2 answers
Mya
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
5
Questions
Asked
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What are some negatives for becoming a pediatrician?
I was wondering if there are serious downfalls that could affect my decision to become a pediatrician.
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2 answers
Rita Chuang
Physician
176
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
I wanted to be a pediatrician but a mentor told me that the kids were not the problem but the parents were.
The pediatricians seem to be the nicest people but they see a lot of patients and I don’t think they get compensated as much as other doctors
The pediatricians seem to be the nicest people but they see a lot of patients and I don’t think they get compensated as much as other doctors
Aaron DeRan
Technical & Business Consulting
8
Answers
Prosper, Texas
Updated
Aaron’s Answer
First, let me commend you on considering to be someone who takes care of the health of children. That is a wonderful profession to be a part of if you are properly prepared and understand the demands and effects of the profession.
Here are some considerations you might think about when deciding if being a pediatrician is right for you:
1. Financial burden - becoming a doctor requires extensive schooling which comes with a significant financial cost. If you do not have scholarships or other personal financial assistance, you could be paying back large amounts of student loans (average is currently $200,000) for many years. Additionally, you should know that statistically, pediatricians are on the lower end of the pay scale compared to some other medical professions, but this is determined more by the role you play and the workplace you work in, i.e. a pediatrician in a busy hospital is likely paid more than a pediatrician working at a small family practice.
2. Time Commitment - in addition to requiring several years of school, depending on the situation, i.e. are you a pediatrician in a hospital, a family practice, an urgent care, etc, the work hours can be long and you may have to work shifts. For example, my neighbor is a pediatrician at a hospital and she works 12 hour shifts, sometimes several days in a row without a day off. You also may have times where you are "on call" meaning, you are not at work, but you could be called to come into work with short notice, which can impact your personal plans/availability.
3. Emotional Toll - While helping children grow healthy, get better from colds, flu, etc, and do annual exams, being a pediatrician can also involve seeing children suffering, severely injured, and worst case passing away. Pediatricians can also become emotionally attached to patients which can cause compassion fatigue. Pediatricians can also work in stressful environments and suffer from burnout.
Here are some considerations you might think about when deciding if being a pediatrician is right for you:
1. Financial burden - becoming a doctor requires extensive schooling which comes with a significant financial cost. If you do not have scholarships or other personal financial assistance, you could be paying back large amounts of student loans (average is currently $200,000) for many years. Additionally, you should know that statistically, pediatricians are on the lower end of the pay scale compared to some other medical professions, but this is determined more by the role you play and the workplace you work in, i.e. a pediatrician in a busy hospital is likely paid more than a pediatrician working at a small family practice.
2. Time Commitment - in addition to requiring several years of school, depending on the situation, i.e. are you a pediatrician in a hospital, a family practice, an urgent care, etc, the work hours can be long and you may have to work shifts. For example, my neighbor is a pediatrician at a hospital and she works 12 hour shifts, sometimes several days in a row without a day off. You also may have times where you are "on call" meaning, you are not at work, but you could be called to come into work with short notice, which can impact your personal plans/availability.
3. Emotional Toll - While helping children grow healthy, get better from colds, flu, etc, and do annual exams, being a pediatrician can also involve seeing children suffering, severely injured, and worst case passing away. Pediatricians can also become emotionally attached to patients which can cause compassion fatigue. Pediatricians can also work in stressful environments and suffer from burnout.