Yazmine
How many hours a day does a surgeon work for?
#surgeon #medicine
3 answers
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
How many hours a day does a surgeon work for?
Surgeons typically work long and demanding hours due to the nature of their profession. The number of hours a surgeon works in a day can vary depending on several factors such as the type of surgery, the setting they work in, and whether they are on call. On average, a surgeon can work anywhere from 50 to 80 hours per week, translating to around 10 to 16 hours per day.
Factors Affecting Surgeons’ Work Hours:
Type of Surgery: The complexity and duration of surgeries can significantly impact the number of hours a surgeon works in a day. Some surgeries may be quick and routine, while others can be complex and time-consuming, requiring surgeons to work longer hours.
Setting: Surgeons working in different settings may have varying work schedules. For instance, surgeons working in hospitals may have more irregular hours due to emergency cases and on-call duties compared to those working in outpatient clinics.
On-Call Responsibilities: Surgeons often have on-call responsibilities where they need to be available outside of regular working hours to respond to emergencies or perform urgent surgeries. This can extend their workday significantly.
Workload: The workload of a surgeon can also affect the number of hours they work in a day. High caseloads or back-to-back surgeries may require surgeons to put in longer hours.
Administrative Tasks: In addition to performing surgeries, surgeons also have administrative tasks such as patient consultations, paperwork, and research responsibilities that can add to their daily workload.
Training Level: Surgeons in training (residents) often work longer hours as part of their rigorous training programs compared to experienced attending surgeons.
Personal Preferences: Some surgeons may choose to work longer hours voluntarily due to personal preferences or commitments.
In conclusion, while the specific number of hours a surgeon works in a day can vary based on multiple factors, it is not uncommon for them to put in long hours ranging from 10 to 16 hours per day on average.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
American College of Surgeons (ACS): The ACS is a professional organization that provides guidelines and resources for surgeons regarding various aspects of their practice, including work hours and schedules.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): The AAMC is a reliable source for information on medical education and training programs, including insights into the typical work hours for surgeons during residency and beyond.
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): JAMA publishes research articles and studies related to healthcare professions, including data on the working conditions and schedules of surgeons.
These sources were consulted to ensure accuracy and reliability in providing information about the typical work hours for surgeons.
God Bless,
JC.
Richard A.
Richard's Answer On Surgeon Work Hours
Generally in private practice 50-60 hours a week is standard
Clay Downing
Clay's Answer On Working Hours Of A Surgeon
I worked in the medical industry for 17 years as a medical device rep spending time in the operating room. It is good that you are looking to become a surgeon. This is a area that requires great dedication. Surgeons work in a clinic environment an d then to the operating room environment. Normally a surgeon will work 2-3 days a week in the clinic which is a 8-6pm job. ON the days he is not in clinic, he will be operating and that day schedule will vary at times but normally that is a 7 am start time for most surgeries and then it is based on how many cases and what those cases are. Those days the hours worked can be from 6-9 hours. As a surgeon, most times there is a PA that works with you and assist in the surgeries but not always. The PA is also with you in clinic seeing patients with you. You will be seeing recent surgery patients in the hospital right after surgery and that happens before clinic and often time before and during surgery days. I would say overall a surgeon is going to work about 10 hours a day.
Thank you so much! This was very helpful
Yazmine