2 answers
John
Student
Anaheim, California
5
Questions
Asked
843 views
What's a regular day working as an Anesthesiologist?
I would like to know about how stressful working as an Anesthesiologist is. Do you guys do really stressful stuff everyday? #anesthesiologist #medicine #doctor #anesthesiology #experience #stress
Login to comment
2 answers
P N
Physician
12
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
P’s Answer
Hi John, I’m not an anesthesiologist but I work with them in my field. I do pulmonary and critical care (lungs and ICU).
Like most docs, the day to day depends on what your assigned schedule is for the day or the week, and if you’ve done extra training.
So each week docs are assigned to particular duties. For anesthesiology, it might be a week of OR (supervising the patients under general anesthesia for surgeries.) This can also involve doing procedures or supervising CRNAs doing procedures (putting the tube down the throat and putting them on a ventilator, inserting a large IV into a major vein the neck to deliver medicines quickly).
You’ll also do preoperative exams on patients to make sure you know going in what problems could arise during surgery and how to plan.
Some anesthesiologists specialize further in critical care. Then they do stuff like me. Seeing patients in the ICU and caring for critically ill patients.
They also can specialize in pain management. The pay for this is even higher than regular anesthesiologists and the quality of life of my friends who do pain is excellent.
If you’re assigned to OB for the week, you might be managing epidurals and other issues with delivery.
Stress is relative. Meaning, I have friends from medical school who found anesthesiology boring. Others didn’t want to do procedures. Others didn’t like taking care of critically ill patients.
If you specialize in cardiac or critical Care anesthesiology you take care of sicker patients. But if it’s your calling you may not find it stressful.
Hope this helps!
Like most docs, the day to day depends on what your assigned schedule is for the day or the week, and if you’ve done extra training.
So each week docs are assigned to particular duties. For anesthesiology, it might be a week of OR (supervising the patients under general anesthesia for surgeries.) This can also involve doing procedures or supervising CRNAs doing procedures (putting the tube down the throat and putting them on a ventilator, inserting a large IV into a major vein the neck to deliver medicines quickly).
You’ll also do preoperative exams on patients to make sure you know going in what problems could arise during surgery and how to plan.
Some anesthesiologists specialize further in critical care. Then they do stuff like me. Seeing patients in the ICU and caring for critically ill patients.
They also can specialize in pain management. The pay for this is even higher than regular anesthesiologists and the quality of life of my friends who do pain is excellent.
If you’re assigned to OB for the week, you might be managing epidurals and other issues with delivery.
Stress is relative. Meaning, I have friends from medical school who found anesthesiology boring. Others didn’t want to do procedures. Others didn’t like taking care of critically ill patients.
If you specialize in cardiac or critical Care anesthesiology you take care of sicker patients. But if it’s your calling you may not find it stressful.
Hope this helps!
Madiha Sultan
Dentist
49
Answers
Harrison, New Jersey
Updated
Madiha’s Answer
Hi,
For the anesthesiologist in private practice, a typical clinical day is 10 to 12 hours long, plus overnight call 2+ nights each month. The average number of hours per week depends on the group and its call structure, but typically 40-60 hours per week including call. In an academic setting (the minority of anesthesiologists), there is great variability depending on additional responsibilities outside the clinical setting. Overall, there is a high degree of satisfaction with anesthesiology as a career choice.
I hope it helps.
For the anesthesiologist in private practice, a typical clinical day is 10 to 12 hours long, plus overnight call 2+ nights each month. The average number of hours per week depends on the group and its call structure, but typically 40-60 hours per week including call. In an academic setting (the minority of anesthesiologists), there is great variability depending on additional responsibilities outside the clinical setting. Overall, there is a high degree of satisfaction with anesthesiology as a career choice.
I hope it helps.