Three Questions for practicing anesthesiologists.

[Jesus1]

Hate procedures, love pharmacology AND physiology (a lot), hate rounding and incessant note writing, love some downtime during the day. Is anesthesia a good field to consider given these metrics?
If a person is especially bad at procedures/hand coordination, is anesthesia a good field to go into if you put in major time during residency to learn these skills/get better at them (e.g mannequins, constant repetition even when off service)?
What are the procedures that constitute 95% of what you'll be doing in anesthesiology (e.g. major procedures you would want to get down pat)?

Thanks!

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[Beeftenderloin]

Intubations, vascular access (central lines, arterial lines, IVs), epidurals and peripheral nerve blocks. You know what’s even better than mannequins to practice on? People. Nobody walks into residency good at procedures, there’s a learning curve for everyone. It takes time and a lot of repetition, both of which you would get in plenty of in an anesthesia residency.

 

[vector2]

Hate procedures, love pharmacology AND physiology (a lot), hate rounding and incessant note writing, love some downtime during the day. Is anesthesia a good field to consider given these metrics?
If a person is especially bad at procedures/hand coordination, is anesthesia a good field to go into if you put in major time during residency to learn these skills/get better at them (e.g mannequins, constant repetition even when off service)?
What are the procedures that constitute 95% of what you'll be doing in anesthesiology (e.g. major procedures you would want to get down pat)?

Thanks!

Anesthesiology is not for you if you hate procedures and/or you intrinsically have some bad hand-eye coordination. Everybody gets better with practice, but the only ones who actually get good are the ones who like practicing because they like doing procedures. Even thousands of reps later, I like doing IVs, a-lines, central lines, epidurals, blocks, and intubations. If you are eager to learn, by all means consider the field- but if you think you're going to regard the sometimes steep procedure learning curve as a huge chore and become neurotic when you blow an IV or miss an a-line, I'd say stay away.

 

[IMGASMD]

It’s not for you.

“Hate” procedures? Were you thinking of supervising at GI suites for rest of your career?

Most people cite one of the reasons FOR going into anesthesia is.... drum roll please, “love doing procedures.” A lot of times what we do isn’t “elective” like some of the surgical procedures. For someone who hates procedures, I just cannot see you function well in those situations.

 

[pjl]

I would not say that I have a lot of “downtime” during the day

 

[IMGASMD]

I would not say that I have a lot of “downtime” during the day

Airway bagel coffee, no longer the abc’s of anesthesia?!

 

[Planktonmd]

How about radiology (non interventional) : Nice hours, plenty of relaxing alone time in a dark room, no rounding, and no procedures.

 

[Twiggidy]

Hate procedures, love pharmacology AND physiology (a lot), hate rounding and incessant note writing, love some downtime during the day. Is anesthesia a good field to consider given these metrics?

This screams "get a Ph.D and go into research". You may make less money but you may also find yourself a whole lot more satisfied with your career. In my opinion way more opportunities with a Ph.D to do interesting work either that or become a pharmacist, which is not as bad fo a gig as you think.

I can make an argument the Anesthesiology is a dead end job that just pays well. The check is great (in most cases) but the opportunities for career advancement are minimal to none, unless maybe you work in academics. If you're a motivated, career oriented person, I would stay away from this specialty.

 

[narcotics999]

This screams "get a Ph.D and go into research". You may make less money but you may also find yourself a whole lot more satisfied with your career. In my opinion way more opportunities with a Ph.D to do interesting work either that or become a pharmacist, which is not as bad fo a gig as you think.

I can make an argument the Anesthesiology is a dead end job that just pays well. The check is great (in most cases) but the opportunities for career advancement are minimal to none, unless maybe you work in academics. If you're a motivated, career oriented person, I would stay away from this specialty.

Yeah, PhDs do more interesting work.....

In today's world of publish or perish, the interesting part of research is to get as many papers as possible, with questionable credibility

Examples:
Amgen could only reproduce 8/53 LANDMARK publications in cancer research.
Bayer could reproduce less than a quarter.

Don't get into PhD ****hole unless you are dying for it.

 

[sleepallday]

I would not say that I have a lot of “downtime” during the day

I would agree. I have very little downtime. And when there is a delay in between cases, it can be pretty annoying. I'll be doing whatever I can to move things along.

 

[Mman]

I would agree. I have very little downtime. And when there is a delay in between cases, it can be pretty annoying. I'll be doing whatever I can to move things along.

downtime is time stuck at work and not at home

 

[Splenda88]

I can make an argument the Anesthesiology is a dead end job that just pays well. The check is great (in most cases) but the opportunities for career advancement are minimal to none, unless maybe you work in academics. If you're a motivated, career oriented person, I would stay away from this specialty.

I wonder how many out there care about career advancement if they are already making 500k/yr working ~50hrs/wk...

 

[deleted941485]

Who the f... need career advancement if they are already making 500k/yr working ~50hrs/wk?

?? The only people that are making that kind of dough anywhere near civilization are the chairs and Dept heads of various academic and community practices. Otherwise more like 300K with 60hrs plus weekend call.

 

[RedAnesthesia]

?? The only people that are making that kind of dough anywhere near civilization are the chairs and Dept heads of various academic and community practices. Otherwise more like 300K with 60hrs plus weekend call.

Nope. Not true and I can attest to that.
Red

 

[deleted941485]

Nope. Not true and I can attest to that.
Red

So where is this happening?

 

[Splenda88]

Nope. Not true and I can attest to that.
Red

That what I thought unless the people in Anesthesia I have talked to are lying... Many are telling me the typical salary is 400-450k for ~50 hrs/hr and 8 wks vacation on top of that.

 

[deleted941485]

That what I thought unless the people in Anesthesia I have talked to are lying... Many are telling me the typical salary is 400-450k for ~50 hrs/hr and 8 wks vacation on top of that.

Sounds like an envision contract or something. Supervising and the whole shebang.

PPs are not offering this at all.

 

[Twiggidy]

I wonder how many out there care about career advancement if they are already making 500k/yr working ~50hrs/wk...

Like I said, dead end job that pays well.

 

[Twiggidy]

Sounds like an envision contract or something. Supervising and the whole shebang.

PPs are not offering this at all.

There are PPs out there that can make a killing. One thing is they're not going to be advertised because there likely isn't an opening unless someone dies or retires, even then, those types of practices know where to reach out to hire. (News flash: It's not Gaswork or SDN)

Edit: also, many people getting over that 500k hump are WORKING for it, either via covering multiple rooms and taking a lot of call

 

[Splenda88]

Like I said, dead end job that pays well.

You are describing most jobs in medicine except for academia...

 

[RedAnesthesia]

So where is this happening?

I live in the Midwest with a city with a population of over 1 mil including metro. I am in a MD only group and don't work more than 35-40hrs a week. My call is very light. I know of several residency classmates making well more than me in the Midwest. Those jobs are out there but you have to have connections or get lucky.

Red

 

[Twiggidy]

You are describing most jobs in medicine except for academia...

That's true. I just think it's something to also consider when choosing a field, especially if you have a certain personality type. If the only concern is the bank account, which I'm not mad at you if it is, then sure, anesthesiology is great, hell, better than most.

 

[deleted162650]

?? The only people that are making that kind of dough anywhere near civilization are the chairs and Dept heads of various academic and community practices. Otherwise more like 300K with 60hrs plus weekend call.

Wrong. It’s out there. Even in desirable places working MD only.

 

[deleted941485]

There are PPs out there that can make a killing. One thing is they're not going to be advertised because there likely isn't an opening unless someone dies or retires, even then, those types of practices know where to reach out to hire. (News flash: It's not Gaswork or SDN)

Edit: also, many people getting over that 500k hump are WORKING for it, either via covering multiple rooms and taking a lot of call

For all intents and purposes they don’t exist.

I live in the Midwest with a city with a population of over 1 mil including metro. I am in a MD only group and don't work more than 35-40hrs a week. My call is very light. I know of several residency classmates making well more than me in the Midwest. Those jobs are out there but you have to have connections or get lucky.

Red

Yeah so for all intents and purposes they do not exist.

 

[Modanq]

Bad idea. You will be one Failed airway away from killing someone.

 

[Twiggidy]

For all intents and purposes they don’t exist.


Yeah so for all intents and purposes they do not exist.

I guess in the philosophical sense you're correct

 

[Mman]

For all intents and purposes they don’t exist.


Yeah so for all intents and purposes they do not exist.

so I guess the new grads we hired this year are fictional and don't exist?

(you not knowing where the great jobs are doesn't mean nobody has them and nobody gets hired into them)

 

[AdmiralChz]

so I guess the new grads we hired this year are fictional and don't exist?

(you not knowing where the great jobs are doesn't mean nobody has them and nobody gets hired into them)

Stop spreading Fake News, Russian!

/sarcasm

 

[Stank811]

Sounds like an envision contract or something. Supervising and the whole shebang.

PPs are not offering this at all.

Our group must also be one of those unicorns. In fact every private practice group I am familiar with offers at least the above at minimum and then gets better with partnership.

 

[Splenda88]

@RadsWFA1900 must have a terrible job...

Don't let the beancounter take advantage of you guys/gals.

 

[deleted162650]

The dude’s got the opposite of the grass is greener syndrome.

 

[deleted875186]

the Procedures we do can be learned by anyone. Intubation, lines, and epidurals. There is a steep learning curve in anesthesia residency, even the CA1s that have bad hand eye coordination eventually get competent after so many procedures.

I think the perception of anesthesiooogist lifestyle is off though. Not much downtime, calls are heavy, hopefully this gets better after I graduate but it seems like there are many that still take a lot of call and work hard all day.

 

[Mman]

the Procedures we do can be learned by anyone. Intubation, lines, and epidurals. There is a steep learning curve in anesthesia residency, even the CA1s that have bad hand eye coordination eventually get competent after so many procedures.

I think the perception of anesthesiooogist lifestyle is off though. Not much downtime, calls are heavy, hopefully this gets better after I graduate but it seems like there are many that still take a lot of call and work hard all day.

lifestyle depends on the type of job you take. There is a wide spectrum in our specialty. You can work at a GI center or outpatient center and never stay past 5 ever. You can take a "mommy track" job and never work nights or weekends. You can work somewhere with lots of weekends and calls. It just depends.

 

[dhb]

so I guess the new grads we hired this year are fictional and don't exist?

(you not knowing where the great jobs are doesn't mean nobody has them and nobody gets hired into them)

You can't pretend that the golden jobs are not a very small fraction of open positions.
And on top of that hurdle these jobs are (as stated her on SDN) not advertised generaly, so most probably not available to the regular guy that doesn't have great connexions.

In your estimate, out of 1300 people coming out of residency each year, how many will get a shot at an amazing job?

 

[Mman]

You can't pretend that the golden jobs are not a very small fraction of open positions.
And on top of that hurdle these jobs are (as stated her on SDN) not advertised generaly, so most probably not available to the regular guy that doesn't have great connexions.

In your estimate, out of 1300 people coming out of residency each year, how many will get a shot at an amazing job?

define amazing

and after that, exclude everybody that desires to work in academics from the 1300

 

[deleted162650]

You can't pretend that the golden jobs are not a very small fraction of open positions.
And on top of that hurdle these jobs are (as stated her on SDN) not advertised generaly, so most probably not available to the regular guy that doesn't have great connexions.

In your estimate, out of 1300 people coming out of residency each year, how many will get a shot at an amazing job?

Of course the best jobs are only a small percentage. Life is a bell-shaped curve. The best residents and fellows will land the best gigs. I’m not sure why that’s surprising or even news-worthy. The mediocre residents/fellows will get the mediocre jobs so on and so forth.

Truth be told, there’s not that many careers out there where even mediocrity can guarantee you 300+K/yr.

 

[Twiggidy]

lifestyle depends on the type of job you take. There is a wide spectrum in our specialty. You can work at a GI center or outpatient center and never stay past 5 ever. You can take a "mommy track" job and never work nights or weekends. You can work somewhere with lots of weekends and calls. It just depends.

I personally feel like “mommy track” jobs are becoming fewer and fewer but that’s just me going off observation. Everything that has crossed my path lately has involved some sort of in house call

 

[nimbus]

You can't pretend that the golden jobs are not a very small fraction of open positions.
And on top of that hurdle these jobs are (as stated her on SDN) not advertised generaly, so most probably not available to the regular guy that doesn't have great connexions.

In your estimate, out of 1300 people coming out of residency each year, how many will get a shot at an amazing job?

I would guess around 200/yr. I would also add that until you work in a community for a while you won't know which job suits you the best. Sometimes a job that is a dream come true for one person is a terrible job for someone else. I know a guy who works 13-15 nights/month on a quiet L+D with a stipend and also does a full time low volume surgicenter gig with a guarantee. He's happy as a clam. I'd rather poke out my eyeballs because I hate OB.

 

[rakotomazoto]

My group is also a unicorn. They do exist. But it is also true that some combination of luck, timing, and impressing the right attendings in residency resulted in me landing in a uniquely awesome situation. But then again, my "dream job" might differ from what others are looking for. However, it has many of the markers of a great job that get repeated on here: lots of time off, MD only, real partnership, good money, great work culture.

 

[Arch Guillotti]

so I guess the new grads we hired this year are fictional and don't exist?

Do you offer employee positions or partner track positions to new hires?

 

[dhb]

The jobs are not handed out mirroring the bell curve; the best jobs don't always go the the most deserving.
It's easy to think, that when you have a great gig it's a god given retribution, but the great jobs are inaccessible to a majority of people.

 

[Mman]

Do you offer employee positions or partner track positions to new hires?

partner track, the only employee docs we have are ones that preferred that route because they only wanted to work part time and/or didn't want to take call

 

[deleted1002566]

?? The only people that are making that kind of dough anywhere near civilization are the chairs and Dept heads of various academic and community practices. Otherwise more like 300K with 60hrs plus weekend call.

I am in a major city just out of graduation making around 400k for around 50 hours a week, 1 weekend every 6-8 weeks, alot of vacation. From my experience interviewing the market is very good right now.