3 answers
michael
Student
Scotts Valley, California
5
Questions
Updated
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What does a day in the life of a medical professional look like?
Im curious on what i should be expecting on a day to day basis when i get into the medical field.
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3 answers
Sara Stanhewicz
Occupational Therapist
3
Answers
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Updated
Sara’s Answer
Each medical professional has a different schedule. The beauty of nursing is that you can work either 12-hour shifts, standard 8-hour shifts, or overnight shifts. That is the beauty and a downfall depending on what shift you prefer to work. As an occupational therapist, I have worked anytime from 6 am-9 pm. Most therapists work standard daytime hours. If you work in an outpatient clinic it would be evening hours that are often busy. Healthcare does not follow the 9-5 schedule. Hospitals are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 a year, so all days are open for work. It can be the best to have the ability to work on days that most other people are off (holidays), or it can be a pitfall for your own schedule. It depends on what line of healthcare you are looking to go into. Good Luck!
volunteer in an area that you are interested in- hospital, therapy clinic, outpatient physicians clinic
Sara recommends the following next steps:
This was super helpful, thank you!
michael
Miyoko Bell
BFA Student/ Retired Certified Nurse Anesthetist & Army Major/
2
Answers
Washington Township, New Jersey
Updated
Miyoko’s Answer
First you have to know, what field are you asking about. Each field is demanding in it’s own right, however some fields have legal ramifications that place added stressors that bring additional stressors that others do not. The bottom line quite honestly is this. No matter the field, health care has its advantages and disadvantages daily. One must find balance in the day to day stressors or it quickly does not become worth the effort.
I found both the technical and physical demands placed on me to be challenging and enjoyable.
Volunteering is great
Shadowing more than one professional in a few hospitals is also recommended for an extended period.
Each facility has it’s own dynamics. Each medical field has it’s own dynamics and pecking order. One must find one’s pack so to speak. Knowing your own limitations and the demands of professions is key to obtain a great match. The final piece to the pie is Leadership. You can have a perfect unit, wonderful in terms of skill and hospital/clinic/skills and toss in a less than stellar/horrific managerial style and well it is not heaven as perseverance in healthcare requires that balance that I referenced earlier. Namaste
Volunteering is great.
Shadowing more than one professional in a few hospitals is also recommended for an extended period.
Gain skills in personal balance, essential in healthy perseverance in healthcare.
I found both the technical and physical demands placed on me to be challenging and enjoyable.
Volunteering is great
Shadowing more than one professional in a few hospitals is also recommended for an extended period.
Each facility has it’s own dynamics. Each medical field has it’s own dynamics and pecking order. One must find one’s pack so to speak. Knowing your own limitations and the demands of professions is key to obtain a great match. The final piece to the pie is Leadership. You can have a perfect unit, wonderful in terms of skill and hospital/clinic/skills and toss in a less than stellar/horrific managerial style and well it is not heaven as perseverance in healthcare requires that balance that I referenced earlier. Namaste
Miyoko recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for giving me advice.
michael
Melissa Evans
Clinical Laboratory Science
5
Answers
Lubbock, Texas
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
Hello!
This is a great question. For most jobs, no day will look like the next. The patients are all different-have different personalities and different conditions or are at different stages of their conditions. The work schedules are also different. Most of the time, clinics are open 8a-5p Monday through Friday. People that work in a hospital work rotating days and may work at any time of the day or night. The tasks that medical workers do will be the same and some have routines for their days, but others do not. An example of that would be a medical worker in an Emergency Department or the Operating Room. Sometimes the seasons of the year also dictate the routines-cold and flu seasons are different than summer work. One thing that might help is to narrow down your search to more specific interests and then talk to those that specifically work in those areas. Good luck!
Volunteer at a hospital or clinic
This is a great question. For most jobs, no day will look like the next. The patients are all different-have different personalities and different conditions or are at different stages of their conditions. The work schedules are also different. Most of the time, clinics are open 8a-5p Monday through Friday. People that work in a hospital work rotating days and may work at any time of the day or night. The tasks that medical workers do will be the same and some have routines for their days, but others do not. An example of that would be a medical worker in an Emergency Department or the Operating Room. Sometimes the seasons of the year also dictate the routines-cold and flu seasons are different than summer work. One thing that might help is to narrow down your search to more specific interests and then talk to those that specifically work in those areas. Good luck!
Melissa recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much, Melissa!
michael