Written by: Keerthana Venkatesh
Edited by: Aleeza and Chantelle
Daily Life
Psychiatrists prescribe, direct, and administer therapeutic treatments and medication to treat people experiencing mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. They counsel patients to help them improve their lives. Depending on the type of psychology they mainly focus on, treatments can include talking to patients, practicing self-actualization, counter condition, and prescribing medication. Furthermore, psychiatrists also gather patient records and medical history, collaborate with other doctors to discuss treatments, advise a patient’s close family of their condition and treatment, and examine tests done on patients to gather information.
Work and Life Balance
According to a survey, about 30% of psychiatrists spend less than 30 hours per week at work, while 40% spend 30-40 hours, and around 20% work 41-50 hours. Only less than 10% of psychiatrists spend more than 50 hours at work per week. In general, most psychiatrists are happy with their work-life balance due to the variability in their practice, which helps protect them from overworking themselves. Job satisfaction is rated very high by the average psychiatrist.
Salary
In the USA, the average salary was $208, 000 in 2019. The average salary of a psychiatrist in Canada is about $250, 000 per year, with entry-level jobs being $53,821. Additionally, experienced workers can earn up to $386, 616.
Educational Steps
To become a psychiatrist, one must first complete the basic steps to becoming a doctor. This includes getting a bachelor’s degree, which many people recommend obtaining in biology, chemistry, or psychology. Next, one must pass the MCAT or medical college admission test with a score of 511/528 or higher. Once they do this, they can complete an MD (medical doctor) or DO (doctor of osteopathy) program. They then proceed to go into a four-year-long residency, the place in which a doctor goes to find their specialty. The last step that they must take in order to become a psychiatrist is to become licensed and board-certified.
Becoming More Involved
There are still many steps that a high schooler can take to start building up for their career as a psychiatrist. It is recommended that an individual takes various science classes, specifically, classes in the Advanced Placement stream, throughout high school, while maintaining a strong academic record in these disciplines. Partaking in extracurricular activities related to the medical field is also a great step that one can take. This can include volunteering at hospitals, a psychiatrist’s office, and rehabilitation centers. Becoming a peer counselor in school may also give an individual experience as a psychiatrist.
Expectations
One expectation is that you must be ready for around 12 years of academic study before you can become a psychiatrist. The educational process may be expensive, but the job is financially rewarding. The work-life balance is generally manageable, but there are days in which psychiatrists must work overtime at irregular hours. The job market shows consistent growth, and 20% of psychiatrists are self-employed, an occupation that grants a great degree of freedom and flexibility.
Bibliography
Are Psychiatrists Happy? Compensation and Career Satisfaction. (2011, October 12). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/751075_2#:~:text=Work-Life Balance, hours per week seeing patients.
How Much Can a Psychiatrist Expect to Get Paid? (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/psychiatrist/salary
Iyer, A. (n.d.). Why Medical Students Should Consider Psychiatry. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://opmed.doximity.com/articles/why-medical-students-should-consider-psychiatry?_csrf_attempted=yes
Mansell, P. (2012). Med School Orientation 008 [Flickr]. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/pennstatelive/7508801006
Noodle. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://www.noodle.com/articles/the-pros-and-cons-of-becoming-a-psychiatrist-how-does-that-make-you-feel
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