Why are Pediatricians Happy?

[goofball]

I've read the lifestyle surveys that always put pediatricians at the top in happiness. At my last interview, I talked to an MS4 who matched into pediatrics and said that one reason he did it was because the attendings in the field seemed so happy at their job.

Anyone wonder why that is?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[911 Turbo]

Seeing babies all the time causes levels of oxytocin in their body to rise.


lol jk... possibly because they love doing it?

 

[FrontierPsych]

Kids, unlike adults, often get better.

 

[The Buff OP]

Kids are positive human beings when it comes to illness. 🙂

 

[NontradCA]

I think it's self selection. People who go into Peds generally like children. I think we can all agree that children are innocent- up to a certain point. I would guess pediatricians generally don't like adolescent medicine.

 

[Ismet]

Kids, unlike adults, often get better.

This. Kids are amazingly resilient. Plus you can act silly with them and they don't think you're weird 😀

 

[Ismet]

I think it's self selection. People who go into Peds generally like children. I think we can all agree that children are innocent- up to a certain point. I would guess pediatricians generally don't like adolescent medicine.

Isn't adolescent medicine a "subset" of pediatrics? I spoke with a doctor earlier in the year who deals with adolescent medicine, and she is a pediatrician who just focuses on teenagers and young adults.

 

[The Beyonder]

Seeing sick patients who get better and better work hours.

 

[Thego2guy]

Everything that was said above and the fact that kids don't chronically drink, have unprotected sex, and eat extra fatty triple cheeseburgers with a large order of fries everyday to beef up their obesity on purpose. Adults give themselves (usually) high cholesterol (when its not genetic), liver problems, and gonorrhea. Also kids are innocent and don't spit in your face by NOT following your orders. Tell a stubborn adult patient to take their full course of antibiotics? "yeah yeah doc, I gotchu"....3 days later, the pills go down the drain. Tell an overprotective mother that her kid NEEDS to finish the full 7 days of augmentin and you bet your ass she will follow your orders.

 

[Daodejing]

-generally healthier patient population
-diverse range of subspecialization
-continuity of care/long-term pt. contact (literally can be from infancy to adolescence)
-broad differential diagnoses
-acute care vs. long-term health
-generally more relaxed training
-being able to educate kids and their families

Interestingly, geriatrics is also pretty up there in terms of career satisfaction.

 

[cheechootrain]

I'd be happy too if I get to carry stickers and lollipops everywhere.

 

[KnuxNole]

Working with peds personnel tends to be a happy experience. Everyone is friendly and happy. Kids are also great to work with. Parents for the most part are decent and like someone mentioned, are usually open to the instructions that the physician gives. It was one of the specialties on my choice list, but felt like I wanted to treat kids AND adults 😀

 

[NontradCA]

Isn't adolescent medicine a "subset" of pediatrics? I spoke with a doctor earlier in the year who deals with adolescent medicine, and she is a pediatrician who just focuses on teenagers and young adults.

I was referring to General Pediatricians or sub-specialists not specializing in adolescence.

 

[KnuxNole]

I'd be happy too if I get to carry stickers and lollipops everywhere.

And peds stethoscopes!

Screw Littmanns, I'd carry around one of these babies

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

-generally healthier patient population
-diverse range of subspecialization
-continuity of care/long-term pt. contact (literally can be from infancy to adolescence)
-broad differential diagnoses
-acute care vs. long-term health
-generally more relaxed training
-being able to educate kids and their families

Interestingly, geriatrics is also pretty up there in terms of career satisfaction.

Which can be even longer with the Med-Peds program now. Especially for kids with lifelong disabilities, you can be their doctor their entire lives (hypothetically). Talk about a doctor-patient relationship.

 

[NickRiviera MD]

because saying you save childrens' lives adds 2-3 points to your attractiveness rating. Those average looking dudes are then landing 8s and 9s...of course they're happy!

 

[TheShaker]

because saying you save childrens' lives adds 2-3 points to your attractiveness rating. Those average looking dudes are then landing 8s and 9s...of course they're happy!

I really wonder who would win if it's neurosurgeon vs. pediatrician.

 

[Thego2guy]

I really wonder who would win if it's neurosurgeon vs. pediatrician.

pediatric neurosurgeon!

 

[DrNoo]

why are veterinarians happy?

 

[Catalystik]

Why are Pediatricians Happy?

Kids, unlike adults, often get better.

Having to deal with death and dying less often is definitely a plus.

Walk into your local children's hospital. Next walk into the adult hospital. Imagine being in both of them every day and now tell me how you feel.

Children's hospitals and wards tend to have happy graphics on the walls and it makes you feel good to see them.

Also, kids are delighted to see you and let you know. Adults don't run up to you in the hall and hug your knees. This is absolutely a great way to start your day.

I would guess pediatricians generally don't like adolescent medicine.

It helps a lot once they realize you're on their team and not on their parents' which is the advantage of a long-term relationship. Negociating skills are a plus, also.

Everything that was said above and the fact that kids don't chronically drink, have unprotected sex, and eat extra fatty triple cheeseburgers with a large order of fries everyday to beef up their obesity on purpose.

At least, not the preadolescents.

 

[oldbearprofessor]

because saying you save childrens' lives adds 2-3 points to your attractiveness rating. Those average looking dudes are then landing 8s and 9s...of course they're happy!

Bingo! Story of my life. Me, a fairly homely dude married a babe and have been married to her for decades on decades. Being able to change a diaper in advance of the first date, is, as Spurs has always noted, a big plus!

 

[Catalystik]

why are veterinarians happy?

Maybe because most of their patients don't talk back to them, either.

 

[Gut Shot]

Adults give themselves (usually) high cholesterol (when its not genetic),

Actually the genetic contribution to hypercholesterolemia far outweighs the dietary component.

As for the rest of your post, were you a doctor before you became premed?

 

[Dires]

why are veterinarians happy?

Veterinarians are happy?

What ever stat you're referencing is biased.

 

[PTPoeny]

Kids also survive things that would kill adults.

Plus the hospitals. About half of my notes from each peds interview are about the hospital and how I felt being in the hospital. What sorts of murals or entertaining machines are in the lobby. The fun logos for each different program. 🙂

Plus it is self-selecting. Peds isn't terribly competitive and isn't generally considered highly prestigious so the people who go into peds actually want to be there.

 

[Cinclus]

Not a big money-making field, so they're likely in the field because they love the field. Good on them.

 

[Planes2Doc]

Kids are great. If you love kids, then you'll love seeing these lively patients that you can't help but care about.

Plus no call and good lifestyle to top it off.

Since people on SDN sometimes start outrageous threads, I guess that a thread saying you should be a pediatrician and DVM would be pretty awesome.

 

[KnuxNole]

Actually the genetic contribution to hypercholesterolemia far outweighs the dietary component.

As for the rest of your post, were you a doctor before you became premed?

Cynics are starting at a younger age now 😉

 

[cinamin]

Everything that was said above and the fact that kids don't chronically drink, have unprotected sex, and eat extra fatty triple cheeseburgers with a large order of fries everyday to beef up their obesity on purpose. Adults give themselves (usually) high cholesterol (when its not genetic), liver problems, and gonorrhea. Also kids are innocent and don't spit in your face by NOT following your orders. Tell a stubborn adult patient to take their full course of antibiotics? "yeah yeah doc, I gotchu"....3 days later, the pills go down the drain. Tell an overprotective mother that her kid NEEDS to finish the full 7 days of augmentin and you bet your ass she will follow your orders.

THIS. 👍👍👍

 

[oldbearprofessor]

Plus no call and good lifestyle to top it off.

No call? Darn, wish you would have told me sooner. I'm a outta here.😀

But, um, who is gonna take care of the babies today?

Almost all pediatricians take some form of call. In my case, it's in-house, general pediatricians and some subspecialists take home call. Some of that is easy, many times they are being called throughout the night.

Average general pediatrician works about 55 hrs/week for his meager salary. Some call that a good lifestyle, others don't.

Attending specialists on the clinical service work 50-90 hrs/week. Some call that a good lifestyle, others don't.

However, it is true that the overwhelming majority of pediatricians are satisfied with their job.

 

[La Presse]

I have never considered peds before, but everything I have read in this thread sounds extremely enticing.

 

[LaughingMan]

I've been really interested in Pediatrics after working in a Childrens Hospital for a year.

I wonder if there is a bias against Male applicants? Anyone?

 

[NickNaylor]

I've been really interested in Pediatrics after working in a Childrens Hospital for a year.

I wonder if there is a bias against Male applicants? Anyone?

Yes, if you are male, you should reconsider your interests.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717

 

[LaughingMan]

Yes, if you are male, you should reconsider your interests.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717

Thank you. God Bless Your Soul and may Jesus accept you into his arms.

 

[goofball]

Yes, if you are male, you should reconsider your interests.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717

Really?

 

[NickNaylor]

Really?

Does that even agree with common sense?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717

 

[LaughingMan]

Really?

He is just joking.

Question still stands though.

 

[LaughingMan]

There are more women in peds but not an overwhelmingly higher number like Ob/Gyn. Our peds residency PGY-1 was about 1/3 male this past year for instance.

Interesting--got it! Thanks!

 

[oldbearprofessor]

I wonder if there is a bias against Male applicants? Anyone?

No

 

[mvenus929]

From my mentors (mostly in general pediatrics):
- Pediatricians see a mix of well and sick visits. Internists see a mix of acute and chronic follow-up visits.
- Each patient is different. Even if your day is full of well visits (during the summer), each patient is a different age and thus have different reasons for seeing the physician. Most adult patients are chronic follow-up for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. They are the same patient, over and over. Pediatricians hate that.
- Kids get better, often on their own. And when they can't get better on their own, there's usually something you can do to help them. Contrast that with adults, who just refuse to do what needs to be done to make them better.
- You're working with kids.
- They don't go into it for the money, they go into it because they genuinely like doing it.

 

[Socrates25]

Because kids are everything that is good and right about the world. 😀

 

[HSUReddie]

No call? Darn, wish you would have told me sooner. I'm a outta here.😀

But, um, who is gonna take care of the babies today?

Almost all pediatricians take some form of call. In my case, it's in-house, general pediatricians and some subspecialists take home call. Some of that is easy, many times they are being called throughout the night.

Average general pediatrician works about 55 hrs/week for his meager salary. Some call that a good lifestyle, others don't.

Attending specialists on the clinical service work 50-90 hrs/week. Some call that a good lifestyle, others don't.

However, it is true that the overwhelming majority of pediatricians are satisfied with their job.

I'm curious... are you a neonatologist? Just guessing.

Pretty much nearly all of my shadowing has been in pediatric subspecialties. I can't say I've met one doctor who seems to dislike their job. They always seem happy to see their patients. And most have come across as very concerned and eager (in my opinion) to teach both their residents and medical students.

Also who doesn't want a speciality where your patients might end up drawing you a big picture of a butterfly to thank you? I mean, that's awesome.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Yes, if you are male, you should reconsider your interests.

Whelp, too late to worry about that now... though one program I interviewed at this year literally had 3 male interns in a class of 30ish

A lot of it has already been said, but my short list is that kids generally don't bring their illness on themselves, they generally get better, and they generally don't look at me weird when I walk in the room and give them a high five 😀 Furthermore, you get to work with other pediatricians, who are generally happy with what they do for a living... and working with other people who are happy goes a long way too 🙂

Dirty diapers are much lower on the list, but as OBP pointed out once upon a time, it's not a useless skillset...

 

[oldbearprofessor]

I'm curious... are you a neonatologist? Just guessing.

Man, nothin' gets past you. I've tried to keep it a big secret but now I'm outed.😡

My patients don't draw butterflies and I still like them.

 

[HSUReddie]

Man, nothin' gets past you. I've tried to keep it a big secret but now I'm outed.😡

My patients don't draw butterflies and I still like them.

Sorry. Suppose I should have clicked on your name. 😛

Meh, yes, so they don't draw butterflies to thank you. Just meant that's one thing that one attending has told me that has made it worth it. I've got nothing against babies who don't draw butterflies... I'm a former NICU patient myself.

 

[Planes2Doc]

Also while it's not quite about pediatricians, you should watch Dallas Med on YouTube. I think you'll see exactly why people want to work with kids.

 

[LaughingMan]

Pediatrics is actually my number one choice. Good to see I'm going to be happy.

 

[jr93]

Kids, unlike adults, often get better.

I think this is a major factor (along with lots of what is said above; crabby old people, smokers, alcoholics, etc.). I heard this same reason from an Allergist. He liked his job a lot because it's one of the few where people are often way better after seeing him and almost immediately.

 

[gravitywave]

From my mentors (mostly in general pediatrics):
- Pediatricians see a mix of well and sick visits. Internists see a mix of acute and chronic follow-up visits.
- Each patient is different. Even if your day is full of well visits (during the summer), each patient is a different age and thus have different reasons for seeing the physician. Most adult patients are chronic follow-up for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. They are the same patient, over and over. Pediatricians hate that.
- Kids get better, often on their own. And when they can't get better on their own, there's usually something you can do to help them. Contrast that with adults, who just refuse to do what needs to be done to make them better.
- You're working with kids.
- They don't go into it for the money, they go into it because they genuinely like doing it.

Pediatricians tend to be happier, more light-hearted people than typical medical types in general, plus they all pretty much take the bolded to be self-evidently good. It's a pretty sensitive marker for people who are going to be interested in peds.

They do all complain about the parents, at least in their own way. Many potential pediatricians are turned off from the field by the parents. Plus, the awful disasters in Peds are really, really awful.

 

[Gauss44]

I've read the lifestyle surveys that always put pediatricians at the top in happiness. At my last interview, I talked to an MS4 who matched into pediatrics and said that one reason he did it was because the attendings in the field seemed so happy at their job.

Anyone wonder why that is?

1. The kids pick the doctor. Happy ones get less wailing.
2. The doctor eats lots of kid's candy, pounds of chocolate, sugary goodness.
3. Parents set a good example by saying nice things to the doctor. (Kids like to repeat things over and over, so parents have to say what's nice.)
4. Doctors are brainwashed by Elmo and all his happy friends.