Moonlighting during Residency

[QuantumX]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi everyone. What type of moonlighting opportunities are there for an IM resident? Also is there a time limit that must elapse before you can moonlight, assuming of course that your institution allows it?
Does it really make a difference financially to moonlight?
Will moonlighting hours WITHIN the institution you're working in be counted in 80-hr cap or not, because that definately makes it harder?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Originally posted by Hani
Hi everyone. What type of moonlighting opportunities are there for an IM resident? Also is there a time limit that must elapse before you can moonlight, assuming of course that your institution allows it?
Does it really make a difference financially to moonlight?
Will moonlighting hours WITHIN the institution you're working in be counted in 80-hr cap or not, because that definately makes it harder?

Moonlighting within your program DOES count toward the 80 hours. Check with your PD as to what qualifies as "within" your institution.

As for time period, generally none except that you have an MD license (having passed Step 3) and possibly a DEA number (ie, you aren't much help at an Urgi Center if you can't write scripts for narcotic pain meds). There are lots of threads here about moonlighting - I would do a search for them. Your options may be local community hospitals without residency programs or without enough residents to cover the call schedule, local Urgi centers, and intermittent opportunities like at fairs, conventions, etc.

If you can rack up enough hours as a moonlighter it can make a SUBSTANTIAL difference in your income. For example, the moonlighters here make about $60 a hour. One 24 hour shift (ie, on a weekend) a month and you've got an extra $1000+ a month.

 

[QuantumX]

Thanks Kimberly...

 

[Sessamoid]

We had a senior FP resident at the hospital where I work who moonlighted by taking call for a group of internists. I didn't ask how much he made, but he sure seemed to be happier then. It was usually a busy night for him, but it gave the primaries an extra night of uninterrupted sleep, which was apparently worth whatever they paid him.

I'd ask around with some of the family and internal medicine groups to see if they'd be interested, after clearing it with your program director of course.

 

[Sessamoid]

Originally posted by Dr. Cuts
What about moonlighting after your PGY-1 (having passed Step 3 of course)? Only a couple states allow this right? Anybody have any good links with this kind of info? I don't want to use Google b/c last I heard those two nerdy guys who started it are banking b/c it's worth 700 mill now.

It's not so much the state allowing it, since after one year of residency and passing Step3, you're licensed to practice any kind of medicine you've got the guts to. Whether anybody will hire you or insure you to practice is a whole different matter. The other real limitation is whether or not your residency will allow you to moonlight. They can't legally stop you from moonlighting (I don't think, but IANAL), but they can sure kick you out of residency for doing so without their permission.