Why I love Anesthesiology

[Planktonmd]

---

Members do not see this ad.

We had several threads about why Anesthesiology is terrible and that made me think about the reasons I love this specialty.
Here is what comes to my mind and I hope others could add to my list:

1- I make good money
2- I never get called in the middle of the night because a patient is constipated
3- I never do rectal exams
4- I get to wear Pajamas to work and I never wear a necktie
5- I do neat procedures all day long
6- I get to stick needles in people
7- I allow surgeons to cut people without killing them
8- I have plenty of free time to enjoy my pay check
9- After more than 20 years in practice I get up in the morning actually excited about going to work

 

[veetz]

There is a lot of physiology that we alter when administering anesthesia. Being able to optimize a patient's physiology, to me, is exciting. The more I learn about anesthesia & physiology, the more I love the specialty I chose.

 

[kaioukenx]

👍👍👍

 

[Idiopathic]

yeah its a wonder other people fight to take our jobs

 

[Ronin2258]

I like those reasons, especially numbers 4-9. 9 to me is critical. Yes, other specialties may be easier to get into, but for me, they also were the ones I dreaded, hated, and was looking forward to being done with.

It was one of the few specialties that I rotated into that made me look want to get there early. Those are the ones that involved the operating room, anesthesiology being the top one.

 

[Idiopathic]

I like those reasons, especially numbers 4-9. 9 to me is critical. Yes, other specialties may be easier to get into, but for me, they also were the ones I dreaded, hated, and was looking forward to being done with.

It was one of the few specialties that I rotated into that made me look want to get there early. Those are the ones that involved the operating room, anesthesiology being the top one.

werent you a surgery resident?

 

[Ronin2258]

werent you a surgery resident?

Prelim post only; I was asked to stay with a promotion to a prelim PGY-2 slot after a good intern year. My opinion and experiences with that program (all positive) is posted elsewhere on the forum.

I've been doing research with the anesthesiology department at an academic center for the last couple of years. I have been in an out of the specialty's academic/research side since 2001. Any details I will respond to in a PM in order to keep this thread on track about why people love the specialty. (I mod a bbs myself, and I know how frustrating it is to loose track of a good thread.) 🙂

 

[Versatil]

I love anesthesiology because this speciality regroups almost everything from more technical aspects to clinician aspects.

 

[sevoflurane]

I dig it because you get to see a lot of stuff that most physicians don't get to see. You are able to participate in life/limb saving procedures. YOU can make a HUGE difference in patient care.

Since you can't even begin to identify the patient I don't mind posting these:

I also dig it cuz you get to use cool equipment:

 

[Versatil]

Cool pics.

 

[Ronin2258]

I dig it because you get to see a lot of stuff that most physicians don't get to see. You are able to participate in life/limb saving procedures. YOU can make a HUGE difference in patient care.

Since you can't even begin to identify the patient I don't mind posting these:

I also dig it cuz you get to use cool equipment:

You are making me homesick for the operating room with these, you realize that? 🙂

 

[hoyden]

You are making me homesick for the operating room with these, you realize that?

Welcome home 😉

 

[sevoflurane]

You are making me homesick for the operating room with these, you realize that? 🙂

Here is another one for ya! 🙂

[/IMG]

 

[Planktonmd]

This is what I call a real paramedian approach to the spine.

 

[Ronin2258]

Here is another one for ya! 🙂

[/IMG]

You are just going to make me pull every dirty trick out of the book and write a few more of my own just to get on the north side of the curtain, aren't you?

 

[Noyac]

Here is another one for ya! 🙂

[/IMG]

Why the C-collar?😉

 

[PL32]

The only thing that makes sense is that something like 10% of all traumas have cspine injuries so paramedics place them on scene usually, and he probably went to OR before his neck could be cleared radiologically/clinically. How did that happen sevo?

 

[sevo85288]

I could not be happier. A great career.

 

[Licoricestick]

Hands on
Great toys
Real medicine (not social work!)
Rapid interventions with rapid responses
Minimal clinic
The occasional adrenaline rush
Being (well...learning to be atm) the person who can walk into a room and calmly take charge of a chaotic situation
Nice colleagues (on the whole) and training that is not designed to kill you (unlike surg)

 

[maceo]

great post plankton

i will rebutt

it aint all roses

I dont get paid what i am worth. You dont find that out till later.
Liability issues are enormous
the job isnt as stable as one might believe
its not as lifestyle friendly as people might make you believe
its a grind
the OR and hospital environment is pretty toxic.
mid levels mid levels.
but over all its tolerable.
its not owning your own practice or business

 

[Ignatius J]

great post plankton

i will rebutt

it aint all roses

I dont get paid what i am worth. You dont find that out till later.
Liability issues are enormous
the job isnt as stable as one might believe
its not as lifestyle friendly as people might make you believe
its a grind
the OR and hospital environment is pretty toxic.
mid levels mid levels.
but over all its tolerable.
its not owning your own practice or business

Thanks Debbie Downer.

 

[Noyac]

great post plankton

i will rebutt

it aint all roses

I dont get paid what i am worth. You dont find that out till later.
Liability issues are enormous
the job isnt as stable as one might believe
its not as lifestyle friendly as people might make you believe
its a grind
the OR and hospital environment is pretty toxic.
mid levels mid levels.
but over all its tolerable.
its not owning your own practice or business

Dude, you have the wrong gig. I can only agree with 3 of your points. Get out of the midwest or wherever your current gig is because there are some fantastic spots out there. Mine can't be the only one.

 

[sevoflurane]

Dang it Noy, you need to keep that gig of yours a secret until after I get down there. 😉

 

[Noyac]

Dang it Noy, you need to keep that gig of yours a secret until after I get down there. 😉

Yes Sevo, you actually do understand my gig. I'll do my best to keep it under wraps.

BTW, what are you waiting for?

 

[Laryngophed]

Dude, you have the wrong gig. I can only agree with 3 of your points. Get out of the midwest or wherever your current gig is because there are some fantastic spots out there. Mine can't be the only one.

1,2 and 6?

 

[sevoflurane]

Yes Sevo, you actually do understand my gig. I'll do my best to keep it under wraps.

BTW, what are you waiting for?

Umm... I'll answer that with: How long did you last at your first gig down south?

On another note: We just restructured our group and OR. We now have as much vacation as your group... which means at least 3 trips your way this winter. Acutally, since southern CO is my new favorite place to ride, 3 trips will be the minimum for sure. 😀

Silverton is going down this year!

 

[sevoflurane]

Not going to AK like the rest of the super studs, but I am planning a trip to Grand Targhee: Getting psyched for that one:

As per wikipedia: Grand Targhee is famous for abundant "champagne powder" snow. It averages over 500 inches of powder a year.

 

[drmedstudent]

im considering anesthesiology......but had a question. does it get very repetitive doing the same procedures every day or is there something different in every case

 

[Planktonmd]

im considering anesthesiology......but had a question. does it get very repetitive doing the same procedures every day or is there something different in every case

Everything gets repetitive with time but as you get older you will find that you actually don't mind repetitive and some days you prefer boring!

 

[sevoflurane]

Largely dependant on your practice.

Big trauma center with burns, pedi hospital, active vascular/Ct service, crani's, etc.. is very different from a stand alone ASC.

Plank is prolly right though... a seasoned gas passer doesn't get worked up very often. Craniosynostosis never gets boring however.

 

[Planktonmd]

Largely dependant on your practice.

Big trauma center with burns, pedi hospital, active vascular/Ct service, crani's, etc.. is very different from a stand alone ASC.

Plank is prolly right though... a seasoned gas passer doesn't get worked up very often. Craniosynostosis never gets boring however.

How many of these have you done?

 

[sevoflurane]

🙄

How many of these have you done?

4-5. Big heads, but not as big as the one above. "0" in PP.

 

[ZachNear]

How many of these have you done?

Is that Stewie?

 

[epidural man]

Not going to AK like the rest of the super studs, but I am planning a trip to Grand Targhee: Getting psyched for that one:

As per wikipedia: Grand Targhee is famous for abundant "champagne powder" snow. It averages over 500 inches of powder a year.

Ahh,

You make me miss my backyard where I saw this scene frequently. Targhee is certainly superior to the crappy snow on the other side of the moutain in Jackson - although I remember skiing from the top down Jackson one time, about 30 minutes of skiing, I stop - look down, and I still am only half way there. That mountian is HUGE.

 

[sevoflurane]

Ahh,

You make me miss my backyard where I saw this scene frequently. Targhee is certainly superior to the crappy snow on the other side of the moutain in Jackson - although I remember skiing from the top down Jackson one time, about 30 minutes of skiing, I stop - look down, and I still am only half way there. That mountian is HUGE.

Where do you like to go in Cali? My fam is out there and as of lately I've been doing combined ski/family vacations. Not imprressed with Heavenly or North Star. Liked Squaw Valley. Been to Mammoth?

 

[epidural man]

Where do you like to go in Cali? My fam is out there and as of lately I've been doing combined ski/family vacations. Not imprressed with Heavenly or North Star. Liked Squaw Valley. Been to Mammoth?

In cali, I've only been to Big Bear.

I say go to the beach when in California.

Then fly to SLC to ski.

 

[OB1🤙]

Where do you like to go in Cali? My fam is out there and as of lately I've been doing combined ski/family vacations. Not imprressed with Heavenly or North Star. Liked Squaw Valley. Been to Mammoth?

When in South Lake Tahoe, go to Kirkwood. When in Truckee or anywhere on the north shore, go to Alpine Meadows. Heavenly is awful, at least on a board. Northstar and Sierra are only good for trees on powder days when there are lift holds at the bigger places. Squaw is great obviously but they call it "Squallywood" for a good reason.

Mammoth is great, especially in spring. Kind of inconvenient to travel to, when compared with the easy access to Tahoe from Reno. Would be worth the extra effort in late April/May or so when Mammoth spring is firing on all cylinders and everything in Tahoe is shut down.

 

[Rendio]

yo guys, i searched for this on the web and on here but i couldn't find it. my question- in order to be accepted into a fellowship, do you have to be either last year of residency like just finishing up- or can you work as a primary care physician for like a year then apply to a sports med fellowship? i figure money tends to start getting tight right around that time.

i am just curious, i am still pre-med but would like to know. i am sure there is a thread on this already but thanks any how.

 

[cfdavid]

yo guys, i searched for this on the web and on here but i couldn't find it. my question- in order to be accepted into a fellowship, do you have to be either last year of residency like just finishing up- or can you work as a primary care physician for like a year then apply to a sports med fellowship? i figure money tends to start getting tight right around that time.

i am just curious, i am still pre-med but would like to know. i am sure there is a thread on this already but thanks any how.

No, you can work as an attending, or even do a chief year and then apply to fellowship. An example is someone who works as a hospitalist for a couple of years and then applies to cardiology.

 

[Rendio]

Cool, I checked different fellowship websites and just couldn't find any info about the time windows for eligibility. Now I know, Thanks.