What are the working conditions for a cardiothoracic surgeon?

Cardiothoracic surgeons typically work in hospitals, performing both scheduled and emergency operations. Some work in teaching hospitals, helping aspiring cardiothoracic surgeons to perfect their skills.

How many hours a week do cardiac surgeons work?

Surveys of physicians indicate that cardiothoracic surgeons work more than 60 hours per week on average. In fact, younger cardiothoracic surgeons may work as many as 84 hours per week.

What is the working environment for a surgeon?

Surgeons work long hours, mostly at hospitals where they operate on patients or visit pre- or postsurgery patients. Surgeons frequently perform emergency operations. Most surgeons maintain offices outside hospitals where they explain procedures to their patients.

Do cardiothoracic surgeons travel for work?

Aspiring cardiothoracic surgeons can expect to work long – and often irregular – hours once they enter the field. No two days of work are ever the same for a cardiothoracic surgeon. He may perform two operations one day and five the next, depending on patients’ needs.

How long is a heart surgeon’s shift?

Shifts can be long and irregular, as they may be called into work whenever emergencies and the need for surgeries arise. Cardiothoracic surgeons may work 60 or more hours a week. They may perform two surgeries one day and five the next. A surgical procedure can take up to eight hours or more.

Do surgeons work everyday?

Most surgeons spend at least a few hours to one or two days per week in the operating room and take call several hours per week, day, night, weekends and holidays. They also need to be in their offices during the week to see patients. It’s much more than a 40 hour/week job… most surgeons spend a lot of time at work.

Is cardiac surgery difficult?

Cardiac surgery was a rigorous and fast-moving discipline. The work would be hard, the hours would be long, and the learning curve was steeper than Mount Washington.

What are the working conditions for a heart surgeon?

Surgeons spend their time in climate-controlled, relatively quiet, well-lighted hospitals or medical offices. Cardiac surgeons regularly face the possibility of exposure to bloodborne diseases, include hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When do you need to see a cardiac surgeon?

Cardiac surgeons are not cardiologists, or doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating heart disease. Cardiologists typically refer people to a cardiac surgeon when the need arises, because most cardiologists do not perform heart surgeries themselves. They generally perform diagnostic tests and help people manage chronic heart conditions.

What kind of hours do cardiac surgeons work?

Surgeons typically work long hours and may also take emergency calls. They may need to work when they are sleep-deprived and often work under stress. A cardiac surgeon may deal with patients of any age, from a tiny baby with a heart defect to an elderly person who needs a cardiac bypass.

What kind of surgery does a cardiac surgeon do?

Cardiac surgery is a specialization in the surgical field that is dedicated to treating heart conditions. Cardiac surgeons perform coronary artery bypass surgery, heart transplants, valve replacements and repairs of congenital heart conditions, according to the American College of Cardiology ( ).