How doctors spend their time depends on what type of physician they are and where they work. Some doctors work in hospitals, some work in offices, and some work in laboratories. Many work very long hours, from the early morning until well after dark. Others keep regular daytime office hours. In fact, the only thing that all doctors have in common is that no two days are ever exactly the same.

Helping Patients Relax

Dr. Burrows says that one of the things she enjoys most about working in pediatrics, both in the hospital and the clinic, is the relaxed atmosphere. She explains why this is important:
Children are scared when they come to see a doctor, and it’s our job to help them relax. That’s why doctors who work in pediatrics tend to be more laid back than doctors in other areas. We can’t just start examining these kids without first making them feel comfortable with us. We need to gain their trust, to help them understand that it’s going to be okay, that we’re there to help them, not hurt them. That’s why we rarely wear white coats, and the guys wear ties with cartoon characters on them. We all have goofy animals hanging off our stethoscopes, and we aren’t afraid to get down on the floor and play with the kids. It’s a way of helping them not be afraid. That is so important.

Life of a Surgeon

A surgeon’s job is quite different from that of a family practice doctor. Surgeons spend most of their time in hospitals, where they check on patients, meet with families, and perform surgery. Dr. Robert Shack works for a major hospital in New Jersey, and he has been a surgeon for twenty-six years. He is blunt when he describes what surgery is all about: “There is no such thing as a casual or routine surgery. If you think that, and a problem comes along, you are going to wish you were in another specialty very quickly. Every case is unique and different… Surgery involves discipline. It does not matter if you had an argument with your wife or a tough night before, you are obligated to provide a professional product for your patient, and good doctors do.