The first year

[theScience]

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Can anyone describe their first year out of medical school? Where did you go? What did you do? How was the hours?

I'm trying to gather some information on the amount of time worked, hours away from home, etc. I'm 25 and married and finishing up my second year in undergrad and my science scores are excellent. I'm considering the medical profession, since I really like helping people. I guess what I'm asking is:

How bad is the first year out of med school? I can take the studying and exams, no problem. It's my wife I'm afraid of. :x

 

[elwademd]

Can anyone describe their first year out of medical school? Where did you go? What did you do? How was the hours?

I'm trying to gather some information on the amount of time worked, hours away from home, etc. I'm 25 and married and finishing up my second year in undergrad and my science scores are excellent. I'm considering the medical profession, since I really like helping people. I guess what I'm asking is:

How bad is the first year out of med school? I can take the studying and exams, no problem. It's my wife I'm afraid of. :x

are you asking about the first year of medical school or the internship year (as in literally the first year after graduating medical school)?

 

[theScience]

Hehe. I said it in the first sentence.😛 I was asking about the first year out of medical school, or your internship, or residency year. I was concerned how the time constraints would affect my wife. I'm fine with long hours, no sleep, I just worry for her.

 

[Drawing Dead]

Well, your wife won't have to be attatched to your hip while you're working, becuase that would just make things difficult.

In some ways (and I'm sure someone will disagree with me on this one) living with a spouse/significant other/fiance can make things easier during your internship, AKA first year out of medical school. Especially when they are not in medicine. I moved from NY to Chicago with my girlfriend and we now live together here. And so far, things have been fine. She got a job out here, and has made friends, and has her own life. We spend time together at home or go out with other couples, so we do see each other.

When you do your internship, you will rotate month to month from different services in the hospital. One month you may be on the internal medicine service, another on surgery, and another month in the ER (The greatest rotation of all, but I'm not biased), etc. Each hospital has it's on call system, whether you are on a Q system (like every 3rd or 4th day) and you do a 24-30 hour day with a post call off day afterwards or a night float system, where someone covers the hospital at night for a few days or weeks, and it becomes more like shift work.

Also, call may depend on where you do your program. My hospital only requires you do call when on internal medicine, surgery, or pediatrics. For example, I have 3 straight months of ER, ER, Opthomology, so I won't do call until january when I'm back on surgery. Other hospitals have you doing call no matter what service you are on, like some of my friends.

Also, the Bell commission ruled that we cannot work more than 80 hours a week, which on some services I have come close. Right now, being in the ER, I'm averaging about 45 hours a week, counting conferences and clinic hours.

So, in the end, what I'm really trying to tell you that yes, you will work long hours, but not the whole time. There was only one week it was really wacky, and I was on surgery night float. I didn't see my girlfriend for a week because I would leave for the hospital before she got home, and get home after she left.

I'm sure you and your wife, being that she is an adult, will be just fine and she will be able to take care of herself. Now if you have children or a pet, thats a whole other story....