Is the stereotype about surgeons really true?

[mlw03]

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on many occasion's i've heard surgeons sy that they work incredibly hard and they seem to take massive amounts of pride in that fact - to the point tht it sounded like they thought themselves better than other doctors. i especially got cracks about number of hours worked when i declared my interest in pathology. you're right though about the universal self-deprication among medical students and residents. everyone thinks they have it rough. truth is, surgery residents probably do have it among the roughest, but they made a conscious decision to go into surgery, and it gets annoying when they make themselves sound morally superior for this choice.

That sentence doesn't make sense to me. Why would we yearn for moral platitude? Plus, I'm annoyed that "attitude" and "platitude" rhyme.

Anyway, that "self-inflicted torture" is universal across specialties. Med students and residents love to complain, and magnify their inconveniences, and compare workloads, etc. That's why you hear neurology residents saying "oh man, I'm swamped!" when they have 2 pending consults (personal experience, not the rule).

All specialties have their own unique cross they like to hang themselves from. In surgery, the cross is just a little bigger, and much louder.

Example given:
Surgery residents crying.

"we only get three weeks vacation."
"lucky! I only get 2 weeks!"
"Lucky! At least you get to choose when!"
"Lucky! I only (insert worse situation here)!"

 

[Winged Scapula]

There is definitely a certain amount of pride in working longer hours than anyone else...and a certain amount of exaggeration.

I'm sure every specialty and every Type A person does this, but it does seem a little more prevalent amongst surgeons...misery loves company.