Deciding If Emergency Medicine Residency Is for You

Choosing a position within the emergency medical field to study can be a difficult task, as there are many options to choose from. One frequently sought after position to pursue is that of an emergency physician. Emergency physicians are responsible for studying patient history, performing physical exams, and determining which tests, if any, are necessary. Emergency physicians are trained to care for patients through a variety of methods, such as performing surgery or prescribing medication or therapy. These are not the only responsibilities of emergency physicians, but they are responsible for so many aspects that is nearly impossible list them all. They may also be given slightly different duties, depending on which office or hospital they are practicing in.

The Pros and Cons of Becoming an Emergency Physician

Pros

• Because emergency physicians are trained in so many aspects of medicine, they can often diagnose and provide treatment themselves, rather than referring patients to other doctors of specialists.
• Emergency physicians often have better schedules than many other medical professionals, usually working 8-12 hours at a time with less chance of being “on call” in the case of emergency.
• Because they often work side by side with other nurses and doctors, emergency physicians are able to build relationships and utilize teamwork to finish their duties more quickly and efficiently.

Cons

• Stress can be a major factor in this type of position due to the busy and often chaotic environment.
• Emergency physicians have to deal with patients and other nurses or physicians being difficult or refusing to follow instructions from time to time.
• While emergency physicians do tend to work a decent amount of hours, they are often forced to work nights, weekends and holidays, making for a somewhat chaotic schedule at times.
• Emergency physicians must deal with an increase in the number of patients they treat, due to current rises in the population.
• This position requires years of education and basic training, followed by an emergency medicine residency.

Deciding early enough what position you hope to pursue can make a positive impact on your future. Knowing what position you hope to focus on will allow you to gain more knowledge and understanding during your education and your EM residency.