4 answers
3
Questions
Updated
620 views
How long are cardiologist shifts?
I would like to know that since it is something that I would like to study
Login to comment
4 answers
Updated
Julia’s Answer
Like most medical specialties, I would agree that a 10-12-hour day is typical for a cardiologist. If you include a surgical specialty, the days can certainly be longer, though most surgeons plan their cases to stick within a 10-12 hour work day. And yes, cardiologists take call, meaning they are called to consult for patients needing cardiac care whether it's an emergency case or perhaps someone who has a cardiac history who has been admitted to the hospital for another reason, but call is rotated among the providers in the practice, so you might take call once every 6-8 weeks. Many cardiologists enjoy teaching or doing research, too.
If you're a junior or a senior in high school, talk with your career or college counselor to see if you can "shadow" a cardiologist or a Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner in that department.
Julia recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Stacey’s Answer
It varies as Cardiologists are called to emergencies and also take call. How often they take call is also variable and depends on how many other Cardiologists you will split call with and it depends on your contract and it depends on what area of Cardiology you specialized in.
There are multiple areas of Cardiology that doctors chose such interventional, Electrophysiology (EP), Heart Failure, or general Cardiology. Interventionalists can have long hours in the cath lab sometimes depending on the procedure and how it is going. EPs can have long hours in cath lab as well putting in Pacemakers, defibrillators, or doing ablations.
Then you have your clinic days and time, stress testing days, reading echos, and interpreting EKGs. Then you have your rounds at hospitals typically.
It is over 50 hours /week typically and some work well over 60 if they are busy and especially if they are a skilled Cardiologist.
I worked in Cardiology for many years and hearts are my love!!
Hope you are getting answers you need to make your decision. Good luck!
There are multiple areas of Cardiology that doctors chose such interventional, Electrophysiology (EP), Heart Failure, or general Cardiology. Interventionalists can have long hours in the cath lab sometimes depending on the procedure and how it is going. EPs can have long hours in cath lab as well putting in Pacemakers, defibrillators, or doing ablations.
Then you have your clinic days and time, stress testing days, reading echos, and interpreting EKGs. Then you have your rounds at hospitals typically.
It is over 50 hours /week typically and some work well over 60 if they are busy and especially if they are a skilled Cardiologist.
I worked in Cardiology for many years and hearts are my love!!
Hope you are getting answers you need to make your decision. Good luck!
Updated
Natasha’s Answer
A surgeons shift can really vary depending on how extensive the surgery is. However, they do not only perform surgery they also see patients, so if they are working in the hospital solely they typically work 12 hour shifts sometimes they may have to be on- call, meaning called into the hospital for emergencies (and sometimes sleep there). These professionals can also run their own practice and see cardiac patients in an office environment and run a surgical schedule at a local hospital.
Updated
Emmanuel’s Answer
Average 50-60 hours per week