Residency weekly hours?

[JEWmongous]

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I was wondering if the residents could give me some info on their hours worked in a typical week? I heard that the pod residencies do not have to abide by the 80 hours workweek rule (I may be wrong). I could imagine long hours for month long rotations on general/ortho surgery or IM, but I have no idea about pod specific rotations.

 

[jonwill]

I was wondering if the residents could give me some info on their hours worked in a typical week? I heard that the pod residencies do not have to abide by the 80 hours workweek rule (I may be wrong). I could imagine long hours for month long rotations on general/ortho surgery or IM, but I have no idea about pod specific rotations.

Hours are definitely program dependent. At my program, it depends on the call schedule. Weeks that I'm not on call, my hours are great. Call weeks just depend on how busy things are and range from 60-80+ hours a week.

1st years take the majority of call at my program with second years taking some and third years taking none so it can only get better

1st years take all of the holidays as well here. I'm the lucky guy that got Christmas (I just made it home). But it's a small price to pay for the training that I'm getting! I've got no problem working long hours as long as I'm the one doing the surgery and not "riding the hog" (holding the retractors).

 

[Stafocker]

I was wondering if the residents could give me some info on their hours worked in a typical week? I heard that the pod residencies do not have to abide by the 80 hours workweek rule (I may be wrong). I could imagine long hours for month long rotations on general/ortho surgery or IM, but I have no idea about pod specific rotations.

s

Well, it's program dependent definitely.

 

[Stafocker]

Hours are definitely program dependent. At my program, it depends on the call schedule. Weeks that I'm not on call, my hours are great. Call weeks just depend on how busy things are and range from 60-80+ hours a week.

1st years take the majority of call at my program with second years taking some and third years taking none so it can only get better

1st years take all of the holidays as well here. I'm the lucky guy that got Christmas (I just made it home). But it's a small price to pay for the training that I'm getting! I've got no problem working long hours as long as I'm the one doing the surgery and not "riding the hog" (holding the retractors).

merry christmas jonwill... haha, i got stuck with New Years, nothing like having dumb drunk ppl breaking their ankles/feet/etc! haha

 

[krabmas]

my program is also part of a teaching hospital and abides strictly by the 80 hour rule.

The thing about the 80 hour rule is that it is averaged over 4 weeks. if you work 100 hours one week you have to work less the next to average 80 hours or less over 4 weeks.

I've gone over 100 hours a couple times so far. But then some weeks I only worked 40 ish hours including academic meetings.

Just to add more of my 2 cents...

I read a book over the weekend "Intern" by Sandeep Jauhar. part of the book talks about the first year being all consuming. Medicine should be your life in order to learn it properly.


After you all read Hot Lights Cold Steel by Michael Collins read Intern. both good books.

Then look for programs that will give you these types of experiences. If you settle for a program or look for a program that is not challenging or easy you are cheating yourself and your patients.

 

[cool_vkb]

I've gone over 100 hours a couple times so far. But then some weeks I only worked 40 ish hours including academic meetings.

You make 40hrs sound as if its 3 or 4 hrs a week. 🙂 Ofcourse compared to 100hrs , 40hrs is always good.

 

[NatCh]

You make 40hrs sound as if its 3 or 4 hrs a week. 🙂 Ofcourse compared to 100hrs , 40hrs is always good.

That reminds me of my Internal Medicine rotation. Every once in awhile we'd get what they referred to as a Golden Weekend. "I have a Golden Weekend coming up!" "Niiiiice! Enjoy it!"

It meant that one didn't have to spend the night in the hospital on Friday, then had Saturday off plus Sunday-day off. In other words it was almost a regular weekend like the rest of America gets to enjoy. FUBAR!

 

[cool_vkb]

That reminds me of my Internal Medicine rotation. Every once in awhile we'd get what they referred to as a Golden Weekend. "I have a Golden Weekend coming up!" "Niiiiice! Enjoy it!"

It meant that one didn't have to spend the night in the hospital on Friday, then had Saturday off plus Sunday-day off. In other words it was almost a regular weekend like the rest of America gets to enjoy. FUBAR!

This makes me ask you resdents and attendings a question. After being subjected to such a harsh (yet rewarding) life style of workng long hrs, contnously reading, always in hospital thru out 3rd,4rth college yrs + 3yr residency plus the tight budget you guys are on.

How do you feel when you are finally out in the real world working 30-40hrs and making 100+ salary and feeling relaxed.

If i am subjected to this lifestyle, i might need atleast another 2-3 yrs to come back to normal lifestyle and enjoy the fruits of hardwork.

 

[NatCh]

How do you feel when you are finally out in the real world working 30-40hrs and making 100+ salary and feeling relaxed.

I'm not sure; I haven't worked 40 hours in a week since Residency. Hoowahhh!

 

[Stafocker]

I'm not sure; I haven't worked 40 hours in a week since Residency. Hoowahhh!

lol

 

[presby]

At my program we had to comply with the 80 hour workweek average/ACGME rules because UPenn made us, being part of the University system but that is an average and there are other rules I don't remember specifically to adhere to. They wanted to know how many days you had free of work, how many consecutive hours worked, make sure you have like 10 hours between shifts, etc. However this wasn't the case in my 1st year when I was on call q4 and we took all in-house call (no home call). Then I would probably average about 100 hours/week and a number of times I was at 120 hours/week. This was the norm for the more rigorous surgical programs but now everyone is under the microscope to comply or risk losing your residency funding/positions. On general surgery in 2nd year we took general surgery call q6. For podiatry call 1st year was q4, 2nd year was like q5-6, 3rd year was like q6 and 4th year was taking primary call twice a month but you were ultimate backup (final call) every other week. I would have externs ask me what the call schedule would be but the more you see, the more you do and learn. I was told 1st year to expect to always be at the hospital and that way I wouldn't be disappointed-that's probably a good way to look at it.

 

[Stafocker]

At my program we had to comply with the 80 hour workweek average/ACGME rules because UPenn made us, being part of the University system but that is an average and there are other rules I don't remember specifically to adhere to. They wanted to know how many days you had free of work, how many consecutive hours worked, make sure you have like 10 hours between shifts, etc. However this wasn't the case in my 1st year when I was on call q4 and we took all in-house call (no home call). Then I would probably average about 100 hours/week and a number of times I was at 120 hours/week. This was the norm for the more rigorous surgical programs but now everyone is under the microscope to comply or risk losing your residency funding/positions. On general surgery in 2nd year we took general surgery call q6. For podiatry call 1st year was q4, 2nd year was like q5-6, 3rd year was like q6 and 4th year was taking primary call twice a month but you were ultimate backup (final call) every other week. I would have externs ask me what the call schedule would be but the more you see, the more you do and learn. I was told 1st year to expect to always be at the hospital and that way I wouldn't be disappointed-that's probably a good way to look at it.

Even the 4th year takes call? that's nice to spread it around!