with.

I recently had a convo with a 4th year who was telling me that medicine is the only career where people who are a year or two above you will act superior to you. Really though every job I worked it has been like that and seniority always gives you benefits.

So while medicine is probably no cake walk, I think people underestimate how hard other jobs are in comparison.

 

[spaktu]

Probably pretty hard.

What I've found though is a lot of medical students have never worked a real job before so they don't understand that pretty much every job out there has its bs you have to deal with.

I recently had a convo with a 4th year who was telling me that medicine is the only career where people who are a year or two above you will act superior to you. Really though every job I worked it has been like that and seniority always gives you benefits.

So while medicine is probably no cake walk, I think people underestimate how hard other jobs are in comparison.

I am starting to think more like this now. Thank you for your reply