Physicians are no strangers to stress. It begins in undergrad – pre-med students
typically put far more pressure on themselves than the average college student.
After all, they have to make the grades to get into med school, where the stress
will continue to build. But the stress of med school is nothing compared to what
follows – an intense internship and residency, possibly followed by a fellowship.
But in the end it’s all worth it, right? After years of stress, sleep deprivation,
and 80+ hour work weeks, physicians enjoy one of the best jobs in America –
or do they?
Despite above average compensation and high levels of prestige, an NORC study highlighted
in the
Jackson & Coker Industry Report found that the level of career satisfaction
among physicians doesn’t match up with their above average salaries and social status.
[1] In fact, a report by the
Physicians’ Foundation states that 78% of physicians either no longer find
the practice of medicine rewarding or find it less rewarding than they did five
years ago. A surprising 60% would not recommend medicine as a career path. [2]
Why so stressed?
An article in the
New England Journal of Medicine suggests that because physicians are often
overachievers and perfectionists, their stress stems from the occasional failures
that every physician eventually faces. [3] Add to that the increased demand by patients,
battles with insurance companies, changing government legislation, malpractice concerns,
and the burden of medical school debt – and it’s no wonder today’s physicians
are experiencing stress levels unimaginable to most people.
How are they coping?
Many physicians are giving up the stress of private practice in favor of salaried
positions at hospitals. According to a recent article in the
New York Times, an increasing number of physicians are attracted by the
stable salaries and relatively regular hours of hospital jobs. To highlight this
shift, the article cites statistics reporting that as recently as five years ago,
more than two-thirds of medical practices were physician owned but today that number
has fallen to below 50%. [4]
In other efforts to avoid stress, some physicians are turning to locum tenens work or abandoning medicine altogether. Of course, if you are not prepared to make a major change to reduce your professional stress, you may want to try some of these less drastic coping methods.
Physician jobs will never be stress free, but it is important to find effective ways to manage your stress level in order to maintain a balanced lifestyle and avoid career burnout.
1. J&C
Research Associates. “Career Satisfaction Among Physicians,” Jackson & Coker
Industry Report, Feb. 2009.
2. The
Physicians’ Foundation, “The Physicians’ Perspective: Medical Practice in 2008,”
October 2008.
3. Darves,Bonnie.
“Physician Wellness,” NEJM CareerCenter, March 20, 2010.
4. Harris,
Gardiner. “More Doctors Giving Up Private Practices,” New York Times, March 25,
2010.
